Structural Temples of Gujarat

SR No.: 006728
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kantilal F Sompura
Publisher: Gujarat University Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1968
Total Pages: 868
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 31 MB

Page 132

A Survey of the Structural Temples of Pre-Caulukyan Times 77 out on one side and forms the mandapa, having a porch on either side. Six pillars support the roof of the maņdapa and short dwarf pillars placed in corners support the roof of the porches. The śikhara is destroyed.2 5 The temple is dedicated to Varāha but may be a Daśāvatāra temple, as Cousens suggests, 2 6 as figures of these and other deities are found both on the prabhāvali of the Varāha image and also on the walls of the porches. The Shrine door-way has five well preserved panels27 each containing various figures of deity. The pillars of the mandapa and porches are plain with square massive shafts and bracket capitals of the caves. The Sikhara of the shrine was the same of the early type as that of the old temple of Gop.28
(v) The period of the Maitraka-Gurjara rule (c. 470 A. D.-788 A. D.)
Shortly after the death of Skandagupta (c. 467 A. D.) Senāpati Bhațārka of the Maitraka family established a kingdom at Valabhi on the eastern coast of Saurastra. The Maitraka kings gradually extended their power as far as western Malva
No. 4). The sculptures, ornamentation and style of the Sikhara together suggest an early date, not much later than that of Gop (AG. p. 64). This veiw is also supported by a standing cult-image of varāha, as the varāha images found standing in the temples of Madhya Bharat, Malva, Erana and in the caves of Udayagiri belong to that period. The position of the hands of varāha image at Kadvar closely resembles to that of the hands of varāha at Udayagiri (Gwalior) (IS. plt. xxi) Epigraphical evidences from Gujarat, North Rajputana, Southern region of Deccan-Konkan, indicate the existence of Vasudeva-Sari Karsana Worship (El. x Appendix p. 2. no. 7 and El. xxii p. 198 ) as well as vedic gods Indra, Yama, Varuņa-practicaly in the whole of the western India ( Nānghāta Inscription. B. G. xviii. iii) This was obviously the puranic form of Vaişņavism, 25. AG. p. 63. 26. SMTK. p. 38. 27. SMTK. plt. xxxii, xxxiv. 28. SMTK. p. 39.