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 185

The Structural Temples of Gujarat Trinetrasvar8 3/2 described below. The temple consists of a garbhagriha and a mandapa, both adorned with monospired (Ekṣringi) Śikhara and the phasana (gabled) type of roof respectively. The temple faces east and has been dedicated to Śiva, the linga still occupying the shrine, over the doorway of which Ganpati presides. Although the walls are richly decorated the basement is particularly plain, the few mouldings being almost devoid of surface ornament. 84
130
A reference as to an existence of an old ruined temples 5 dedicated to Śiva known as Trinetreśvara' or Tarnetar (9.6 kms. N. W. of Than) is given by Burgess,86
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83/2. SMTK. f. 51,
84. SMTK. p. 52. Here Fig. 84.
Shri M. A. Dhaky has precisely dated this temple in the early regnal years of Mūlaraja (942-97 A. D.) on the strength of some stages of evolution in the mouldings (CSTG pp. 21-22). This view comes rather nearer to that of Cousens.
85. SMTK. p. 51. Here Fig. 85.
86. Burgess took photographs of the said temple in 1890 A. D. SMTK. Plt. LI. The photograph given by this author is indicative of its restoration in V. S. 1958 (A. D. 1902).
On the analogy of similarity of certain mouldings-such as of basement, of top of Jangha treated as a pilaster and the phānsanā (gable) typed roof of mandapa etc..-of the temple with those of temples at Roda and Lakroda Shri M. A. Dhaky has classed this temple in the second phase i. e. phase of Maturity of Early Nagara phase. (CSTG. pp. 15-16). The date ascribed by him to this temple is about 925 A. D.
From the photographs given by Burgess the temple seems to have been constructed in the 11th cent. as the author holds. But in the present form after the subsequent restoration the original forms of mouldings are so much changed that I am at a loss to understand how the temple can be dated still earlier from the observation of its present form.