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 249

194
The Structural Temples of Gujarat
are carved the head and fore-quaters of elephants. The screen wall or vedi is very richly carved with a variety of florid patterns arranged vertically and broken by compartments containing Saiva figures. The Kakṣāsana over this, forming the sloping seat-back is in a more modern style. 282
In front porch there is also a finely carved roof of geometrical design. 283
The inscription of 13th cent. engraved on a large black stone slab built up in the wall of the entrance gate of Somanath Patan, records the building of the temples of Vaidyanatha, Karkeśvara and Karkeśvari at Somanath. 284 None of these temples in their original form and design exists at present.
Wadhwan
Ranik Devi's shrine at Wadhwan probably belongs to the 13th cent A. D. The temple is plain but the beautiful decorated string courses round the walls are worth paying attention. The little chains, with bells, are a very happy addition. The more usual place for these is upon the shafts of pillars, where hanging down the flutes, they give them a dignified and distinguished appearance. Comparing the Kirtimukha face on
282. AANG. p. 110; Plan on Plt. XCVI. fig. 2. Here Figs. 131, 132 & 234.
283. Ibid Plts. XCVII, XCVIII, XCIX.
Shri M. A. Dhaky has classed this temple in what he has designated Bhimadeva phase (A. D. 1022-66) of the Solanki period. He is of the opinion that the temple is contemporary to the Modhera temple, on the anology of similarity of some of the figures with those of the image on the guḍha maṇḍapa at Modhera (CSTG. p. 30). But the reasons given by him are meagre and vague and do not hold good for placing the temple to such an early date.
284. IK. Inscri. No. 21. p. 727-28 Lines- 21-24.