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 256

Structural Temples after the end of the Caulukyan Period
201
forefinger of Siva's foot, and is worshipped as an emblem of Siva. There is a slab (Patta) of 108 lingas placed on a chotara near the temple and the wall of chotara contains an inscription" dating V. S. 1342.
The shrine of Achaleśvara Mahadeva is a plain structure and is enclosed in a very wide compound. There are other small shrines. The main shrine of Achaleśvara Mahadeva is composed of Mūlagarbhagriha and a Sabhamandapa. In front of it is a chowki with a small dome. The temple faces west.
The temple is ancient but underwent numerous repairs. 9/1 In c. 1377 V. S. (A. D. 1321) Mahārāva Lumbha the Chauhāṇa ruler of Chandravati repaired the Sabhamaṇḍapa and placed in it portrait sculptures of his own self and the queen. A beautiful stone sculpture of Kanhadadeva, the son of Mahārāva Tejasinha and grand son of Lumbha, is also preserved in Sabhāmaṇḍapa. It has an inscription dated in 1400 V. S. (1343 A. D. ),10
The Sun Temple on the Hiranya River at Prabhas Patan resembles in plan the Modhera temple consisting of the Garbhagriha and the Gudhmandapa as the principal structure. It has no Sabhämaṇḍapa.
However, according to Cousens it may be placed in the 14th Cent. A. D., for, amongst its basement mouldings, there is an aśvathara, a course of horse-moulding, which is never found either by itself or along with others in a small temple of the the Caulukyan period, and thus Cousens rightly points out that this incorrect use of it denotes a much later date when
9. HIG. Vol. III, No. 252.
9/1. Shri M. A. Dhaky is of the opinion that the main fabric of the temple belongs to about the middle of the 11th cent. or slightly later (CSTG. p. 76).
10. In the compound of this shrine, is a temple dedicated to Lakṣminārāyaṇa, where there are images of 10 incarnations of Viṣņu, and a sculpture of Visnu reclining on serpent seṣa (Seṣa-Sāyi Viṣṇu.)