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 337

CHAPTER III
THE ORIENTATION OF THE EXTANT TEMPLES
(With Special Reference to its Canons)
An investigation into the orientation of the extant temples of Gujarat indicates that these temples usually face the cardinal directions. It also implies that the temples of different deities faced certain directions. The sun temples generally, faced east. Exceptionally a few of them faced west; for instance the sun temple at Kotai in Kaccha and the two sun temples at Somanatha Patan face west. Even when a sun temple was built on the coast of the western sea, it faced east; for instance the sun temples at Sutrapada, Śrinagar, Balej, Pata, Boricha etc. The sun temple built on a mound at Modhera is due east in such a position that the rising sun at the equinoxes would shine straight through the Sabhamandapa down into the shrine. The sun temple at Than also faces east.
The temples dedicated to Śiva faced either east or west. The celebrated temples of Rudramahalaya at Siddhpur and Somanatha at Prabhas, for instance, face east, while the old temple of Nilakanth at Miyani and the Magaderu at Dhrasanavela face west. Similarly the shrines in the two double-shrined temples at Viramgam, facing each other, orient east-ward and west-ward.
Though the pre-Caulukyan temple dedicated to Varaha at Kadvar faces east, the temples dedicated to Vaisnava deities mostly face west. The famous temples of Dwarkadhisa and Rukamani at Dwarka, and the small Vaisnava temple at Odadar face west, However, the Rama and Laxmana temples at Baradia face north and south respectively.