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

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The Structural Temples of Gujarat (double shrined). Among those the Kunda at Modhera 33 is conspicuous by its architectural treatment. It is rectangular in shape, the longer side being south to nortii and the smaller one east to west. It is on the east face of the Sabhāmaņdapa from which a broad stair lead down to the waters edge. The upper and outermost margin is surrounded by a low wall on the ground level. A small rectangular recessed bay projects (Devakulikās) enshrining lingas and images of other deities The remains of Sahasralinga lake at Patan and the present Munsar lake at Viramgam afford examples of such reservoirs.
Of these the Sahasralinga lake was a famous adornment of the capital of the Caulukyas and is described graphically in several literary and epigraphic compositions. The lake exists no more since long but the archeaological excavations (Gadre A. S. Archaeology in Baroda') conducted at its site give some idea of its plan. As the name suggests the lake was surrounded by a thousand ( stricktly speaking 1001 ) lirga shrines and some shrines of Vişņu and other deities as well. A general idea of the lake and its numerous shrines is at present afforded by the Munsara lake, a large part of which is preserved. At present the lake at Viramgam contains 357 small shrines out of the original 520 esteemated by Burgess. (ASWI, VIII, ii, p. 91 Plts. LXXII, LXXIV). As regards the deities enshrined in them the images are all missing at present. But the Jalādharis in the western row of the shrines indicate that they all enshrined lingas of Śiva while the pedastals attached to the back walls inside the shrines of the eastern row indicate that they enshrined image of deities, evidently of Vişņu and others.
The Western row is relieved by two double shrined temples in the middle 33. The Kuņda is locally known as Rama Kunda probably corresponding to Sitāś Cori in the north east. This reminds us of the references in the Dharmārņya Mahātmyas ( ascribed to the Skanda Purāņa and to the Padma Purāņa ) to Rāmas visit of Modhera and his grant of forty-four villages to the local Brāhmaṇas. However the Kunda is in fact an accessory of the Sun temple and must be really styled Sūrya-kuņda. The pillars of the so called Sitas Cori also, in fact represent the pillars of a subsidiary Toraņa.