Sambodhi 2005 Vol 29

Author(s): J B Shah, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 51

Vol-1 XXIX
BHUMIJA CLASS TEMPLE AT GAĻATEŚVARA, SARNAL
43
presentation. Still the projection of the headline and the feet express the freedom taken by the artist, to make it look more natural and visually appealing. The front legs are outstretched and the hind legs are slightly bent. These details add to the vividness of the animal posture.
The gaja-thara, in case of the early medieval period, was one of the indispensable mouldings of the plinth and comprised of a row of elephants. The sequence laid down by the texts was bottom upwards, Gaja-thara, Aśva-thara and Nara-thara. At Galateśvara, the sequence is from bottom upwards, Jādambo, Kanī, grāsapatti, gaja-thara, nara-thara and on the top the haṁsāvali or the haṁsa-thara. There is no Aśva-thara at Gaļateśvara. The elephants and their trappings are carved in minute detail. The chain, the small bells, the long-flowing jhool are very realistically carved.
Although robust elephants are frontally represented; some of them are also shown sideways in profile. The majesty of their gait is rendered in a most convincing manner. Their fore legs, the massive. fore head and the swaying trunks project forth from the matrix. Because of ruined condition, Gaja-thara at Galateśvara, look's less artistic than the Modhera and other solanki temples of Gujarat. But still it can be surmised that it is more faithful to the tradition and quite fit in the artistic scheme of the temple. The gaja-thara measured here is with a height of 0.3 mts.
Some of the gajas appear with a Mahavat, carrying the goad. The elephant represented in Gaja-thara shows uplifting of the temple with a great joy. They are the carriers of the house of the god. The army of elephants, although frontally represented here like Modhera and Somnatha, some of the beasts are also depicted sideways. Elephants are decorated with jewels and a garland of pearls (see plate). To the south west corner two elephants are carved playing with each other with their trunks intertwined. On the forehead of the elephants there is a gandastala. And one of the jewels of the thigh portion is shown with a bund attached artistically with a big bell (Ghanta) at the end. The eyes are small and the important thing is a warrior shown with a kneeling posture and with one hand touching and trying to open up the gaja mouth. Hence these jewels and ghanta motif seems like cotton-weaving made with design and they are not like pearl ornaments.