Sambodhi 2005 Vol 29

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

Page 53

Vol-1 XXIX
BHUMIJA CLASS TEMPLE AT GAĻATEŚVARA, SARNAL
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with five figures facing north with their heads titled upwards and right hands upwards and the left hand placed on the thigh. This shows as if they are singing And the sixth person seems to be playing a flute. The whole depiction is full of life The northern face of the temple has more damaged figures. But it seems that the other Solarki temples, one nara-thara panel is very similar to the other.
On top of the nara-thar, there is a haṁsāvali or haṁsapatti, which is not a part of the pitha, but of the mandovara. Most of them have their heads titled upwards slightly. Their eyes are shown with circular lines. This haṁsāvali is a rare feature in Gujarat; however it can be found on some temples of Madhya Pradesh. The hassas in the central frame are facing left. The ones on the left offsets are facing left and those on the right are facing right.
Sculptural decoration on the Mandovara (the exterior wall of the garbhagsha)
The exterior wall of the garbhagyha, standing on the plinth of the temple, is known as the Mandovara. It consists of several parts, namely, from bottom upwards, khuraka, kumbhaka, Kalasa, antarpatra, kapotāli, mañcikā, jańhā, udgama, grāsapatti, bharaṇī, śirahpattī, again kapotāli and antarpatra, finally the kūtachädya. However, at Galateśvara, there is a depiction of the haṁsās. Above the khuraka. This depiction is known as the hamsāvali. Above the haṁsāvali, on the Kumbhaka, as shown in the adjacent figure, a mutilate goddess is seated in Lalitāsana in the central offset. Here the face and neck are chipped off. But still full
breast and necklace is visible. The goddess Detail of Mandovara possesses 4 arms. Most of the attributes except the lower left hand carrying a mirror are broken. This suggests that it is an image of Pārvati. The goddess is flanked by cauri bearers. On the either side offsets, erotic figures are depicted, Here,