________________
174
The Structural Temples of Gujarat the sculptures were dangerously hanging.207 The temple belongs to 12th Cent. A. D.208 The mandapa is octagonal in shape, each side of 2.5 ms. with single stone lintels supported on octagonal pillars, 1.7 meters round at the base and below the capital. At the entrance of the shrine is a figure of Ganapati holding in his hands what seems to be a battle axe. On the outside are the remains of three belts of sculptures, the highest rude and somewhat indecent figures, the second elephants, and the third groups of very small figures of men and beasts. According to a local story this temple was built by courtezans at the time ( 646-1483 A. D) of the prosperity of Hindu kingdom of Champaner.209
From one of the inscriptions210 of Bhima II (A. D. 11781242) it is learnt that his queen Sumalādevi built a temple called Sumaleśvara at Ghusadi (Viramgam) and another of his inscriptions (A.D. 1207) reveals that his queen Liladevi, had built the temples of Bhimeśvara and Lileśvara at Lilāpura or Lalitapura which is south of Viramgam and has retained its original name at present.211 None of these temples is traceable to-day.
At Somanatha, Bhima built the temple named Meghnāda.212 But Sridharas prasasti (A. D. 1216) mentions that Bhima built the Someśvara-maņqapa called Meghadhvani, which indicates that he
207. Indian Archaeology 1955-56 pp. 47–48. Recently the dislodged door Jambs of the garbha-gộiha and the pillars of the Sabhā maņdapa and the carved horizontal members of the plinth of garbhagriha and Sabhāmaņdapa were refixed to their original position by Archaeological department, western circle. 208. Indian Archaeology 1957-58 p. 100 209. BG. III p. 303. 210. Ind. Ant. VI, 204. 211. SHCGEG. p. 39; Ind. Ant. VI, p. 194; HIG. No. 160 212. HIG, no. 204.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org