This temple was built by king Vijayaditya, around 720 CE, known as Vijayesvara temple, this structure remained incomplete despite several building phase (the columned hall is clearly a later addition). On plan, this temple has a sanctum (garbhagriha) housing a linga, a small vestibule (antarala), a sub-shrine each on either side fo the vestibule and a hall (mandapa) having massive pillars. A circumambulatory path (pradakshinapatha) surrounds three sides of the garbhagriha which is lit by three windows in each of the north, west and south sides. The hall seems to have had entrance porches (mukha-mandapa) on north, south and east. Only the western and part of the southern walls of the hall are intact. To the east of the hall is a small plinth housing a Nandi image. The temple is built on a high plinth with five mouldings. The wall are symmetrically relieved into four projections with niches (devakoshthas) housing sculptures of Vishnu and Siva in various stages of carving. The three intervening recesses have perforated window. An exquisitely carved frieze of dwarfs (ganas) runs below the eave (kapota). The round-bodied ganas appear consists of a string (hara) of architectural elements called Karnakutas (square) and salas (oblong) corresponding to the relieved bays below. These elements and the curved linking coursesare adorned with kudus with miniature shrines carved in their interiors. The superstructure over the sanctum is a perfect example of two – tiered Dravida-Vimana repeating certain elements of the parapet and wall below and crowned with a four-sided kuta-sikhara with a finial (kalasa).

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

Dharwad Circle

The temple of Sangameshwar to the north of Virupaxa’s

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The temple of Sangameshwar to the north of Virupaxa’s

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