The Structural Temples of Gujarat
by Kantilal F. Sompura | 1968 | 163,360 words
This essay studies the Structural Temples of Gujarat (Up to 1600 A.D.)....
5.1. Temples at Dhinjoj (Mehsana)
Temples built during 13 th cent. A. D. Dhinjoj (Dist. Mehsana) has an old temple of Vyaghresvari now known as Khamalai. This temple faces the east and seems to have been rebuilt. The portions of the original left undistrubed are the mandapa and the pillars, which are of old pattern. The dome is in Muhmedan style. The course in the basement, ususlly filled by a close line of elephants, is here almost plain but divided up by half pillarettes into small spaces, in a very few of which * 28-8 kms. N.E. of Himatnagar. (Dist. Sabarkantha) 277. The Kunda is a famous place of miraculous cure for leprosy. 278. Idar State p. 47. 279. In the inscription the sun temple is named as temple of Munjalaswamideva. 280. Idar State pp. 19, 20. Plt. XXIX. no 56. 281. Indian Antiquary XLI. pp. 20-21.
194 The Structural Temples of Gujarat are carved the head and fore-quaters of elephants. The screen wall or vedi is very richly carved with a variety of florid patterns arranged vertically and broken by compartments containing Saiva figures. The Kaksasana over this, forming the sloping seat-back is in a more modern style. 282 In front porch there is also a finely carved roof of geometrical design. 283 The inscription of 13 th cent. engraved on a large black stone slab built up in the wall of the entrance gate of Somanath Patan, records the building of the temples of Vaidyanatha, Karkesvara and Karkesvari at Somanath. 284 None of these temples in their original form and design exists at present.