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[Full title: The sites of the extant Temples (With Special Reference to the Canons for their Selection)]

CHAPTER II THE SITES OF THE EXTANT TEMPLES (With Special Reference to the Canons for their Selection) The extant temples of Gujarat, pre-Caulukyan as well as Caulukyan, are found erected on sites of different types. Many of the sites represent places of natural scenery, while some others formed centres of human habitation. Many of the pre-Caulukyan temples such as the temples at Kadvar, Sutrapada and Visavada and some of the Caulukyan temples such as Somnatha at Prabhas, Dwarkadhisa at Dwarka and Magaderu at Dhrasanvel are built in the vicinity of the western sea-coast. The sun temple at Prabhas is on the confluence of the river Triveni with the Sea. Many of the Caulukyan temples stood on the banks of rivers, streams and tanks. The Siva temple at Sarnal known as Galateshvar stands on the bank of river Mahi. The famous 1. The other pre-Caulukyan temples that lie on the sea-coast are those at Pasanvada, Akhodar, Pata, Bhansar, Balej, Odadar, Porbandar (Dhingesvara Mahadeva ), Nandisvara, Khimesvara, Srinagar, Kalsar etc. 2. Among the other Caulukyan temples Sasibhusan and Rudresvara at Prabhas, the Siva temples at Lovarali, Tukada and Kuchhadi, the Rama temple at Baradia and the Rukamani temple at Dwarka and the Nilakantha and the Jain temple at Miyani likewise lie on the sea-coast. The jain temples known as Sasa-bahu at Kavi also stood near the sea-coast.

278 extant The Structural Temples of Gujarat Rudramahalaya temple is on the bank of the Sarasvati. The sun temple at Prabhas stands on stands on the bank of the river Hiranya.³ The sun temple at Modhera is built on an unique site. On the west side of the present village is a large tank or talav that was at one time surrounded by stepts and perhaps also by shrines; further to the west end near the river Pusapavati is the sun temple with a fine oblong Kunda. Thus the site indicates the proximity of the river as well as the tank. An old temple of Limboji Mata at Delmal, which is now bank of a tank to the east of the village. temple with the right-angular temple, the bank of a pond to the east of the in ruins, was on the The Hingolaja Mata at present, stands on village Khandosan, 5 The small temple at Chaubari is in the midst of a tank. In the centre of the tank is a mound, forming a small island, and between it and the steps, (Ghata of the tank) and facing the latter, is a small temple, intended to stand in the water. The temple of Satamukhi vava is jutting out into the tank Nagesvar at Dabhoi. Sometimes an attached artificial reservoir, especially in the form of a Kunda, is found constructed with the temple.6 3. The Ranakdevi temple at Wadhwan stands on the bank of the little streem, the Bhogava. The old ruined temple of Somaditya at Bagavadar, also, stands on the bank of a river. 4. This artificial reservoir at present, is known as Rama Kunda. 5. Similarly the ruins of an old temple at Kanoda and the small temple at Motab are situated on the bank of ponds of respective villages. 6. But it is to be investigated whether it was the temple that was built in the vicinity of the reservoir or it was the reservoir that was constructed in the vicinity of the temple.

The Sites of the Extant Temples 279 Muni Bawas' temple stands near the ruins of an old dam known as Sandasar which, though built of heavy masonry has, burst the temple being just above to the east of it. There were numerous temples on the bank of tank Sahasralinga at Patan. The Munasar tank at Viramgam still contains small temples on its banks. Originally they numbered over 500 out of which 337 still remain. The series also includes two large double-shrined temples. The temple of Trinetresvara (Taranetara) near Than is surrounded on three sides by an artificial double right angular reservoir (Kunda). The temple of Brhama at Khedabrahma is associated with a step-well in front of it. The pre-Caulukyan old temple of Surya at Than is on the top of the hillock Kandola. Some large temples of the Caulukyan period, especially Jain temples, are constructed on summits of hills or mountains for instance, the Jain temples on Mt. Abu, Girnar, Satrunjay, Taranga and Pawagadh. The temple of Harasiddha rests on the summit of the hill." The pre-Caulukya temples at Bilesvara and Navidhraveda are on the slopes of hills; while the famous temple of Gop lies at the foot of the Barada hills. Among the noteworthy temples of the Caulukyan temples constructed at the foot of hillocks, are those of Roda, Kumabharia, Delwada and Shamalaji. The temple of Navalakha at Ghumali stands in the midst of groves of the Barada hills. As for the remaining temples that are not found built at sites of natural scenery most of them seem to represent important towns and cities of old times. The temples at 7. The Kumbhesvara and Acalesvara Mahadeva temples on Mt. Abu, the old Siva temple on Pawagadh and Ambaji Mata temples on Mt. Girnar and on Mt. Abu are also noteworthy among temples that rest on summits of hills or mountains.

280 The Structural Temples of Gujarat Kinderkheda, Pasthar, Sejakpur in Saurastra; Kotai, Khedakot, Bhadresvara in Kaccha and Vadnagar, Sunak, Sarotra and Shankhesvara in northern Gujarat and Dabhoi in southern Gujarat were probably, built at such sites of habitation.8 From the study of the sites associated with extant temples be ascertained that in selection of the site for the construction of a temple great attention was paid to the surroundings of the temple, and that in the selection emphasis was laid on pleasant sites of the nature, such as the sea, rivers, mountains, etc. Many of these sites, naturally lay in the vicinity of places of human habitation, as temples were intended for devotees. These types of sites to be selected for temples are also prescribed in several works of the Vastusastra⁹ All the works recomnded that temples should be constructed on sites which are sacred as well as pleasant. Among such 8. Similarly the small temples at Suvan, Pindara, Boricha, Dhrasanvela Vasai, Anandpur, Parbadi, Asoda, Mandrapur, Kamboi-Solanki, Piludra etc. are situated amidst habitation sites. 9. While dealing with the selection of site vastusastras also give hints about the investigation into the characterstics of the soil and the scope for its final choice (vide: Brht. Sam. LIII, 96, 97; Bhavisya Purana CXXX, 42-45; VDP. XCIII; Manasara III, 16-32, IV, 4-38; V, 20-30; 34-37; Samarangana Sutradhara VIII; Aparajitapriccha LI; Vishvakarma Vastushastra Vedic Index, 8-29; Vastusara-Thakkar Faru I, 3-5, 9-20; Rajavallabha 1, 13-30; Vastu Ratnavali pp. 8-10; Shilpa Dipaka I, 22-23; Shilpa Ratnakara II 85-90; Brss. I, Vl; 52-156.) Some of the old temples in Gujarat have survived for several centurjes, while many other seem to have parished in course of time. The disapperance of extinct temples rests on many other grounds in addition to that of the faulty selection of the soil. Under these circumstances it is not possible to ascertain how far the judgement in the selection of the site on the basis of solidity of the soil may be illustrated by the durability or otherwise of temples built in old times.

The Sites of the Extant Temples 281 sites the choicest were the sacred places for baths (tirthas ).10 Hence the first preference was given to the sea-coast, the bank of a river or a stream, or the confluence of a river (with another river or the sea ).11 It was believed that Gods like to stay at pleasant sites of the nature. Accordingly other types of natural sites were also regarded tirthas. These sites generally lie on the tops of mountains, in forests, in groves and in gardens. 12 But the ardency of devotion necessitates that temple for daily visit must be in proximity to places of human habitation. The silpasastra, therefore, also provides for temples in cities, towns and villages, but in that case it recommends that the temples must be built in lovely gardens or beside artificial reservoir. 13 10 The word originally denotes a descent into a river, a tank or a reservoir. 11. Btht. Sam. LV. 1; Bhavisya Purana 1, CXXX, 8; Aparajitapriccha Su. 48, 7; Tantrasammuccaya, Patala 1, 7 (i). 12. Brht. Sam. LV, 8; Bhavisya Purana 1, CXXX, 15. Aparajitapriccha Su. 48, 8; Tantrasammuccaya, Patala, 1, 7 (ii) 13. Brht. Sam. LV, 3; Bhavisya Purana. I, CXXX. 10.