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There is a group of temples 57 in the village, the site being known as Mula Dwarka. Most of the temples are dedicated to Siva. The principal two temples face each other. The temple facing west is at present popularly known as the temple of Dwarkadhish, evidently on account of the image of Ranchhodji, installed in it. But the temple was originally dedicated to Nilakantha Mahadeva* whose linga is enshrined in the centre of the garbhagrha. The image of Ranchhodji, installed in the niche In the back wall is obviously a later addition inserted in place of the usual image of Paravati the consort of Siva. The other temple, facing east is dedicated to Siddhesvara Mahadeva. Around these two temples there were twelve subordinate shrines, out of which ten are extant, the rest two having perished. At present the Nilakantha temple has four subordinate shrines each in each corner, two on the back facing west and two in the front facing south and north respectively. The Siddhesvara temple is surrounded by six subordinate shrines, a pair of them lying in each corner at the back and facing east and the two others lying at the two corners in front and facing west. The whole group rests on a high plinth, with its main entrance and flight of steps in the north. 57. Here Figs. 157, 158. * Nilakantha temple referred to by Cousens in his notes on Visavada is probably identical with this temple (vide Somanatha and other Medieval Temples of Kathiawad p. 44.)

Appendix A 531 The Nilakantha temple 58 has square garbhagrha measuring 3 x 3 ms. with an attached half covered square mandapa measuring 4.8 * 4.8 ms. The dwarf pillars resting on the dwarf walls and supporting the roof of the mandapa number 16 instead of 12. The 12 pillars distributed equally on each side, are arranged into rows running east to west. The rest four, two in number, placed on the east and west, two on each direction near the entrance which with the four of the twelve make an octagon on which the superstructure of the mandapa rests. The additional pillars are located in pairs in the Kaksasana projecting beyond the northern and southern sides of the octagonal nave. In front of the mandapa there is a half covered porch with two projecting dwarf pillars similar in design to those of the mandapa. The garbhagriha of Siddhesvara temple 59 measures 3*3 ms. The doorway measures 1.8 * 1 meter. The door frame, the lintel and the threshold (which is raised prominently) are richly carved. They contained beautiful figures of Siva in various postures. But their beauty has become marred by modern repairs and application of stucco etc. The attached half-covered mandapa measures 5 * 4.1 ms. It contains 24 dwarf pillars instead of the usual twelve ones. The additional twelve pillars, equally distributed in the north. and south of the octagonal nave, from the adjoining wider projections and the small projections beyond them. The dwarf pillars are placed on dwarf walls. The attached porch in front measuring:2.8 * 2.2 ms. is supported by two more projecting dwarf pillars which are rested on the dwarf walls of the entrance porch on either side. The shafts of the pillars are divided into the sevaral sections of varying shapes, viz., square, 58. Here Fig. 157. 59. Here Fig. 158.

532 The Structural Temples of Gujarat octagonal, sixteen -sided and round in the ascending order. The capitals of the pillars are ornamented with Kicaka carvings. The dome of the mandapa has plain tiers with lotus-petal design carved with key-stone at the centre. The external walls of both these temples have lateral projections terminating into vertical chases with horizontal mouldings like Kumbho, Andhari, Kevala Pitha, Kevala, Bharani, and chajja etc. from which the curvilinear spire with urusrungas and srungas corresponding to the lateral projections rises. The superstructures of the mandapas as well as of the porches of both the temples externally are in stepped-out pyramidal in shape. The subordinate shrines similar in plan and design around these temples consist of square garbhagrihas with attached porches which are almost square. The garbhagrihas have sikharas over them while the porches have stepped-out pyramidal superstructures. The site resting on a high platform, is surrounded by a compound wall. Its entrance lies in the north. The parts of the door are all carved profusely. The threshold has a projecting semi-circular step, flanked by the usual grasa mouldings. The temples in the site are restored too frequently to retain their original form. But they leave some traces of antiquity. The inscription on the pedastal of the statue of the local king. Vikramaditya lying in the Siddhesvara temple contains reference to Dwarkadhisa and is dated V. S. 1262 (A. D. 1205- 1206). The contents of the inscription thus corroborate the antiquity of the site. a In the vicinity to this group of temples there is another temple which is popularly known as Bhidabhangan Mahadeva.60 This temple consists of triple shrines with a common mandapa 60. The temple is attached with a step-well.

Appendix A 533 in the centre. The temple faces west. The shrine dedicated to Siva is in the centre. The shrine on the south is dedicated to Visnu while that on the north is dedicated to Kartikasvami. The triple-garbhagrihas are square measuring 1.9*1.9 ms. The central mandapa, having 12 pillars, measures 3.8*3.8 ms. The pillars and the dome of the mandapa are similar in design to those of the temple. The attached porch measuring 1路8*1.5 ms. too, has similar pillars to those of Siddhesvara. The Vedikas (dwarf walls) of the mandapa and the porch are plain while the external walls of the shrine have lateral projections terminating into vertical chases and different mouldings extending from the base to the top of the wall. All the three garbhagrihas have usual curvilinear sikharas while the central mandapa and porch have stepped-out pyramidal superstructures.