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The Duel & Jagamohana
The temple, with its 'Deul' and 'Jagamohana', recalls the
'Ananta-Vasudeva' temple
both in structural features and richness and affluence of decoration. Also
like the latter, it is built of soft sandstone, resulting in a large
amount of exfoliation and obliteration of the carvings. Almost all the
sculptures of the 'Deul' are now gone. The damaged platform, which had the
same type of ornamentation as that of the Ananta-Vasudeva temple, is now
shorn of its facing stones. Both the 'Deul' and the 'Jagamohana' have lost
their crowning members above the 'Amla'.
The 'Deul' further resembles the 'Ananta-Vasudeva' temple in the
disposition of the 'Pagas' as well e.g. division of corner 'Ratha' limited
to 'Bada' only. Here, however, the 'Dikpalas' and their female
counterparts occur on the corner 'Rathas' of both the 'Deul' and
'Jagamohana'. Of the images of 'Parsva-Devatas', only the mutilated
chlorite figure of 'Ganesa' exists. The porches in front of them are now
reduced to the level of the platform.
The Beautifully Carved Banister Windows
The non-functional balustraded windows of the 'Jagamohana' are richly
carved. The lintel of the north window depicts a royal personage seated on
a throne amidst his followers and approached by visitors, who have
apparently got down from elephants, carved at the corner. The pilasters
below this window, corresponding to the 'Pabhaga' mouldings, are relieved
with 'Naga' and 'Nagi' musicians.
The niche above this window shows a preceptor thronged by his followers,
below which is a frieze of fighting cavalry. The carvings of the south
window are damaged. The animated frieze of trotting elephants is, however,
worth noticing. The scrollwork containing figures of animals on the facets
of the central projections is equally noteworthy.
In front of the doorjambs of the 'Jagamohana' were two delicately carved
pillars, now partly preserved. Between the steps leading to the
'Jagamohana' and the pillared 'Mandapa', which is reduced to core only, is
a stunted "Vrisha-Stambha" (column surmounted by a bull).
The Courtyard
The temple is conspicuous for its spacious courtyard surrounded by an
imposing compound-wall recessed with a series of niches for 'lingas'. In
the southeast corner of the enclosure is visible the upper part of a small
'Tri-Ratha' shrine of the 'Parasuramesvara' type, buried under the earth.