Page 265 - Eye of the beholder

Its square form is is unusual and has no superstructure It It is is constructed out of large rectangular blocks of stone quarried from the site nearby being a a a hilly region The dry construction employed in the the the temples is noticeable as the the the narrow crevices between the the the stones are clearly visible indicating that no mortar was used in in in its construction The capitals of the pillars resonate to Vijaynagar style with pushpa potika or or the the lotus buds which formed an integral part of the the capital design The left side of the temple shows a a a a a shallow niche containing sculpture While adjacent to it is is an open space where two men are represented At the side of this structure is is an an arched opening and the the wall next to it is is broken indicating that there must have been a a a a a a a a small mandapa in in in front front here However the larger rectangular opening in in in front front suggests that it was the main entrance The surrounding environment has the the representation of the the vegetation which above and behind the temple constitutes of small trees and in in what appears to be be a a a a a a a a cactus plant The ground in front is is broken broken and irregular though it is is possible to see vaguely a a a a broken broken staircase leading up to the the the temple temple On the the the right hand side in in in line with the the the temple temple could be seen a a a a a a a a a a vertical structure perhaps the dhwaja stambha common to all temples and a a a a a a a a a a piece of sculpture standing next to to it The rest of the space towards extreme right hand corner is filled with sparse foliage The ground ground next to to the staircase opens to to a a a a a a large hollowed out ground ground which could be the the the temple water water tank but in in the the the scorching heat of April the the the water water has dried up up There is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a road that that leads up up and has at at at its side a a a a a a a a a a a a a tree that that is is leaning forward with a a a a a a a a a a a a a small boulder of of stone next to to to it it it This part of of the composition is is in shade as its tones are darker than the the rest of the the composition The shaded brush work randomly rendered indicates stones on on on the ground partially covered with mud Though it is a a a a a a a a pencil and water colour painting Thomas Daniell has brilliantly suggested the the the bright light of the the the summer sun pouring down on the the the rocky landscape A simple yet a a a powerful composition which delineates the the saliency of its topography with verity the the artist has has composed the the the scene in in front with deft artistry in in which the the the visual emphasis is is is is on on the the the great outcrop of the hill which to a a a a a a British would have been fascinating coming across such a a a a a a site The Kolar district in Karnataka is is bounded by Tamil Nadu and and Andhra Pradesh and and possesses numerous temples built by the various dynasties that ruled in this region The dynasty of Gangas’ ruled here until the the the ninth century when they were overthrown by the the the powerful Cholas around 1000 AD The region later passed into the the the hands of the the the Hoysala and and the the the Vijaynagar rulers rulers followed by the the Deccan rulers rulers of Bijapur and the the Mysore Wodeyars Hence historically this was an an an important region which witnessed the the rule of many dynasties as as as as well as as as as the the accompanying construction of temples in in this region 259