3.8. The temple of Somaditya at Bhayavdar

An Inscription in the Sun-temple at Bhayavadar (Bagavadar)* speaks of the erection of the temple in 1146 A. D. by one Somaraja. This old ruined shrine of Somaditya, which is of the same style as that of Nilakanth at Miani, but, with this difference, that its walls are absolutely devoid of Sculpture. The roof and 145/2. This can be ascertained by an inscription in the trika, fixed on the outer wall of the Gudhamandapa i, e. on the right hand side of the main entrance to it. 145/3. Here Figs. 103, 104. * A hamlet about 3 kms. to the east of Bagavadar ( Dist. Junagadh ). 145/4. Somanatha and other Medieval Temples of Kathiawad p. 72.

152 The Structural Temples of Gujarat Sikhara have been destroyed The general workmanship is coarse and plain. Among the stones that have fallen from the tower, there is one containing a standing figure of Suraya which as it lies at the back of the shrine, may possibly have been the central image upon the lower part; if so, it would be good to suppose that it was originally dedicated to Sun 146 The temple of Hingolji Mata at Khandosan, is a magnificent shrine though comparatively of small dimensions. It is superbly carved. There is an inscription on one side of its antarala which is dated in V. S. 1207 ( 1150 A. D. ). The inscription shows that the shrine is sacred to the goddess Sarvamangla 147 styled as Bhatarika. 148 In construction it clearly resembles to the Vaisnava (Ramayana) temple at Baradia. The main structure is almost entire in contour though badly damaged in several places. 149 The shrine consists of a sanctum and a porch. The porch has vase-and-foliage dwarf pillars standing on Kaksasana seats, the samvarna of the porch is vanished but the spire over the garbhagriha retains. The mouldings and carvings of the pitha and the mandovara are typical of the period.