Usually in temples the gatekeepers (Dwarapala) are warrior-like characters wielding spears or clubs, some are fierce looking too. However, there's one temple which has a simple looking gateway. This temple is at Mahakoota temple complex, a group of ancient shrines whose history goes back to the early Chalukyan times. The stone structures at Mahakoota date were built by Chalukyan builders but the shrines themselves are much older. Coming back to the topic of this post. here's that temple which I assume is Sangameshwara Devastana.
Let's take a closer look at the gatekeeper, a bald man sporting a long mustache. Posing with him is Sridhar with a similar mustache. When I shot these photos I hadn't paid much attention to the sculptures. Thanks to the similarity of the sculpture's and Sridhar's mustaches! Two down-to-earth characters here.
Now, I'm not sure if this sculpture is original or a cleverly camouflaged recent creation. If you go back to the first photo, the Dwarapala on the left hand side has been vandalized but it looks like a standard type of Dwarapala. What do you think.
Here's the deity, a big Shivalinga which I assume is ancient, meaning it was installed during the Chalukyan times. Shivaya Namah Aum.
Opposite the Shivalingu shrine is a honey colored Nandi idol matching in size. As I know there are two Nandi idols made of honey colored stone.
This is one of the most beautiful idols of Nandi in my opinion.
The unique Nandi is housed in a befitting Mantapa.
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