Built in the 7th century, the Parasurameswar
Temple is small but lavishly decorated. Enclosed within a compound
wall, the deul, facing the West is a square towered, while the
jagamohana, instead of being a stepped pyramid, is a rectangular
structure with a terraced roof, sloping in two stages. The deul about 13
m high has no platform and is triratha on plan, a dominant style of the
early periods. The temple typifies the stage of Saiva Pasupata Sect,
illustrated by the frequent representation of Lakulisa. He is sculpted
in Buddha-like form, with four disciples at his feet as shown on the
last side of the tower, while on the West, above the relief of Nataraja,
he looks like the meditating Buddha. The varandah has projecting
moulding topped by a recessed frieze, demarcating bada from the gandi, a
feature not found in later temples. The frieze has mostly amorous
couples, separated by paneled jalis vidalas (a rampant lion, with head
swung backwards, springing over a crouching elephant) at corners, a very
typical symbol the beleaguered Buddhist faith.
The jagamohana, adjoining the square towered shrine has an additional
doorway on the South and four latticed windows, one each on the North
and South and two on the West, the last, decorated with wonderfully
animated bands of dancers and musicians. The recurring motif is the
highly-ornate chaitya-window, very often filled with animal, human and
divine figures, the last including busts of Shiva. The main entrance to
jagamohana also has a fine carving of domestic elephants capturing wild
ones, to the left of the lintel. Set into the outer walls of the shrine,
sculptures are scenes from mythological narratives, forming a repertoire
of Saiva myths, among them the highlights are-on the South of the
sanctuary, at eye level in the middle of tower, a superb four armed pot
bellied Ganesha seated on a simhasana, with his trunk touching a bowl of
laddus (balls of sweetmeat) held in his lower left hand, while his upper
left holds a parasu (hatchet); Karttikeya in the Southern niche is with
a peacock, holding a spear in his left hand and a fruit in his right;
the lintel above this niche illustrates the marriage of Shiva and
Parvati; to their right are Agni (fire), the kneeling figure of Brahma
and next to Brahma is Surya.
Among the notable friezes that line the North wall of the jagamohana
are-sapta matrikas (seven mother goddesses), with Chamunda (Shiva's
consort goddess Durga in her terrifying aspect); Ganesha having a human
visage face with a trunk growing from his chin; and several deities of
the Brahmanical pantheon. The temple is dedicated to Shiva, only two of
the three original deities survive. The Sahasralingam, in the far corner
of the courtyard, decorated with a thousand miniature versions of
itself.
