One of the oldest temples (late 8th century), its
striking feature is the shape of its sanctuary tower. The semi
cylindrical shape of its roof, a leading example of khakhara order of
temples, bears an affinity to the Dravidian gopuram of the South India
temples. The plan of the deul is oblong and the jagamohana is a
rectangular structure, but embedded in each angle is a small subsidiary
shrine. Vaital Deul boasts some figures, although executed in
relief are however characterized by delicacy of features and perfect
equipoise.
The outer walls are encrusted with panels of Hindu deities mostly Shiva
and his consort Parvati in her Shakti form, hunting processions,
capturing of wild elephants and the occasional erotic couples.
The facade of the deul above the left of the jagamohana is dominated by
two chaitya windows, the lower one having a beautifully carved figure of
sun gold Surya noted for its facial expression, with Usha (Dawn) and
Pratyusha shooting arrows on either side and with Aruna in front driving
a chariot of seven horses. The medallion in the upper Chaitya-window
houses a ten-armed Nataraja or dancing Shiva. In front of the flat
roofed jagamohana is a stone post relieved with two Buddha like figures
seated in dharma-chakra-pravartana mudra.
Another striking feature is temple's tantric associations, marked by
eerie carvings in the sanctum and the image enshrined in the central
niche, eight armed Chamunda, locally known as Kapalini, is the
terrifying form of goddess Durga. Thus Vaital Deul is a Sakta
shrine. The presiding deity, Chamunda or Mahishasuramardini sits on a
corpse flanked by a jackal and an owl and decorated with a garland of
skulls. She holds a snake, bow, shield, sword, trident, thunderbolt and
an arrow, and is piercing the neck of the demon. The niche is capped by
a chaitya window containing seated figures of Shiva and Parvati. The
Chamunda is surrounded by a host of other smaller size allied deities
carved in the lower parts of the walls, each within a niche separate by
a pilaster. The figure on the east wall, to the fight of the door, is a
skeleton form of Bhairava forming the counter part of Chamunda. The
other, carved on the north wall, rises from ground, having filled his
skull-cup with the blood of a person whose severed head lies on the
right; on the pedestal is an offering of two more heads on a tray
resting on a tripod, flanked by a jackal feasting on the decapitated
body on the right and a woman holding a head on the left. The tantric
character of the temple is also marked by the stone post, to which
sacrificial offerings were tethered, just in front of the jagamohana.
You need an artificial light to see in the darkness of the interior,
though early morning sun lights up the interior.
