Famous Temples in India

Architecture

Shri Kankaleshwar Temple built in the middle of an 84 meter square lake. The temple stands on the banks of the river Bindusara at an altitude of 1.52 m above sea level. This temple was completely constructed in black stone and is carved with human and divine figures. The Kankaleshwar temple is facing west and has a front pavilion, a semi-pavilion behind it and a sanctum sanctorum with spaced sanctum sanctorum on three sides . All three sanctuaries are the same size and have star-shaped bases. The pavilion of this temple is octagonal in shape. The four main directions of the pavilion and the four subdivisions have two columns or a pair of pillars. These sixteen pillars have a domed roof. The roof is made up of increasingly circular rings. The ceiling has floral motifs and ornaments. In the middle of the roof is a lotus at the top. The pillars between the pavilion and the sanctum sanctorum are of square tilniyasa and are comprised of square pillars which are octagonal, square and circular at some distance above the square base, and the circular part of the pillar. There are various layers on the outside of the temple and the lowest layer is decorated with window designs while the upper layer is decorated with Kirtimukh. The temples on the outer limbs of the temple have Shakti, Brahma and Shiva deities. The ten incarnations of Vishnu and Ashtadikpala are shown on the thigh above Mandovara. The sanctum sanctorum of the Kankaleshwar temple is of Panchshakha type and is decorated with lotus, flowers and vials. At the bottom of these doors are shown the maids and funds holding Aquarius and Chauri. There is an idol of Ganesha on the forehead of the main sanctum sanctorum.