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Dr.Suryakanth Kokatanur Assistant Professor of Histroy governmnet First Grade College,Lokapur Karnataka

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Bhutnath Temple of Torgal

This is the biggest and important among all temples of Toragl. It is in good condition and built in Chalukyan style with red sand stone. Facing east has a garbhagriha, an antarala and a navarang having three side entrances. It is a nirandhar temple. This temple is dedicated to lord Shiva and this is the only temple  worshipped by the people. In the garbhagriha an ancient Shivling is installed and four corner pillars here. The ceiling is decorated with inverted padma and a small step like structure is attached to the western part of the wall. Its doorway is decorated with sthambha shakha model. In the lalata portion is not fully visible due to application of whitewash on it. A jalapranali is attached to the garbhagriha and is decorated with makara. The antarala is attached with the garbhagriha. Here also we find inverted padma is attached in the ceiling. The door jamb is decorated with (pierced window) jalandras with octagonal designs. Gajalaxmi is engraved in the lalata of anatarala doorway. Two ardhagambas are also attached in the either sides of the doorway.Four devakoshta (decorative niche) are created in the wall of antarala and corners of navarang. Presently the Shivalings  are  being installed in two koshtas and other two are empty. These khostas are well embellished with architectural detailing to the effect that each resembles a small shrine complete with elaborate vimana structure and supported with two circular pillar like structures. They are having dravida shikhara miniatures on the top of these devakoshtas. This temple has a spacious navaranga  with beautifully carved  four pillars and a square like flat form is created in the centre of the navarang which is now covered with modern tiles and a  Nandi is installed on this. Along with four main pillars eight other pillars also attached in the navrang. These pillars are decorated with various designs. The peetha part of the pillars is simple in nature. They are only decorated with nasis. The pada part is square. In the dandabhaga is decorated with octagonal, chain and ghata like designs. In dandagra part kalasha and other circular strips are running around the pillars. In the potika part square type plates are created. Along with these four pillars other twelve pillars are also beautifully designed. They are decorated with octagonal, lotus and garland type designs. Eight pillars are also attached with the kaksana part.The bhuvaneshwari of navaranga is decorated with beautifully carved  inverted lotus. The temple has open mukhamantapa and decorated lotus in the ceiling. Three entrances have roof slab with slope and  attached to the mukhamantapa. The entrances of north, west and south the mukhamanatapa are running through the yalis and they are decorated with floral designs. Originally it had slopping roofs on four sides of built of laterite by corbelling. Much of the old roof slabs have been  collapsed and  accordingly at present it is covered new slabs. The kaksasana part made the temple made more beautiful which runs around the three sides of the temple with slanted parapets. Here also few new slabs are attached. Eighteen semi pillars are attached here. Outer side of this part is embossed with various carvings. Flowers, pot like, shimhaprabhavali, Anjaneya, erotic scenes and other sculptures are engraved. The outer wall, (bhitti part) of the temple is chiseled with beautiful engravings. Miniature decorative dravida style tower (aedicule) miniature pillars(kudyasthambha) are extended up to prastara part of the temple. Between the passages pillars and nagar shikhara models are engraved. They are decorated with shala, shikhara models and shimha prabhavali. There are sculptures of different gods, human figurines and floral articulations etc. The models devakostas are also engraved and they have shikhara models. The adhistan part is simple  and resembles upana, jagati and kumuda like feature. The temple had beautifully decorated dravida shikhara with sukhanasa on its garbhagriha. It is consisted of shala, talaprastahara, nashikosta, karnakuta, kshudranashi, griva, nashi, stupi and kalasha and other etc.