Couples invoking shringara rasa (associated with romance, love, and attractiveness between lovers) are framed in panels with pillars and tiered shikhara with gavaksha (horseshoe) motifs. Unlike in other parts of the temple, the faces of the couples are not damaged and they are wearing heavy jewellery, elaborate headgear, and garments, indicating they belong to royalty. The central male figure is seated in the lalitasana pose on a raised seat. The central female figure is seated on his left thigh, looking towards the man with her head turned. The man is admiring the beauty of the woman, placing his left hand on her coiffure and inspecting her face with his left hand (missing). Chauri dharini (fly whisk bearers) stand on either side of the couple, looking towards them. A small female figure features at the right bottom, likely an attendant or servant.
Debris from the original temple was salvaged when the current temple was reconstructed in the 1940s. These have been assembled in parts to form the jagati (raised platform). This vertical fragment is topped with a broken amalaka (notched disc). However, it is not known where they were located in the original temple. A broken section of the block features two pillars divided vertically in three sections. The kalpa lata (creeper) motif features at the base, the purna kalasha (pot of prosperity) in the central part. The top part is damaged and blooming lotuses separate the three parts. In the central part, a flowing kalpavrisksha (tree of life) motif is carved in great detail.
Broken fragments and debris from the original temple assembled on the adhisthana on the southeast side. Relief carvings of geometric, flora and fauna motifs feature all around the adhisthana. Seen here is a carving of a peacock.
Tablet-like plaques are placed on the adhisthana (facing east). These plaques depict various types of flora and fauna as well as hybrid creatures like kinnara, vyala, and makara. The plaques are tightly arranged, richly detailed, and deeply carved, creating contrasting shadows that make the artwork look three-dimensional in sunlight. The central artwork of the plaque is in the form of a circular medallion surrounded by a foliage motif. The medallion shows a kinnara (having the upper body of a human male and the lower body of a bird) with its tail forming a creeper motif. Kinnaras and kinnaris (having the upper body of a human female) are divine musicians who are skilled in dance, music, and poetry. The rest of the plaque surface is decorated with ardha padma (half lotus) and kalpa lata (creeper) motifs.
Tablet-like plaques are placed on the adhisthana (facing east). These plaques depict various types of flora and fauna as well as hybrid creatures like kinnara, vyala, and makara. The plaques are tightly arranged, richly detailed, and deeply carved, creating contrasting shadows that make the artwork look three-dimensional in sunlight. The central artwork of the plaque is in the form of a circular medallion surrounded by a foliage motif. Seen in this plaque, simha (lion) vyala and gaja (elephant) vyala engaged in a fight. The rest of the plaque is decorated with ardha padma (half lotus) and kalpa lata (creeper) motifs.
Tablet-like plaques are placed on the adhisthana (facing east). These plaques depict various types of flora and fauna as well as hybrid creatures like kinnara, vyala, and makara. The plaques are tightly arranged, richly detailed, and deeply carved, creating contrasting shadows which make the artwork look three-dimensional in sunlight. The central artwork of the plaque is in the form of a circular medallion surrounded by a foliage motif. The medallion in the centre of the plaque has a kirtimukha (face of glory). The rest of the plaque surface is decorated with ardha padma (half lotus) and kalpa lata (creeper) motifs.
Broken debris from the original temple assembled on the southeast face of the adhisthana. U-shaped rounded stones are assembled on the parapet, but their position or purpose in the original temple is unknown. The structure juts out from the adhisthana with a continuation of the motif from it.
Front view of Harshat Mata Temple and Nandi shrine (east). The original stone temple was built in the Mahameru style and was destroyed and replaced by a circular domed structure at a later period when the temple was reconstructed. The present temple has used broken fragments from the original temple in the foundation and pillars and a mix of modern materials in the dome and remaining parts.
Tablet-like plaques are placed on the adhisthana (facing east). These plaques depict various types of flora and fauna as well as hybrid creatures like kinnara, vyala, and makara. The plaques are tightly arranged, richly detailed, and deeply carved, creating contrasting shadows that make the artwork look three-dimensional in sunlight. The central artwork of the plaque is in the form of a circular medallion surrounded by a foliage motif. In this medallion, a bird (likely a peacock) with its head bent downwards is integrated with a creeper motif. The rest of the plaque is covered with ardha padma (half lotus) and kalpa lata (creeper) motifs.
Broken fragments and debris from the original temple assembled on the north face of the adhisthana. Most fragments assembled here were once part of the shikhara of the original temple, other subsidiary structures, and associated parts like the urushringa (subsidiary tower projecting from the sides of the main shikhara). The original shikhara was destroyed and replaced by a circular dome at a later period.