This is a view of the south elevation of the mandapa (pillared hall) of the Suhaveshwar Temple. The mandapa has two lateral transepts on the north and south sides. Both the mukhamandapa (front porch) and the mandapa have pyramidical shikharas atop them. The shikhara (superstructure) on the mandapa is of the samvarana (pyramid-shaped) variety. The juncture of the pillars of the mandapa and the shikhara are marked by a protruding chajja (balcony).
Matha (monastery/religious building) in the Mahanaleshwar temple complex. The two-storeyed structure was built by a sage named Bhava Brahma, of the Mattamyura tradition, during the reign of Cahamana King Prithviraja II in the 12th century CE. The Matha is one of the finest examples of residential buildings found in Central India.
This is the Nandi mandapa (pillared hall) facing the Mahanaleshwar Temple. It is an open mandapa consisting of a plinth with four pillars on its corners that support a canopy shikhara (superstructure). Nandi is facing the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple. The sculpture is decked with jewels.
Seen here is the Mahanaleshwar Temple from its eastern side, which is the principal ingress of the temple. There is a Nandi mandapa (pillared hall) in front of it. The imposing shikhara (superstructure) of the temple is seen in the skyline. The temple has a sabhamandapa (big pillared hall) which is a semi-open variety having dwarf walls to the north and south sides.
The south-facing bhadra (central projection) of the Mahanlashwar Temple has an image of Tripurantaka Shiva. The left foot of the deity is uplifted to crush the demon. Among attributes, the deity is shown holding a raised trishula (trident), kapala (skull), sword and snake. This depiction of Tripurantaka is complimented with Natesha and Chamunda in the other two bhadras of the temple, indicating the Shaiva affiliation of the temple.
The corners of the dwarf walls of the mandapa (pillared hall) of the Mahanaleshwar Temple have icons at their joining juncture. These images are mostly of dikapalas (gods of cardinal directions), the directional deities, but since the icons are mutilated, it is difficult to identify them. The west-facing devakoshtha (niche) seen here probably had the icon of Ishan, the god of the north-east direction. The base of the dwarf walls with devakoshthas (niches) have two sets of pillars at their edges. One of these is a half pillar that rests over the kakshasana (seat backs) from the interiors of the temple and the other is a pilaster that connects to the perforated windows of the mandapas.
A Triple-shrine temple cluster, facing east, stands near the Mahanaleshwar Temple. According to Michael W. Meister, this cluster is one of the earliest temples in the Mahanaleshwar temple complex. Based on style, the north and south shrines from this triple shrine belong to the 8th century CE. Meister argues that the central shrine from the triple shrine was a later period addition. The construction material for the older two shrines is completely different from that of the central shrine. The red sandstone of the central shrine is similar to other monuments in the Mahanaleshwar temple complex. The older shrines have been reassembled as part of the restoration work undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The vedibandha (basal mouldings) of the Mahanaleshwar Temple are also divided as per this plan. In elevation, the mouldings consist of a jadyakumbha, gajathara, narathara, and a plain band followed by a broad kumbha moulding, kalasha, and kapotali. All these form the vedibandha section of the temple. The jadyakumbha (lotus-shaped moulding) has decorative motifs called the padma (lotus) and ardharatna (half diamond motifs). Just below the central kumbha (pot), the mouldings are punctured with a pranala, a water chute that facilitates the passage of water from the inside of the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum).
The northern side lateral transept attached to the mandapa (pillared hall) of the Mahanleshwar Temple has devakoshthas (niches) on all sides containing deities. Seen here is probably a broken sculpture of a river goddess in one of the niches flanked by a row of pilaster motifs and dancing figures. The dwarf wall of the transept has kakshasana (seat backs) containing designs of balustrades separating the sculptural depictions formed in circles.
Similar to the western boundary of the Mahanaleshvar temple complex, the northern side also has two temples that stand close to the Mahanaleshwar Temple. Seen here is one of these temples whose superstructure is lost. The plinth of the temple and the walls have been partially reconstructed. The original temple was designed to have a garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum), an antarala (vestibule or antechamber) and a mandapa (pillared hall). Based on the remains scattered in the vicinity of the temple, the temple might have had a shikhara of the shekhari (multi-spired) variety. The main shrine was designed to be pancharatha (consisting of five projections).