Seen here is a seated image of Lakulisa on the latatabimba (lintel) of the shrine along the western boundary of the Mahanaleshwar temple complex. The deity is holding a lakut (staff) in his hand. Lakulisa is a form of Shiva central to the Pashupata tradition of Shaivism.
Pillars of the entrance porch of the Triple-shrine Temple are visible here. The three shrines are connected by a rectangular porch which has two types of pillars: one has a fluted shaft and the other has a square shaft. The square shaft variety is similar to the reused pillars in the mandapa (pillared hall) of the matha (monastic or residential building) in the Mahanaleshwar temple complex.
This is a single-shrine temple with a latina-nagara shikhara (mono-spire superstructure) next to the pratoli (entrance gateway), in the row of temples that are along the western boundary of the Mahanaleshwar temple complex. The central band of the shikhara (superstructure) is broader than the rest. The corner bands have karna amalakas (aedicules made of gavaksha or dormer window designs and separated by slender fruit-like ribbed discs). The temple is a simple construction, not austere in appearance and has lost the topmost portion of its shikhara. Latina shikhara in which the central band of the shikhara (superstructure) is broader than the rest. The corner bands have karna amalakas (aedicules made of gavaksha or dormer window designs and separated by slender fruit-like ribbed discs).
A loose sculpture of Brahma is found lying next to the pratoli (entrance gateway), in the premises of the Mahanaleshwar temple complex. The three-faced, four-handed, seated figure of Brahma is shown holding a pustaka (book) in the upper left hand and a kamandalu (sacrificial pot) in the lower left while the attributes in the right hand are lost. The bearded pot-bellied figure with jatamukuta (crown of mattered hair) is placed inside a niche.
Pictured here 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. The exterior of the transepts has plinth mouldings that support a plain wall which is ornamented with pilaster motifs. The dwarf walls have slender and slanting kakshasana (seat backs) that have balustrade designs. Both the vedika (wall) and the slanting seat back of the kakshasana are bereft of ornamentation patterns.
Similar to the western boundary of the Mahanaleshvar temple complex, the northern side also has two temples which stand close to the main temple. Seen here is a ruinous shrine bereft of any ornamentation. Its superstructure has not survived. It consists of a row of small cells which is fronted by a colonnade. The pillars of the colonnade have plain shafts.
This is the north-facing lateral transept that is attached to the mandapa (pillared hall) of the Mahanaleshwar Temple. The plinth of this transept had a chamber with a narrow opening to it. This plinth had four pillars that supported the cantilevered roof of the transept. The inner pillars on the plinth are flanked by perforated jalis (latticed windows). The use of these chambers in the basement cannot be ascertained. But they are commonly found in the temples of this region and time period. These possibly served as spaces for meditation.
Pictured here are the details of the bhadra (central projection) from the north-facing elevation of the Mahanaleshwar Temple. The devakoshtha (niche) on the central bhadra projection is a deep niche with an image of eight armed Chamunda inside. The devakoshtha is made up of two ornate pilasters that have icons at the base. These pilasters stand on a pedestal which is fashioned like a kapotali (cyma recta) and supports an udgama (pediment) above. This udgama is made up of a mesh of gavakshas (chaitya or dormer window arches) arranged like a pyramid. The east and west-facing sides of the devakoshthas have attendants. Chamunda has a skeletal body, stands on a dead human body, and holds a kapaal (human skull), khatvanga (staff with a skull), trishula (trident), naag (serpent), damru (hourglass-shaped drum), etc. attributes. She is biting the finger of her upper left hand.
Seen here is the north-facing façade of the residential building, a Shaiva matha from the Suhaveshwar temple complex. It is a two-storeyed structure with several rooms on both floors. The matha is in ruinous condition. The exterior stone of the matha is broken in several places.
Seen here is the samvarna variety of pyramidal shikhara of the Mahanaleshwar temple. Each of the small aedicules is composed of small discs that descend like a pyramid. Since the aedicules have bell-like finials, the type of shikhara is known as ghanta samvarna.