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.
This is a view of the north elevations of three small and two large temples in the Mahanaleshwar temple complex, most of which are in ruinous condition. Seen here are two large temples, only one of which is preserved with the shekhari variety of shikhara (superstructure). The smaller shrines have pyramidical shikharas. The exterior of the temple walls is devoid of sculptural ornamentation but with geometric patterns, diamond motifs and pillar motifs.
Closer view of the dikapala (gods of cardinal directions) Kubera in the devakoshtha (niche) along the mandapa (pillared hall) dwarf walls of the Mahanaleshwar Temple. Kubera corresponds to the northern direction. The lower two hands of the deity are broken but the upper two hands hold a nakula (money) bag, one of the distinctive attributes of Kubera. The devakoshtha is composed of two slender pilasters surmounted by a miniature samvarna (pyramid-shaped) variety of shikhara (superstructure). The ghantas (bells) of the shikhara are fronted by a udgama (gavaksha or dormer window design). It rests on a low pedestal made up of multiple mouldings.
Seen here are the interiors of the mandapa (pillared hall) of the Mahanaleshwar Temple. The centre of the mandapa has a slightly raised platform on which stand six pillars that eventually support the circular ceiling of the temple. The central pillars are of a fluted variety. The four corners of the mandapa that join the transepts to the antarala (vestibule or antechamber) and the mukhamandapa (front porch) to the transepts have ornamented jali (lattice) patterns.
A small square shrine is there near the pratoli (entrance gateway) of the western boundary of the Mahanaleshwar temple complex. The structure has a phamsana shikhara (pyramidical superstructure) on a square plan. It was probably built from donations received by pilgrims or in memory of some deceased soul. Several such small temples are scattered in the temple complex.
Seen here are the details of the base plinth and kakshasana (seat backs) vedika (railing) of the lateral transepts of the Mahanaleshwar Temple mandapa (pillared hall). The corner plinth has a devakoshtha (niche) with a sculpture that is likely of Ganga. It is identifiable with the depiction of the makara (crocodile-like creature), which is at the bottom left of the deity. The identification of sculpture of Ganga is identified based on the depiction of the makara (crocodile-like creature), which is at the bottom left of the deity. The introduction of this sculpture to the vedika (railing), which otherwise has the icons of dikapalas (gods of cardinal directions), is noteworthy.
This is a view of the west-facing elevations of the two shrines that stand in front of the Mahanaleshwar Temple. These temples are built in red sandstone, consisting of plain plinth mouldings, geometric motifs on the wall subsidiary projections, and deep niches in the principal projections. The shrines have a shekhari variety of shikharas (superstructures). The walls are bereft of any icons.
East-facing jangha (wall) of the Mahanaleshwar Temple is similar in scheme to the details on the north-facing one. The bhadra (central projection) has a Natesha icon, the slender intermediary projections have surasundaris (celestial damsels) and the corner projections have dikapalas (gods of cardinal directions). Each of these projections of the jangha has four kapotali (cyma recta) like mouldings above them and similar slender horizontal mouldings below. The difference is the stone material of the intermediary and corner projections is noteworthy.
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.