This Shaiva figure was possibly part of a devakostha or sculptural niche placed on the walls of a now-lost Shaiva shrine. It is now housed in the Government Museum, Sikar. The four-armed seated figure holds a trident and a staff in the upper two hands, while the lower two hands are considerably damaged. The figure is ithyphallic, symbolizing the Urdhvareta aspect of Shiva, indicating mastery over the vital energies through ascetic vigour. It is plausible that this image represents Lakulisha, the preceptor of the Pashupata tradition. The Harshnath Temple’s history clearly indicates that the temple was under the control of and likely erected by ascetics of the Lakulisha-Pashupata tradition. Therefore, the depiction of Lakulisha on the temple walls comes as no surprise.
Image courtesy: The Government Museum, Sikar
It seems that the beam, richly carved with human figures, was likely placed on the varandika of the temple, the adjoining portions between the temple walls and the spire. The protruding offsets typically feature mithuna figures inside the niches, while the recess between the two offsets is beautifully carved with images of apsaras or women engaged in different actions such as carrying children, weapons, etc. The male figures are often portrayed with weapons and accompanied by female companions. This fragment is one of the loose architectural fragments on Harsha Hill.
The lintel of the doorway of the sanctum. At the lalata is a figure of Lakulisha. The frame is richly carved with musicians and dancers. The current lintel on the doorframe of the Harshnath temple is likely a later replacement. This lintel, depicting Lakulisha, may have belonged to the Harshnath Temple.
On the northeast corner of the Harshnath Temple wall, dikpala Ishana is depicted with his vahana, a bull. A dwarf figure feeding the bull from a vessel is an interesting feature of the image. A dwarf figure feeding the bull from a vessel is an interesting feature of the image.
Outside the entrance of the Harsha Bhairon shrine on Harsha Hill, this image of Durga-Mahishasuramardini is in active worship. It is smeared with black paint and clothed, which obscures the details of the image. It is one of the many images contemporaneous to the Harsha shrine, affixed in the enclosure of the Bhairon shrine.
The elaborately carved temple ceiling features a panel on the right carved with multiple male and female figures. In the centre is a prominent bearded male figure holding a drum. The central portion of the panel is significantly defaced.
This enigmatic deity, seemingly Shaiva, is depicted with six heads and twelve hands. Although all hands are broken, one appears to hold an attribute in the form of a trident. The waist portion is buried in the earth. The headgear includes a jatamukuta on the four side heads typically associated with Shiva, and a kirita-mukuta on the front and back heads, typically associated with Vishnu. While five faces exhibit a fierce form, one appears benevolent. The depiction resembles the Sadashiva form of Shiva, which includes five faces representing Ishan, Tatpurusha, Aghora, Vamadeva and Sadyojata, portrayed through fierce and benevolent expressions. However, labelling this image as a clear syncretic mixture of Sadashiva and Vishnu is difficult due to the placement of the kirita-mukuta above the fierce face types as well. This enigmatic image likely has Tantric associations, as evidenced by other images at the hill bearing Tantric connotations.
The jangha or wall portions of the sanctum are nearly in ruins. The temple lacks the pitha but begins from a single plinth course. The vedibandha is damaged in some areas, but otherwise, it had kumbha with intricate udgama motifs, with a small central box carrying a figure.