The Twin Temples at Mosale (ಮೊಸಳೆ)

North Face ( second part ) of the Exterior Wall This Face has fifteen images. Commencing from the right they are as follows :  1. Three-headed seated DEVI. She has in her lower right hand an AKSHAMAALA and in her lower left hand PAASHA. The other two hands are broken. 2. Four armed aaseena DURGAA with AKSHAMAALA, TRISHOOLA, DAMARU and BOWL. 3. Four armed aseena DEVI with AKSHAMAALA, GADE ( mace ), JAVELIN and PHALA. 4. VAISHNAVEE (ವೈಷ್ಣವೀ) with SHANKHA, PADMA, GADA and CHAKRA. 5. Four armed sthaanaka SHIVA with the lower right hand in ABHAYA MUDRA. In the upper right hand is held a TRISHOOLA (ತ್ರಿಶೂಲ), in the upper left hand is held a DAMARU and in the lower left hand a PHALA. 6. Male attendant standing with a MACE in the right hand. 7. A female attendant with a CHAAMARA (ಚಾಮರ) 8. NORTH NICHE supported by a SALA GROUP on either side. 9. Female attendant. 10.Male attendant with ABHAYA and GADA. 11. Four armed DEVI. In her lower right hand is AKSHAMAALA an...

West Face of the Northern Wall A small portion of the exterior wall now faces west again. This portion has the following four images: 1. Sthaanaka DURGAA (ದುರ್ಗಾ) with four arms of which the two left hands are broken. In the lower right hand is seen a bowl and in the upper one is a bell (ಗಂಟೆ). 2. Shadbhuja aaseena CHAKRESHVAREE ( ಚಕ್ರೇಶ್ವರೀ). The lower right hand of the image is in Chinmudra. In the upper left hand is a Chakra. The other two hands are broken. 3. Chaturbhuja sthaanaka DURGAA. In the four hands are held phala in the lower right hand, javelin in the upper right hand, damaru (ಡಮರು) in the upper left hand and padma in the lower left hand. 4. Chaturbhuja aaseena Shiva with akshamaala , trishoola and damaru. The lower left hand is broken

The North Face of the Exterior Wall There are thirteen images in the North Face of the Outer walls of the temple. The images are ( commencing from your right ) : 1. HARIHARA with a DAMARU (ಡಮರು) in the upper right hand and a CHAKRA (ಚಕ್ರ) i.e., discus in the upper left hand. The lower hands are broken. 2. The consort of HARIHARA. 3,4,5,6 and 7. The 5th i.e., the central image is that of aaseena NAARAAYANA (ನಾರಾಯಣ) in SUKHAASANA. There is a Kannada inscription which reads : NAARAAYANA.  The 6th image is that of SHREEYAADEVI (ಶ್ರೀಯಾದೇವಿ). The Kannada inscription below reads : SHREEYAADEVI. The 7th image is that of a female attendant i.e., a CHAURI bearer. To the left of NAARAAYANA is BHOODEVI (ಭೂದೇವಿ) (image  4 ). There is a Kannada inscription  which reads : BHOODEVI. Image 3 is that of a female attendant or CHAURI bearer. 8. Chaturbhuja sthaanaka VAISHNAVI (ವೈಷ್ಣವೀ) who holds in her lower right hand PADMA, in the upper right hand CHAKRA, in the upper l...

West Face of the Exterior Wall The WEST FACE of the exterior wall originally had nine images but at present only eight images are found. The images are ( from your right ) : 1. Chaturbhuja sthaanaka  MAHAAKANTHA (ಮಹಾಕಂಠ). In his lower right hand is found a sword and in the upper right hand a drum. The left hands are broken. Below the image is a Kannada inscription which reads MAHAAKANTHA (ಮಹಾಕಂಠ). 2. Four armed sthaanaka DEVI (ದೇವಿ).The lower right hand is broken. In the other three hands are seen paasha (ಪಾಶ),Ankusha (ಅಂಕುಶ) and Phala (ಫಲ). 3.Female attendant. 4. Chaturbhuja aaseena DURGAA (ದುರ್ಗಾ). In the lower right hand of the image is found Akshamaala (ಅಕ್ಷಮಾಲ) i.e., rosary, in the upper right hand is Damaru (ಡಮರು) i.e., drum and in the upper left hand is Trishoola (ತ್ರಿಶೂಲ) i.e., trident. The lower left hand has its palm in DAANA (ದಾನ) posture. 5. SADAASHIVAMURTI ( ಸದಾಶಿವಮೂರ್ತಿ) in padmaasana with three heads in a row and another in front of the KIREETA (ಕಿರ...

The South Face of the External Wall - 6 The sixth part of the South Face has twelve images. They are, from the right : 1. Unable to be identified because it is damaged. 2. DURGAA  (ದುರ್ಗಾ) ( damaged ) with a bhakta to the right and a lion to the left. 3. Sthaanaka four armed DURGAA (ದುರ್ಗಾ)- sword, spear, noose ( paasha ) and bowl. 4. SHIVA (ಶಿವ) standing as VAJRABHOOTA (ವಜ್ರಭೂತ) ( javelin, trident, drum, broken hand ). Inscription in KANNADA : VAJRABHOOTA (ವಜ್ರಭೂತ) 5, 6, 7. Female images ( damaged ) 8. Three-headed beardless BRAHMA ( damaged ). Kannada inscription : BRAHMA (ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ) 9. Three headed sthanaka SARASVATI (ಸರಸ್ವತೀ). 10. Female attendant with a chaamara (ಚಾಮರ). 11. DURGAA standing as SHAARADAA (ಶಾರದಾ) [ Chinmudra, trishoola, damaru ( drum ) and pustaka ]. 12. CHITRASENA ( ಚಿತ್ರಸೇನ), damaged. Kannada inscription, CHITRASENA ( ಚಿತ್ರಸೇನ ).

The South Face of the External Wall - 5 The fifth portion of the South face has five images namely : 1. Four armed goddess in sitting posture ( chinmudra, padma, padma and abhaya ). A cobra is seen below the goddess. ( Chinmudra is a posture  where the thumb and the index fingers are held in unison ) 2. Four armed sthaanaka MANOHARI (ಮನೋಹರಿ) ( abhaya, javelin, death's head mace, kalasha ). Kannada inscription : MANOHARI (ಮನೋಹರಿ) 3. ASHTABHUJA DURGAA (ಅಷ್ಟಭುಜ ದುರ್ಗಾ) as RAAKSHASI (ರಾಕ್ಷಸಿ). There is a KALASHA to the right and a lion to the left. 4. SHAKTI (ಶಕ್ತಿ) as VAISHNAVI (the image is damaged ). 5. Male attendant standing with folded hands.

The South Face of the External Wall - 4 SOUTH NICHE AND FURTHER proceeding further we have the following  images : 1. Goddess SREEYAADEVI with elephant. Kannada inscription SREEYAADEVI (ಶ್ರೀಯಾದೇವಿ) 2. Goddess with GARUDA (ಗರುಡ). Kannada inscription : LAKSHMEE DEVI (ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ದೇವಿ) 3 and 4. Female attendants. 5. Aaseena KAUMAARI with peacok and Kalasha (ನವಿಲು ಮತ್ತು ಕಳಶ). 6. Four armed Sthaanaka GAURI (ಗೌರಿ) ( Akshamaala, paasha, sarpa and padma ). Kannada inscription GAURI (ಗೌರಿ). 7. Aaseena MAAHESHVARI (ಮಾಹೇಶ್ವರಿ)with four hands ( Akshamaala, paasha, drum and daana )seated with NANDI. Inscription SWARI ( ಸ್ವರಿ).

The South Face of the External Wall - 3 The photo above is that of the beautiful south niche which has a SALA ( ಸಳ ) GROUP on either side supporting it. The niche which is empty lends beauty to the structure and at the same time acts as a buttress to the vimaana of the temple.

The South Face of the External Wall - 2 This portion has SHAKTI IMAGES, of which only one  ( third from your right ) is in a sufficiently good condition. This image is that of an eight armed goddess ( zoom the above photo to see the image properly ). To her left is a buffalo. The other SHAKTI IMAGES are badly damaged.

SOUTHERN EXTERNAL WALL OF THE TEMPLE The Southern wall of the temple, which is seen above has many images. For the sake of convenience it is divided into six parts sequentially. South Face of the External Wall - 1 The South Face of the wall has many images some of which are badly damaged. However, the first image is a beautiful figure of STHAANAKA SHIVA ( see the photo below ). He is four armed. His lower right hand - called NIJA HASTA - is broken. In the right upper hand can be seen a drum, in the left upper hand is a TRISHOOLA i.e., trident while the left lower hand sports an ARDHACHANDRA HASTA. On the pedestal is a Kannada inscription which reads : DAKSHINA DESHA PAALAKA (ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ದೇಶಾ ಪಾಳಕ ) ( zoom the picture to see the Kannada inscription ) Note : In the ARDHACHANDRAHASTA posture, all fingers are held straight and together, except the thumb finger which is held apart. STHAANAKA SHIVA IN THE SOUTH FACE OF THE WALL To the right of SHIVA is his consort ( the ima...