| The
Sanctum-Sanctoria or the garbhagriha (sanctuary) contains the lingam (the Phallic emblem)
of Lord Siva. The inside of the door jambs and the niches are decorated with beautiful
carvings of female figures, Ganga and Jamuna. There is a standing figure of Vishnu and
another of Ganesh. But the most splendid of all the figures is that of Durga, to the north
of the temple. Durga wears a triple-pointed crown
"edged with beading, characteristic of hill deities, and a large aureole,symbol of
her sanctity, surrounds her head. With her eight arms she wields a variety of weapons, and
yet she remains majestically aloof from the act of destruction she is performing."
There is a sublime repose on her face, which has been very delicately and artistically
brought out.
At a smaller village Dashal on the Nagar-
Manali mad, there is an ancient stone temple with a tower about thirty feet high. This
also is taken to date from around the 9th century. Two images of female figures of
delicate execution are there probably as dwarapalas. The temple is dedicated to Lord Siva
and Parvati. There are quite a large number of such stone and wood temples, many of which
escape the tourists. |
