Lakshmanalingeshwara shrine lies to the left of the
Ramalingeshwara temple, and is dedicated to his younger brother Lakshman. It is
the most ornate of the lingas in the complex and houses the largest Shivalinga.
The shrine assigned to Nolamba period of 10th Century AD
has a garbhagriha, an antarala and a navaranga. The navaranga is supported by
four beautifully carved pillars with a rounded Shivalinga at the far end. The relief
sculptures in the centre of pillars depict dancers and musicians. A Nandi
statue sits at the center of the navaranga facing the Shivalinga. Above Nandi on
the ceiling, the carvings depict sculptures of Uma-Maheshvara (Shiva with his
consort Parvati), surrounded by an ensemble of Ashtadikpalakas (guardians in
eight directions), in their respective directions.
The external ornamental elements, like the other shrines
in the temple complex embrace five moldings adorned with friezes of elephants,
lions, yali, Makara (imaginary beast) above which are wall pilasters and
reliefs of yakshas, dwarapalakas(door or gate keepers), images of Shiva,
Bhairava, Bhairavi, Vishnu, and Ganesh. The back wall of the Lakshmanalingeshwara
temple features a carving of the Kali goddess.
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