Adjacent to the tank was the entrance hall, which has 12 representations of Surya, the Sun god. These stand for the phases of the sun for each month of the year. Next was the Nritya Mandapa, a hall that leads from the assembly Hall towards the inner sanctum. It contained 52 pillars representing the 52 weeks of the year. Both the pillars and walls are decorated with murals that displayed a history of the time, lessons can mortality, descriptions of fairs and festivals and rituals of the time. It was here at dance performances took place.
We then reached the Garbhagriha (inner sanctum), where one could find carvings of deities in the strict order of their celestial hierarchy. The sanctum was so precisely designed that the first rays of the sun fell on the image of Surya at the equinoxes. The idol of Surya, made entirely out of gold, is now missing, plundered by Mahmud Gazni. This room had a particular odor to it. Looking up, we found the source–small bats hanging from the ceiling.
The exterior of the Temple is profusely decorated with poses of various gods and goddesses. Bosomed women with curvy hips are found throughout the façade. In addition, one can also find erotic scenes, a common theme found on many Hindu temples. Closer to the base was a role of elephants in a frontal view. Like many of the carvings throughout the Temple, they were quite worn and had some parts broken off. This was due to the soft sandstone used, worn over time, as well as by plundering.
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