IMG_3692

Right temple door jamb, 10-11th century. Stone temple door jamb with three columns containing patterns of flowers, serpent deities and panels of Gandharvas, celestial beings, in erotic postures. The lower portions show the goddess Yamuna astride her tortoise vehicle with attendants. According to Brihatsamhita texts, door jambs should invariably depict in the lower portion, river goddesses Ganga or Yamuna with attendants carrying the attributes of the main deity of the temple. The river goddesses purify the temple precincts and the devotees entering to worship by destroying their sins. The remaining portion of the door jamb were to be decorated with patterns of flowers, serpents, pots with sacred coconuts, erotic themes, dwarfs, lions and elephants, lotus and conch-shells.