Kashivishweshwara Temple, Pattadakal, Karnataka, India

Much like the other temples, the core of the Kashi Vishwanatha temple is the square garbha griha (sanctum), which houses a linga.

To the east of the garbha griha is the moulded platform of a Nandi-mantapa, featuring the image of a seated Nandi.

The temple also features a pranala, a stone structure used to drain out water used during devotional activities, and an antarala, or foyer, connecting to a mantapa with a ruined entrance porch.

The river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna are still visible at the entrance to the mantapa.

The temple sits on a raised platform, with five layers of mouldings, decorated with 8th-century carvings of horses, elephants, lions, peacocks, and flowery vine designs. The wall surfaces have pilaster pairs supporting chaitya-style arches. The entrance door features a Shaiva dvarapala (guardian) on each side.

Kashivishveshvara Temple

«This compact east-facing highly ornate Shiva temple in Nagara (north indian) style consists of a transverse rectangular hall, a small vestibule and a square sanctuary, the porch being lost. The dates suggested to this temple range from the 8th to 9th centuries CE. The sanctuary consists of a high basement divided into projections with typical Nagara mouldings. The wall over it is raised corresponding to these projections and the central and corner projections accommodate niches carrying Nagara pediments. The upper part of the wall carries a band of kirtimukhas linked to one another by bead-garlands emerging from their mouths. The faces of the curvilinear tower are decorated with interlaced gavakshas (horseshoe-shaped blind windows). The crowning members of the tower amalaka and kalasha are lost. A shukanasa projection, with similar gavaksha lace-work, accommodates an eight-armed Nataraja on front. The decoration of walls of the hall is similar to that of the sanctuary. There are images of Ardhanari and Lakulisha (north) and Trivikrama (east). The temple's hall is more ornate with well carved pillars, brackets, beams and architraves. Pillars have cubical blocks carved with diverse themes: Tripurantaka Shiva, Parvati's marriage, Andhakasamhara, Lingodbhava, Krishna's exploits, Ravana lifting Kalasa, Gajasurasamhara, Gangavatarana, etc. (...)»

Nandi (left) and Kashivishweshwara temple (right) seen from the east

Kashivishweshwara temple seen from southwest
The superstructure, displaying a well developed North Indian Rekha-Nagara style, is a rising five stage projection of centered squares with a complex pattern of interlocking gavakshas, but the amalaka and kalasha are now missing.