Interior

Mallikarjuna Temple, Pattadakal

As at Virupaksha, the beams are carried on square columns with shallowly cusped brackets. The tall beams are carved in low relief to depict a palace facade; their projecting lower rail is decorated with horshoe-shaped gavaksha arches. Covering the join between beams, the forequarters of elephants emerge from the facade to overlook the hall. Closeups of the central panel and upper pair of figures are provided on the next two pages.