Gondeshwar Temple, Sinnar – The Temple

Gondeshwar Temple, Sinnar – The Temple

The Gondeshwar temple is built in the Bhumija style, in form of a Panchayatana complex, which features a main shrine surrounded by four subsidiary shrines. The temple is situated on a rectangular platform that measures 125 x 95 feet. The plan of the temple is very similar to that of the Ambarnath Shiva Temple, but the sculptures on its exterior walls are of inferior quality than those of the Ambarnath Temple. 

The temple complex was originally surrounded by a wall, which is now mostly destroyed. The main shrine is dedicated to Shiva, and contains a large Linga. The shrine and the Nandi pavilion facing it are located on an elevated plinth. The mandapa (pavilion), which has porches on three sides, acts as the entrance to the temple. The shrine has a Nagara-style shikhara (tower), whose finial is no longer preserved.

The temple in the Deccan style is different from north Indian temples. Here, the shikhara does not have turrets grouped around the lower part of the structure. Instead, the shikhara has a distinct vertical band rising upwards. These are along each of its angles taking the form of a spine or quoin. Moreover, the space between is filled with smaller reproductions of the shikhara. 

The pillared hall carved with tortoise, the Kurma Avatar of Lord Vishnu, on the ground, is small, elegant and unique in this part of the country. The walls of the temple depict scenes from the ancient epic Ramayana. The subsidiary shrines are dedicated to Surya, Vishnu, Parvati, and Ganesha: all of them have a porch. They are rectangular in plan, and include a mandapa, an antarala (vestibule), and the garbhagriha (sanctum).