PLACES

KOTHALI

Kothali (Malkapur T., p. 2,395): It is a village in Malkapur tahsil situated about 15 miles to the south of Malkapur and about 12 miles to the south-west of Pimpalgaon Raja, at the foot of the Ajanta hills on the Vishvaganga river. Tn the village are two temples, one dedicated to Mahadeva and the other dedicated to Chintamani Mahadeva.

' The largest, the temple of Mahadeva, is in the village on the bank of the Vishwaganga river and consists of three shrines with one central mandapa. It faces the east and has Ganesh over the shrine door-way. The door-ways are elaborately carved. On either side of the shrine door-way are five figures with Vishnu in the centre. In the main shrine is an old square salunka with a circular hole for a linga; but the latter has gone. In the side shrine on the north is a linga while the shrine on the south is empty. The mandapa has no pillars. The porch in front of the entrance has fallen, the platform only remaining. In front of this porch stand the ruins of what was once, perhaps, the Nandi pavilion, but it is ruined. Beyond this, again, are the remains of the main entrance to the temple courtyard with its steps. The Shikhara was probably built of brick work, since some brick masonry remains upon the roof and no carved Shikhara stones exist. The roof is carved with hushes and shrubs, and the building is surrounded by houses and is in a filthy state. The second temple is outside the village to the south-east. It is dedicated to Chintamani Mahadeva and faces west. It consists of a shrine and Mandapa, the latter being supported on four pillars; Ganesh is on the lintel. The shrine door-way is carved, but not so elaborately as in the first temple. On each side of the shrine door-way are three figures, Shiva being in the centre. Both side porches are closed with mud walls. The temples are now under Government conservation'. [Buldhana District Gazetteer, 1910, p. 435.]

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