This row of sculptures on the southern wall shows the nine seers on various animals (which perhaps represent yogasanas) in relaxed poses.
The senior-most of the Natha gurus is Matsyendranatha, Machindranatha or Minanatha, a son of Siva according to some legends. To his right is a Natha seated on a lion, likely Gorakhnatha, a disciple of Matsyendranatha and one of the most important of the Nath yogis.
To Matsyendranatha's left is a Natha seated on a scorpion. Scholar Rahamath Tarikere identifies him as Bhairavanatha. Next to him is Naganatha, also called Nagarjuna or Bhujanganatha, who is shown seated on the coils of a hooded cobra. The Natha seated on an antelope is in all probability Chauranginatha.
The identities of the Nathas seated on a boar or bear, on a rat, on a tortoise and on a hybrid makara or yali, are unknown to us right now.
You can also see depictions of some of the Nathas in some of pillars of the open mandapa. The only other medieval Indian temple that shows the complete sequence of Navanathas is the Jalakantheswara temple in Kalisipalaya, also in Bengaluru.
This row of sculptures on the southern wall shows the nine seers on various animals (which perhaps represent yogasanas) in relaxed poses.
The senior-most of the Natha gurus is Matsyendranatha, Machindranatha or Minanatha, a son of Siva according to some legends. To his right is a Natha seated on a lion, likely Gorakhnatha, a disciple of Matsyendranatha and one of the most important of the Nath yogis.
To Matsyendranatha's left is a Natha seated on a scorpion. Scholar Rahamath Tarikere identifies him as Bhairavanatha. Next to him is Naganatha, also called Nagarjuna or Bhujanganatha, who is shown seated on the coils of a hooded cobra. The Natha seated on an antelope is in all probability Chauranginatha.
The identities of the Nathas seated on a boar or bear, on a rat, on a tortoise and on a hybrid makara or yali, are unknown to us right now.
You can also see depictions of some of the Nathas in some of pillars of the open mandapa. The only other medieval Indian temple that shows the complete sequence of Navanathas is the Jalakantheswara temple in Kalisipalaya, also in Bengaluru.
A very unusual series of sculptures here is a set of depictions of the Navanathas, a lineage of Saiva seers of early medieval North India, with connections to early forms of Hatha Yoga and alchemy.
