The Trimurti Temple (also known as the Sadashiva Temple or Maheshwara Temple or Trimurti Shiva Temple) in the Baroli group of Temples is perhaps one of the most underrated temples of its time. Listed as Temple No. 4 by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), this 10th century temple is a fine example of the Nagara style of architecture preferred by the Gurjara – Pratiharas.
As the name indicates, the temple is dedicated to the three forms of Lord Shiva namely Lord Aghora Murthy, Lord Sadashiva and Lord Maheshwara. Though the central face has been severely defaced by Muslim invaders, we can say with some authority that the face on the right represents Lord Aghora and the one on the left is Lord Sadashiva.
The central face has some light impressions of the third eye though the other features are completely destroyed. The face of Lord Aghora on the right is an outstanding piece of art with an intricately carved third eye, right eye with a well – defined eyebrow, unfurled tongue and matted hair with ringlets seen below the richly embellished diadem. The left eye is however damaged.
The face of Lord Sadashiva is partially mutilated and one can only see the left eye, the third eye, the matted hair and the profusely decorated crown with its beads and other motifs.
This east – facing temple originally had a mukha mandapa that has been desecrated, an antarala and a garbha griha. The garbha griha is of the pancharatha design with a curvilinear shikhara over it.
Lord Nataraja sits majestically on the Lalata Bimba. Goddess Ganga and Goddess Yamuna are seen on either side of the entrance doorway along with the Naga devata.
Written by Lakshmi Subramanian
sahasa.in 
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