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Saraswathi Temple with the open porch
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The Saraswathi Temple temple is located towards the southeast of the Lakshmi Narasimha statue by the canal side.
The temple is empty and in a much wrecked condition. What you can see of this early style temple is a sanctum and the pavilions in front. The terracotta made stucco figures and the parapet on the tower are in a grossly damaged state. A close look on the pillars can reveal you the plasterwork on the stone pillar with the remains of the stucco images. A crawling baby Krishna’s stucco image (with damaged upper portion) can be seen at the rear top parapet of the temple. Go between the canal & the temple to see this.
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Ruined stucco images on top of the temple
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Opposite to the temple across the trail is the image of a goddess carved on to the rock surface. A tiny shrine is built around this and the image is now brightly painted. It’s this image that made people believe that this temple was dedicated to goddess Saraswathi.
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Image of Saraswathi on the rock
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Saraswati is worshiped as the goddess of knowledge and literary aspects like music, arts and speech. Hindu mythology associates her as the consort of Lord Brahma, the creator god, and hence she symbolizes knowledge and the feminine energy of the cosmos. Hindus begin their learning (of first letters) by praying this goddess. In iconography, she holds a book, representing the Vedas (Hindu philosophy); pearl prayer beads, representing spirituality and meditation; a pot of sacred water and a long musical instrument called Veena, symbolizing perfection of arts.
The winding village path makes a turn about this temple before continuing eastward along the canal bank. A little ahead a path from the Matanga hill joins this path. A few kilometers further this path exits into the main road that goes to Vittala Temple. You can visit this temple on a short side trip part of the Lakshmi Narasimha statue tour.
