About the Book In spite of the fact that the study of the temple-art of the Kalachuris is hardly complete and perfect in itself as it requires a constant effert to take into account the things in the breader eentext including the discoveries of the day; the author has gone deep into the study and research of early traditions of temples in Kosala; the pre-Kalachuri temples and the Kalachuri temples. The sculptural and architectural art in the earlier temples, the traditional brick temples, the maso nary temples, the temples on north and south of Mahanadi and the late Kalachuri temples have been depicted in a fascinat ing style. An account of a temple at Palari on the Dhamtari-Gundardebi road inside Durg district, unnoticed in the previous publications finds a special mention, in this book.
About the Author Dr. S. N. Manwani, an outstanding student throughout his college and uni versity career, was awarded University Gold Medals, Amiya Bose Memorial Trophy & Books' Prizes from Sagar University. He did his M.A. at U.T.D. Sagar and has been serving the university since 961. He has contributed several research papers to various journals. He is currently working on the study of the architectural style of the temples.
Preface My journey on the path of research has been long and chequered. Initially, in 1961, the topic of research that I got registered, was "Historical Geography of Dakshina-Kosala". In the summer of 1962, a friend of mine took me to the "Chhattisgarh ka Khajuraho" (for that is how it was popularly known as)-Bhora mdeo near Kawardha. Though quite impressed about by the richness of the art of the temple and its beautiful natural surroun dings, hardly did I know then, that the same may some day occupy my attention, along with other temples of the area, to take them up for the purpose of research-work and write a thesis for the degree of Ph.D.
In the summer of 1966, I happened to visit the ancient temple sites of Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal in Bijapur district of Karnataka. The temples built at these and some other neighbouring sites were built during the early Chalukyan (Western) dynasty. That was the first time I realised that the study of temple-art was the subject I should have opted for my degree of Ph.D. But it was not however, before my successive visits at the temple-sites of Kosala (Chhattisgarh) area during the summers of 1973, 1976 and 1977 that I finally got the topic of the present thesis registered for the purpose. Although, my study and investigation in the field has been almost continuous since, but certain family liabilities and ill-health could not permit me to maintain the pace and regularity to bring about an early completion and submission of the thesis.
As far the approach to the study of the subject adopted by me, I have humbly to submit that I have deliberately avoided the nor mal practice followed by the researchers in this discipline, to devote two separate chapters to the geographical and historical background respectively. In light of the works already completed successfully.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
