Kopeshwar Temple

Kopeshwar is a Shiva temple at Khidrapur in Kolhapur district, raised by craftsmen of the Shilahara dynasty across the 11th and 12th centuries. Its stone is densely carved: gods and goddesses on the inner walls, people and animals on the outer faces. Unusually, a Vishnu image shares the sanctum with a north-facing Shiva linga, and Nandi has a separate shrine instead of sitting before the deity.

The plan runs through four parts: the Swarga Mandapa, the Sabha Mandapa, the antarala and the garbhagriha. Tradition links the name to Shiva's anger after Sati gave up her life when her father Daksha insulted her; Vishnu calmed him, and the two are worshipped together here. Nandi's absence is explained by the story that Sati rode him to her father's home. The complex has a holy pond, and Mahashivratri is the main festival.