Understanding “ Kūṭa ”: Variation and Experimentation within a Bhūmija Śikhara

This article induces an enquiry into the typology of a kūṭa, an intrinsic aedicule of the Bhūmija mode śikhara, through a brief comparative survey across different geographical regions. At the centre of this study is the distinctive temple at Ambegan situated in Maharashtra state from Western India, distinguished by its star-shaped kūṭastambhas and drāviḍa kūṭas – features that are seldom encountered within the established corpus of Bhūmija śikharas. The article introduces the architectural peculiarities of this hitherto unknown temple. Further, it attempts to demonstrate the choice, plurality and experimentation in the kūṭa forms within Bhūmija śikharas and emphasizes the need for an in-depth study to highlight the regional peculiarities of the mode.