There are 646 figures on the exterior of this temple and 226 figures on its interior. The famous erotic groups are placed on the juncture of the big hall and the sanctum, which corresponds to the wall portion between the two balconies. In a niche of the large hall there is a unique four-footed (chatushpada) Sadashiva image, where his four feet refer to the four parts (padas) of the Shaiva system that the builders of the temple followed. In the three cardinal niches of the sanctum wall are depicted Shiva`s manifestations, viz: subduer of the blind demon Andhaka, the cosmic dancer Natesha, and Tripurantaka, destroying the three demon cities.
There is a unique counter-circumambulatory arrangement of the images of the seven Matrikas (Mothers), along with Ganesha and Shiva-Virabhadra, in the principal niches of the basal storey. When circumambulating the temple, one first sees Ganesha, then the seventh Matrika Chamunda. The first Matrika, Brahmani,is seen only on completion of the round. Led by Virabhadra, followed by Ganesha, they encircle the temple forming a protective mandala (circle) around it. The spire of the sanctum has a series of graded replicas of itself, which cluster around the central peak and create the effect of a mountain range. Exactly below the highest point of the spire is positioned the Shiva-linga. A Chandella inscription calls the linga the "Primordial Pillar of the Universe".
