Sculptures of Dashavatara Temple can be viewed on the terraced basement, with imprinted collectibles of river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna beside the doorway to the sanctum sanctorum. On the side walls, in addition to all the architectural works, three large carved panels of Vaishnava mythology related to Gajendra Moksham, the Nara Narayana Tapasya (meditation), and the Sheshashayi Vishnu (reclining on the serpent), are portrayed. A defensive wall that is made of undressed stone was constructed around the temple after it was first discovered. However, the idol of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is missing, believed to have been relocated somewhere else.
In the innovative and massive sculptor of Sheshashayi Vishnu, Lord Vishnu is projected reclining on the serpent Shesha, with four-arms lying down on the spiral of a snake with seven hoods, forming a shade over his crowned head. Vishnu`s consort, goddess Lakshmi, along with her two attendants, is at Vishnu`s feet. Other gods and celestials are also seen inspecting this display. Another panel below this, Madhu and Kaitabha (two demons) are also getting ready to attack. They are viewed to be repulsed by four personified weapons or ayudhapurushas of Lord Vishnu. As per another understanding, the lower panel portrays the five Pandavas and Draupadi, their wife.
The assistance of the doorway (Lalatabhimba in Sanskrit) of temple also projects Lord Vishnu seated on Shesha the serpent, with Lakshmi sitting down and caressing his feet, flanked by two incarnations of Lord Vishnu: Narasimha (the man-lion form) on the right, and Vamana (the dwarf form) on the left.
The back and side walls of the temple shows carved panels related to many facets of the life of Lord Vishnu. On the Northern Walls, the beautifully crafted panel depicts "Gajendra Moksha" that represents Lord Vishnu coming to liberate the Gajendra (elephant). Likewise, on the eastern side of the wall, the panel shows carved image of sages Nara-Narayana. On the southern part of the wall, Lord Vishnu also depicts the reclining on Shesha the serpent, sleeping or in relaxing mode. These representations on the four walls (including entrance) of the temple represent four facets of Lord Vishnu:
The entrance represents Vasudeva; the Gajendramoksha side is referred as Samkarshana, the destructive aspect of Vishnu; the Nara-Narayana side is known as Pradyumna, the preserving aspect of Vishnu; and the Anantashayana side is known as Aniruddha.
Another unique sculpture found in the Vishnu temple depicts the Krishna legend in which Devaki hands over her new born son - Lord Krishna to her husband Vasudeva. This sculpture is said to be one of the best depictions of Gupta period art, based on the sensuous and graceful modelling of the figurines, but different in that its clothes are shown draped in an exclusive fashion. It is now housed at the National Museum in New Delhi.
