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Temple Shrine Doorway
 Datta, a combination of Vishnu, Brahma, and Siva, is a god most familiar in Maharashtra.   While most Hindu Temples display images of many gods and goddesses, reserving only the inner sanctum for the primary deity of the temple, a Datta Temple places Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva together in the innermost shrine. Temple Shrine Doorway
 Appropriately then in this Ellora Datta Temple, carved images of prominent Saiva and Vaisnava gurus sit atop the roof, and brightly painted representations of animals associated with Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva focus eye-level attention on the pillar supports. 

Yogi Figure on
Roof of Temple
Yogi Figure
Longview

Yogi Figure on
Top of Temple

Lingam and Nandi on Pillar
Most prominently on the pillars are Shiva’s bull Nandi, Vishnu’s serpent Shesha, and the mythical makara connected here with Brahma.

Lingam Protected by Cobra
The makara is a mythical marine creature sporting the body of a crocodile, feet of a lion, and tail of a peacock, most familiar on the banner of Kamadeva, god of desire.  Perhaps because Kama [i.e. desire] is said to be born from the mind of Brahma, the makara here represents the multi-headed god.

Makara Gray on Pillar

Makara Silver on Pillar

Lingam in Horns of Bull
on Pillar

Peacock Stylized on Pillar
In the popular story of Datta, three powerful male deities are outwitted by a pious and clever woman, Anasuya.  As the tale begins, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva notice the disciplined piety of Anasuya and decide to test her by requesting that she serve them food.  When she agrees, the gods add an unusual serving requirement to their request.

The gods ask Anasuya to wear no clothes as she serves them.  Again with no hesitation, Anasuya responds that she is always ready to follow the wishes of the gods.  However, using her ascetic powers, she transforms the three men into babbling infants who she can easily feed while being unclothed herself.  At the end of the tale, the gods offer Anasuya a boon for her piety.  She asks that they come together in one person so that she might worship them together always.  They agree and join as the deity Datta.
In Ellora, this Datta Temple is tended by a Saivite ascetic who lives in a nearby cave and performs fire sacrifices each day at the altar outside the temple.
Altar for Sacrifices by Yogi
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