Structural Temples of Gujarat

SR No.: 006728
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kantilal F Sompura
Publisher: Gujarat University Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1968
Total Pages: 868
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 31 MB

Page 136

A Survey of the Structural Temples of Pre-Caulukyan Times 81 Pradaksiņā have fallen, and where the slots along the top of the wall of the shrine, show where the lower roof of that passage joined it at the base of the Sikhara. The pillars within are of not quite so simple a type as those in the temple of Varaha at Kadvar. The central bay of the ceiling is closed by three huge flat slabs without ornament; the side ceilings and the ceiling of the Pradaksiņā slope from the centre to the sides, the slabs resting upon heavy beams are placed at intervals. The doorways are severaly simple, and they each have upon the dedicatory block an image of Ganapati. The forward part of maṇḍapa, with a flat roof seems to be an addition or rebuilding of a porch that had fallen. Besides the temple, upon its south side, is a modern one of the Navagraha or nine planets. 40
At Visavada41 (Dist. Junagadh) there is a much older temple of Sutrapada style now in disuse and partly ruined. It is massively built and plain. In the shrine are some mutilated images, among them being one of Surya, so, possibly, the temple was originally dedicated to him. Nearly two killo-meters to the N. W. of this again, standing isolated in the fields, is a very small shrine, which is certainly oldest at this place. 41. It is a small square building standing upon a ruined basement. Before it stood a porch which has now disappeared; it can be seen where it was attached to the front wall of the shrine. The fall of this part damaged the masonry around the doorway part of which has blocked up to give support to the lintel. There may have been an enclosed passage around shrine as in the Kadvar temple, but there are no indications of one having been attached to the walls of the shrine, the walls being perfectly plain between the basement and the eaves. The stepped out pyramid roof is, if anything, simpler than that
40. The present image, in the old shrine at Sutrapada has been installed by one Thakar Visaladeva in V. S. 1357 (A. D. 1300-1)
41. SMTK. plt. XLV. Here Figs. 4, & 217.
41a. SMTK. plts. XLIII, XLIV; Here Fig. 5