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 380

The Architectural Forms of Temples ,
325 Now if we just compare the two lists-45 temples of Agni Purāņa and 64 chādya prāsādas of Sm. Su., we find that though the shapes of their horizontal sections with their prototypes in heaven (vertical height) remain the same, the number and arrangement, have undergone a change. The square varieties increased from 9 to 24, though others are stationary. Similarly certain temples in the list of Agni have assumed another shape in the list of Sm. Su. e. g. Hamsa elliptical in Agni is octagonal in Sm. Su, Mahāpadama circular have attained octagonal shape in Sm, Su. Meru the most prominent in Agni is absence in this list of Sm. Su. (though highest extollation on the Prāsāda rāja Meru is seen several times in other lists of Sm. Su.).
The ground plan ( Talacchanda ) of the shrine internally and externally comprises the Garbhagriha, its dividing walls, Bhramaņi or Pradiksņāpatha i. e. circumambulatory and the outerwalls walls of both the types include the different Argas (i e. Nāsikās ).184 It is these Angns that go to give starlike projections to the external boundary of the plan. What would otherwise have presented a straight linear appearance in the bounding line, is converted into several zigzag projections, some going outwards and others in wards of the main external boundary due to the additions or angas like Bhadra, Pratiratha, Nandi etc.
For getting varieties of starlike shapes the device of the bhadrādi projections are applied to a square ground plan. The square ground plan of the shrine (as well as that of maņdapa etc.) is divided into several parts such 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 22, 24, 26, etc. and they in turn all alloted in uneven numbers to the bhadrādi projections being projected in a given formula, e. g. In Sm. Su.185 the square ground plan of the Sridhara variety of the Meru type consists of 24 parts of which 12
184. These Angas are Bhadra, Mukhabhadra, Pratiratha, Upabhadra, Karņa, Pratikarņa, Nandi, Vārimārga, etc. 185. Sm. Su. LVII.