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CHAPTER V THE GROUND PLAN OF THE GARBHAGRIHA
(1) The Architectural Treatment in the Extant temples
Garbhagriha literally means the womb of the temple. It is the innermost sanctury in which is installed the image of the deity worshipped. This inner chamber is enclosed immediately by a wall.
Some times it is also enclosed by another parrallel wall, the space between the two walls forming the circumambulatory around the shrine. 1
The garbhagrihas of pre-Caulukyan temples are almost square in plan, Exceptions to this are seen at the Varāha temple at Kadvar and at the temple at Kalsar2 which have rectangular garbhagrihas.
The ground plan of the shrines of the temples at Gop, Sutrapada, Visavada (old temples) Kinderkhada, Pasanavada, Balej, Bilesvar, Srinagar, Ranavav, Bhansar, Khimesyar, Dhrasanvel (Kālikāmātā temple), Suvan, Pata, Pasthar, Boricha, Pindara, Akhodar, Odadar (old temple), Son Kansari ( Sadevanta Sāvalingā temple) Porbandar (Dhingesvar), Miyani (Small Siva and Ganpati shrines on south of the village ), Navidhraved are, internally, almost square.
The walls of the garbhagļiha, internally irrespective of the shape of the edifice are regerously kept plain. Externally the walls are found either plain from bottom to top or horizontally moulded at the base as well as at the top and sometimes either of it is found moulded. The middle portion of the wall, in case of pre-Caulukyan temples is generally found plain. 1. SMTK. Plt. XXXIII. 2. MG. II, Plt. VIII.
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