________________
CHAPTER IX THE GROUND PLAN OF THE ARDHAMANDAPA (PORCH)
(i) The early examples in Gujarat.
Leading up to the main hall or maņdapa, is a porch or "ardhamandapa'.1 As it serves a purpose of entrance to the temple it may have a flight of steps either on one side, two sides or on three sides.
The pre-Caulukyan temples that contain porches are mostly endowed with mandapas to which the ardhamandapas are attached, such as the temples at Balej, Navidhraved, Pasanavada (Gāyatri temple) Srinagar (Devi temple ) etc. The sun temple at Srinagar has no maņdapa and hence the porch is attached directly to the garbhagļiha.
The porch of the sun temple at Srinagar2 as well as that of the Gayatri temple at Pasanavada comprises a single square Coki (catuṣkikā ), 3 while in the case of the remaining temples mentioned above the porch is rectangular and is divided into three sections through an: arrangement of pillars. Sometimes all the three sections are equal in area and sometimes the central section is bigger than that on either side.
The double projections in the two corners of the front side of the mandapa of the Kadvar temple are generally taken to be porches. But the elevation of the so called porches
1. In the case of a temple having no maņdapa, it leads directly to the garbhagriha. 2. Here Fig. 12.
4. SMIK. pp. 38-39. 3. Here Fig. 22.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
