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 482

The Vertical Parts of the Mandapa
At Kasara, the bracket capital is carved with Kīcaka.48 The Capital of the Pillars of the Modhera Temple.
The capital are simple, composed of three tiers of flat members or annulets-two with wedge-shaped edges, and the upper most with a 'drop' projection. On this rest the brackets which are as a rule of one block. The side brackets of the eight central shafts are shaped as makara-heads and from them spring the toranas; but the others represent fat dwarfs supporting the beams. These figures are styled Kicakas-said to be after Kicaka, crushed to death by Bhimasena and rolled into a ball.
The capital of the pillars with tall columns, rising directly from the floor at the Modhera temple is crowned with a makara-bracket in the case of eight stilted pillars while the rest are crowned with dwarfs. Each of the eight stilted pillars is further surmounted with a short circular shaft and capital identical with the one just described and this is crowned with a bracket or volutes and pendent leaves. 49
The capital of the pillar of the mandapa of the sun temple on Hiranya, as at Modhera, consists, of two annulets, without the drop-projection, and is surmounted with brackets of volutes and pendent bells.50
427
The brackets of the columns of the mandapa of the Navalakha temple at Ghumali are great in variety. They are sculptured each with different devices such as kirtimukhas, kicaka, a bird triming feathers, an elephant, large human face, two monkeys with a common head, a bird with a flower in a beak, a horse with a man, a pair of bullocks butting, an elephant and a horse, a cock, a sheep, a swords man and an elephant, a pair of birds, a couple of fishes, three monkeys etc. 51
48. AANG. p. 107.
49. AANG. pp. 77-80.
50. AG. p. 92.
51. AKK. p. 180. also plt XLIII Here Fig. 259.