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

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The Structural Temples of Gujarat
The external walls of the garbhagriha has lateral projections terminating into vertical chases with horizontal mouldings like Kumbha, Jangha, and cornice. The vertical chases of the lateral projections, beginning from the base of the shrine are carried out till they meet at the apex of the spire. The apex is adorned with an amalaka whose finial is missing. The Jangha of the shrine wall is plain except the niches, at the centre.
Prabhaspatan.*
The Sasibhusana and Rudreśvar Mahadeva46 temples at Prabhas seem old as indicated by the original form of the mouldings that are preserved by some of their portions.
The Sasibhuṣaṇa temple facing east has a square garbhagriha measuring 2.9x2.9 ms. internally and 4-1 x 41 ms. externally. It is enclosed by a pradakṣiṇāpatha 1-5 ms. wide. The walls of the garbhagriha falling in pradakṣiņā have lateral projections and various mouldings from bottom to the eave (chhajja), with a big niche on each side. The niches contain beautiful sculptures of Brahma on south, Śiva on west and Visnu on north. The door frame of the shrine measuring 3×2 ms. is, however, quite simple. In view of the decorated walls of the garbhagriha this appears curious and leads us to doubt that the door-frame is hardly the original one.
The antarala is 1.8 ms. in width. Its ceiling is beautifully carved and ornate in design divided in to three sections.
The maṇḍapa measures 5.5 x 6 ms. It has 12 pillars out of which 8 support the dome of mandapa. The dome ceiling has carved tiers, but the ceiling is inferior to that of the antarāla. Much of the portion of the maṇḍapa and that of the porch have been renovated to such an extent that it is difficult to get a definite idea about their original architectural form.
The interier of the temple i. e. garbhagriha, pradakṣinapatha, the external mouldings of the garbhagriha walls, the ceilings of the antarala and some of the pillars of the mandapa are old, but 45. Here Fig. 155. 46. Here Fig. 155.