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 69

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The Structural Temples of Gujarat point of view was the caitya-griha. There are eight of those belonging to the Hinayana period as follows: Bhaja98, Kondane, 38 Pitalkhora, Ajantā (No. 10), Bedsa, Ajanta (No. 9), Nasik and Karle 381, probably executed in the order named. All the eight examples were excavated just previous to the Christian era, the first four in the 2nd cent. and the remainder in the first century B. C.. To these may be added two caitya halls from a numerous, and miscellaneous group at Junnar38/ one of which is small but complete, while the other is unfinished, but they are both of the same type and date as that at Nasik.38le Finally executed towards the middle of the second century A. D. is the caitya hall at Kanneri on Salsette near Bombay, which marks the end of the Hinayana movement as far as its rock architecture is concerned.39 In the chronological sequence, these caityagrihas were copies of wooden construction. The pillars appear as copies of plain wooden posts without either capitals or bases. The particular shape of the arch, frequently described as 'horse-shoe arch' forming the main feature of the facade of Caitya halls, seemed to have been evolved first at Bhaja; the arched aperature of which ultimately tend towards circular shape and that to such an extent that in the 7th cent. the facade of Viśvakarma cave at Elora, there is no longer a horse-arch but almost a complete circle. Finally, when the caitya-arch motif appeared as a decorative feature in the Brahmanical temple it assumed a variety of forms.40 Further, the caitya-arch contained a window at the centre, through which the light was admitted in to the body of the hall. This window was clearly an enlargement and elaboration of the dormer window of the 38/a. IABH, p. plt XVIll. Fig. 1. 38/b. IABH, p. plt XVIII. Fig. 2. 38/c. IABH. p. plt XX. Fig. 1 & 2 38/d. IABH. p. plt XXII Fig. 1 38/e. IABH. p. plt XXVIII A Fig. 1 39. IABH p. p. 27
40. For Illustration. Vide IABH p. plt xxi Fig. 6 opp. p. 28
a