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Art and Architecture / 233
or the pillars now surviving at KaŅūr of the late Rāstrakūta period. Such a sense of balance or feeling for form in architectural conception is also wanting in the contemporary Rāstrakūta idiom. Only Gangavādi's architecture at the close of the tenth century approaches that of Sāntalige in its concern for elegance of proportion and shape. Even so, the śāntalige feeling for finesse is unmatched, not only in Gangavādi, but in all upper Drāvida dēśa with the possible exception of early Rāştrakūta work at Ellorā, where taste and craftsmanship of a comparable level, if not kind, can be found [EITA : 1986 : 224].
8.4.5. Vira Bankēya Jinālaya, on the right bank of the river Malaprabhā at Konnūr/Kolanūr(Gadag Dt, Naragund Tk), commissioned in C. E. 860, by the distinguished Bankēśa, general and governor of Banavāsi - 12,000, was the most prestigious basadi in the Rāstrakūta monarchy. It is built on the star shaped basement of 27x11 meter width, with sanctum, covered vestibule set between vimāna and gūdha mandapa, closed hall, sabhāmaņdapa and mukhamaņdapa, front - hall. The stellate plan of the circular type of the garbhagļha of 3.90x4 meter width has engaged columns in the four corners. The doorframe has a seated Jina as its tutelary figure. The three oblong dēvakoșthas, niches for a divinity, to the left, right and backside walls, ninety centimeter in width, are taller going upto the ceiling.
8.4.5.1. Antarāla has a width of 2.65 meter, east to west, and 4.05 meter north to south, with two pillars in the front and two corner engaged columns. The extensive squarish navaranga has a width of 8.42x7.92 meters with 12 pillars, 10 dwarf columns and four corner columns, and a padmašilā ceiling. The 1.10x1.30 meter sized steps of the disintegrated entry-hall suggest an hasti-hasta banister. Walls of the Bankeya basadi are not embellished. Whether the temple had originally a Sikara is not clear from the present state of its existence.
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