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MONUMENTS & SCULPTURE 300 B.C. TO A.D. 300
[PART 1
lack of proper bonding of the walls of the two at first led the author to think that the oblong chamber, the walls of which abut the circular wall, was later than the circular wall. However, on the analogy of several temples of Bhubaneswar where the walls of the porch abut the front wall of the sanctum without a proper bonding, it is now felt that both the chamber and the circular wall were contemporaneous. In the middle of the three walls of the oblong chamber was an opening, presumably for doors.
As the circular wall had been reduced to a single course when excavated, it is difficult to determine its exact nature and use. However, the plan of the entire complex is so similar to the Buddhist caitya-grhas with their apse, nave and side aisles that it is very likely that the circular wall formed the sanctum of the apse and the oblong chamber the hall or nave. On the same analogy the space between their outer wall and the inner edge of the outer apsidal wall could have been used as circumambulatory side aisles.
The two arc-like buttress-walls of laterite blocks placed on edge in somewhat receding courses, that could be seen near the base within the framework of the apsidal structure, were presumably erected to sustain the deep depression filling and its overlying flag-stones below the two front corner-walls of the oblong hall, so that the walls of the latter might not sag.
It is not unlikely that there was a barred railing around the structure. for amidst the débris adjoining the terrace in front of the Hathi-gumphā were found a few fragments of carved sandstone railings.
A rough idea of the elevation of the apsidal structure may be had from the upper part of a relief (plate 29) on the facade of the ground-floor of Rāņi-gumphā.
There were several holes at fairly regular intervals in the bed-rock around the outer wall of the apsidal structure. Evidently they held posts. Whether the posts were short to form part of a railing or long to support an architrave (from the top of which projected the eaves) is not known.
In the northern corner of the apsidal structure was a drain cut into the bed-rock and covered with laterite slabs flush with the paving for channelling out water outside.
Partly below the circular structure, and seemingly unconßected with it, was a small oblong chamber, of which one course of laterite slabs is available. It seems to have been the first structure on the site.
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