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CHAPTER 14
NORTH INDIA
TEMPLES
OF THE BARLY MEDIEVAL PERIOD NOT MANY ARCHITECTURAL SPECIMENS HAVE survived in north India. Of the extant ones the chief are the temple at Ghanera District Pali, and the temple-group at Osia, District Jodhpur, which, in addition to temples of this period, contains later temples as well.
MARĀVIRA TEMPLE, GRANERAO The temple of Mahävina at Ghanerao (plate 69), is a sandhara-prāsada comprising a sanctum with ambulatory, a gudha-mandapa, a trika-mand apa and a mukha-catuski (entrance-porch). Axially in front was built a rangamand apa with twenty-four deva-kulikas, the whole complex being enclosed within a high präkära (compound-wall).
The sanctum of the temple has a simple plan comprising only two elements, viz. bhadra and karna. The bhadra-projections on the three sides of the ambulatory, like the two transepts of the gudha-mandapa, are decorated with grillod balconies which provide light through beautiful openings.
The elevation of the temple (plate 70) rises above a pair of bhitfa-courses supporting bold pitha-mouldings of jdd ya-kumbha, kalaša and plain paffika. The pipha supports the usual vedibandha-mouldings, which, though plain, are equally bold. From the basement project niches in the middle of each balconied bhadra. Containing images of Padmavati, Cakrosvart, Brahma-Yakşa, Nirvani and Gomukha-Yakga, met with in the order of pradaksina from east to west.
The jangha shown on the corners bold figures of two-armed dik-pdias, standing in clegant tri-bhastga and uplitted by kiatus. These are Hanked by vigorously carved figures of vyalas supported on brackets emulating clophantheads and crowned by lively figudes of Gandarvas and Apasarases in various enchanting poses Brahmi and Asanti, the ninth and tenth dk-palas, also
