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Description of Temples
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ceiling has disappeared. The ceiling is raised up anging ribbed eave-cornice, the intrados of which by a rectanglar frame of sur-architraves decorated depicts three lotus medallions, each comprising with lotus scrolls carrying figures of human-couple, two rows of petals and enclosed in a square bordKinnara-couple, Gandharva, elephant, makara, pairered by diamonds and beads. Both the khattakas of geese, and man seated on makara.
are now empty The ceiling just above the stairway is square on
Rasgamandapa plan. It is an utkşipta ceiling of the mandāraka It consists of eight ornate pillars disposed along order (Fig. 40). It consists of three circular courses the three sides of the square central nave (Fig. 41), and a large pendant or padmašila. The inner face while its fourth side (rear side) is shared by the of the first course is decorated with cam paka flowers, mukhamandapa. Six of these pillars, namely two while its underside on the four corners carries central pillars on each side, along with the middle images of four-armed lalitasana goddesses identifi- pair of pillars of the mukhamaydapa, form an octaable with Rohini, Sarasvati, Gakreśvari and gon and support the domical ceiling on an octagVairotyā,78 each flanked on either side by a onal frame of architraves. Two central pillars on Kinnar. The second is karnadardarikā. The third the north are of the square variety and correspond is decorated with geese. The padmašila consists of to the square pillars of the mukhamandapa, but here four courses of twelve-foil, eight-foil, six-foil and the shaft carries a band of lotus scrolls, punctuated quatrefoil pointed kolas, and a flower bud appearing with geese, above the sixteen-sided section. Besides, on its tip. The first of these courses is set up in the framed figures at the base of the shaft depict normal gajatālu, while the others are edged with two or four-armed male dancers and musicians, reverse gajatalus. The ceiling is raised up by a and the sixteen-sided section is plain. The remasquare frame of sur-architraves inset with project- ining six pillars are of the octagonal type and ing sculptured niches alternated by recesses. The correspond to the octagonal pillars of the mukhamaniches contain figures of female dancers and musi- adapa, but here the lambanas on the round section cians, while the recesses depict male dancers and of the shaft are conspicuous by their absence and musicians.
the side faces of the brackets are plain. The ceiling near the gūdhamandapa door is simi- All the rangamandapa pillars have four-armed lar in structure and ornamentation to the preced- brackets, and to give an additional height to the ing one, but it is shorter and slightly rectangular on roof they are provided with uccalakas. The uccplan and shows on the underside of the first course alakas have a square base. Their shaft consists of four images of four-armed lalitasana dikpalas, viz. a short octagonal section and a long circular sectAgni, Kubera, Yama and Nirrti, on the four corners. tion, the latter being surmounted by a band of and a frieze representing Maladharas, musicians kiritimukhas spewing chains that are clasped below and dancers in the spaces between them on the two by a band of diamons and beads. Their capital shorter sides.
consists of a double-course round bharani of karnika
and padma, surmounted by four-armed double-roll There are two ornamented khattakas flanking the door of the gūdhamandapa. Each of them stands
The architraves supporting the dome are simion a pancaratha pedestal decorated with mouldings
lar to those seen in the mukhamandapa, with this of bhitta, jadyakumbha, karnika, antarapatra adorned
difference that here the lower fascia shows creepers. with diamonds, and kapota embellished with caitya
But the architraves enclosing the four corners at the arch ornament, and is crowned by a bell roof with rathika on front containing an image of four-armed
base of the dome are plain, but for a kirttimukha carlalitāsana goddess Vajränkusi accompained on each
ved in the centre of the lower belt and a lotus meda
llion represented in the centre of their underside. side by a female pitcher-bearer. On the pedestal of each khattaka are placed two ornate pillaretes There is a beautiful torama-arch (Fig. 42) joined on the top by a lintel supporting an overh- between the central pair of pillars on the west side.
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