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Description of Temples
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three or four steps cut across the pitha. Enclosed Internally, the roof of the north shrine is by a short balustrade the porch consists of two supported on sixteen octagonal pillars, while that pillars and two pilasters resting on the balustrade of the south shrine rests on twelve pillars. These and has a ceiling supported on a rectangular frame pillars are arranged almost in a circle. The most of architraves. It is shaded by two eave-cornices remarkable structures in these shrines are the and is surmounted by a bell-roof bearing sculptu- mountains, each rising in four tiers of diminishing red niches at its base. The lower eave-cornice is width, almost to the roof, and crowned by a quadof the corrugated type, while the upper one belongs ruple image of Jinas with a canopy overhead. To to the ribbed variety. Between the eave-cornices can reach the upper tiers for worshipping the Jinas be seen a kapota and a fillet carved with diamonds. there is an arrangement of stairs. The mountain The balustrade and the pillars are similar to those as well as the pillar in the north shrine is wholly noticed in the south shrine, but the pillar-shaft covered with white lime. But the same in the has in addition a square section at the base. The south shrine is well preserved. Here, the first tier, pilasters are five-faceted. Their capital corres- the circularity of which is broken by semi-circular ponds to the pillars, but the shaft is ornate and projections, consists of a bhitta type of moulding displays, from bottom to top, mouldings of khura, decorated with diamonds, and four decorative kumbha, kalaba, a broad belt decorated with scrolls, bands, each carved with lotus petals, but the topa deep fillet adorned with diamonds, a plain fillet, most band on the circular projected portion depicts kumbha, kalaša and lastly ghatapallava. The archi- sculptures of lalitasana goddesses instead of lotus traves are plain but for a lotus medallion carved in petals. The second tier has two bhittas, two low relief in the centre of their underside.
kumbhas-the lower being adorned with half diamonds, and the upper being plain-, a minor kapota decorated with caitya-arch enrichment, two bands
of lotus petals, a band carved with lotus scrolls and The ceiling of the porch is rectangular on plan,
underlined with leaves, and a band embellished but its space is reduced to a square by a frame of
with tree motif and underlined with a band of four rectangular slabs placed over the anchitraves.
diamonds. The third tier is similar to the second The inner face of the frame is adorned with dia
but shows semi-circular projection in each cardinal monds, while the underside of slabs on the two shorter sides is decorated with three full and two
point. The fourth tier consists of a khura, kumbha half lotuses, each comprising three rows of petals.
decorated with half diamonds, kalaša, kapota deco
rated with caitya-arch pattern, a band carved with The side spaces between the lotuses are occupied
diamonds, a band adorned with lotus scrolls and by concave-sided half diamonds incised with flam- underlined with leaves, a deep fillet, and lastly a boyant pattern. The ceiling proper consists of three hand carved with tree motif and underlined with a courses, the first being octagonal and the others,
strip of diamonds. circular. The first depicts a row of geese on the inner face, and a large kirtti mukha at each corner
The interior pillars in the south shrine are also on the underside. The second is karnadardarikā sur well preserved. The base of these octagonal pillars mounted by a row of annulets. The third is a consists of a khura, kumbha, kalaba, antarapatra, and large circular slab having its flat surface relieved kapota adorned with caitya-arch motif. The shaft is with a full-blown lotus flower having three rows of divided into three sections, the lower being octagopetals and a central pistil. The door is similar to nal, the middle showing a sixteen-sided section, and that seen in the sanctum of the east shrine, but the upper having a circular section. The first two here is a Pratihāra at the base of the stambhafakha. sections are plain, while the circular section is crowBesides, the figures of geese in pair are conspicuous ned by a band of kirttimukhas spewing chains by their absence, and the patrašākha in some porches that are held in position below by a band of dia. is decorated with foliate scrolls. On the overdoor of monds and beads. The shaft is surmounted by the porches are six inscriptions, all dated in V. S. two capitals. The lower capital consists of a 1288 (1231 A. D.).
double-course round bharani of karņikā and padma,
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