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Description of Temples
167
The samatala ceiling in the central bay is recta- The ribs of the gajatalus in the third course are ngular on plan and is completed in two stages, the alternated by lotus petals. The padmašila is comfirst having wider space on the two shorter sides. posed of four courses of sixteen-foil, eight-foil larger, The inner face of the first is carved with a row of eight-foil smaller and quatrefoil kolas, and a padmageese, while its underside depicts a band of lotus kefara clasped by two rows of petals. The ceiling scrolls issuing from the navel of a Kinnara-couple is raised up by a square frame of rectangular slabs carved in the centre on each side, and a band oversailing the architraves. The inner face of these carved with lotus petal-and-bud ornament on each slabs is decorated with ardhapadma motif, while of the two shorter sides. The second is relieved
their underside reveals sixteen full-blown lotus with twelve lotus flowers arranged north-south in
south in flowers, each comprising two rows of petals. The three lines of four each; the flowers are similar to concave-sided triangular spaces between the lotuses those seen in the preceding ceiling. On the two are filled with kirttimukhas. shorter sides of this course is also carved a band of lotus scrolls.
On either side of the gūdhamandapa door is a
khattaka built of white marble, but the enshrined The two domical ceilings in the southwest and image in each is missing. Square on plan it consists northwest corners are similar to each other and of pedestal, wall and superstructure. The triratha belong to the sabhāmandāraka order. Each ceiling, pedestal consists of a jadyakumbha, a karnika, a pattika built on a square base, is composed of five courses carved with diamonds, and a kapota underlined and a circular padmašila. The lowermost course is with leaves. The wall with recessed niche is plain. octagonal and the others are circular. The inner On the front of the wall and supported by the face of the octagonal course is decorated with lotus pedestal are two moulded pillaretes joined by a scrolls, while its underside at each corner displays lintel. The jamb flanking the niche is carved with an open lotus having two rows of petals. The foliate scrolls which are also carried over the second is karnadardarika surmounted by a kirtti- lintel. The wall is surmounted by a ribbed eavemukha-band. The third is gajatalu. The fourth cornice and a bell-roof, the latter showing three depicts an Ācārva with disciples. The fifth consists rows of bells. These khattakas are later additions. of sixteen-foil kola. The padmašila consists of three This is indicated not only by the building matecourses of eight-foil larger, eight-foil smaller and rial of which they are built, but also by two quatrefoil kolas, and a stamenal tube clasped by inscription of 1227 A. D. found therein. From two rows of petals.
these inscriptions we learn that these khattakas
were built by Minister Luniga and Vastupäla The domical ceiling in front of the gādhamandapa for their own spiritual merit, and the images door is also of the sabhämandaraka type (Fig. 80). of Ādinātha and Neminātha in them were Square on plan it consists of four courses and a installed by Vijayasenasūri of Nagendragaccha,98 circular padmašila. The lowermost course is octa- probably when the original images were destrogonal and the others are circular. The inner face yed by the Muslim invaders. of the octagonal course is relieved with human figures carrying water pot, while its underside at The mukhamaydapa is shaded by a corrugated each corner depicts an image of four-armed lalita- eave-cornice, the soffit of which is carved on the sana goddess attended upon either side by a female outer edge by a band of diamonds and beads. Over cauri-bearer and a Kinnara. The second is karṇadar- the eave-cornice is a roll moulding in which are darika decorated with lotus petal-and-bud device inserted four water spouts, two located on the front and surmounted by a kirttimukha-band. The third and one placed on each side. From each corner and fourth are gajatālus, each topped by a band of the roof and supported by the eaves emerges a of lotus petals and a band of diamonds and beads, walking elephant carved wholly in the round.
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