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Description of Temples
59
second course, edged with gajatalu, pertains to twenty-four whorls of four-fold (3+1) pointed kola. The third, similarly edged with gajatalu, has sixteen whorls of four-fold (3+1) pointed kola. Each of the eight lamās consists of two courses of eight-foil larger and eight-foil smaller kolas, and a stamenal tube clasped by two rows of petals and inserted in a deeply set circular kola. Between the two kola courses is also visible a reverse gajatālu. The padma. fila consists of three courses, each edged with reverse gajatālu. The first is made up of eight whorls of four-fold (3+1, pointed kola. The second consists of eight-foil pointed kola. The third comprises an eight-foil pointed yet smaller kola, and a stamenal tube clasped by a band of dancers, musicians and Mālādharas and two rows of petals. The ceiling belongs to the padmamandāraka class (Fig. 15) ceiling and is one of the handsomest ceilings noticed in the Vimalavasahi. It has been highly praised for its Vima deep engraving." The fine execution of the figural and floral designs has considerably added to the glamour of the ceiling.
and has a stamenal tube similar to that seen in the lūmas. Between the two courses of the padma- fila are placed a reverse gajatalu and a karnika. The architraves enclosing the ceiling is divided into two fasciae, the lower being decorated with lotus scrolls which issue from the mouth of a kirtti- mukha carved in the centre, and the upper carrying images of lalitasana goddesses with attendant figures. In the centre of their underside is carved in low relief a lotus medallion with two rows of petals. The ceiling could have looked much better if sufficient depth had been permitted to it.18
Each of the two side ceilings is rectangular on plan, but its space is reduced to a square by the usual method of placing a frame of four rectangular slabs over the architraves. The architraves carry similar ornamentations as are found on those of the central bay, only that the lower fascia is carved with creepers. The inner face of the square frame bears different reliefs, while their underside on each of the two shorter sides represents four creeper medal lions. The reliefs in the south ceiling depict a Tina seated in dhyānamudra and Srävakas with offe- rings in their hands; another Jina with worshippers; an Ācārya giving religious injunctions to the monks and an enthroned king with soldiers on his sides; and fighting and wrestling scenes. The reliefs in the north ceiling represent an Acārya seated on sivisha sana with sthapana in front and worshipped by two Srāvakas standing and some others sitting, an enthroned king with soldiers following, cock-fight,
" and fighting scene.18 The ceiling proper consists of three diminishing circular courses, followed in turn by eight projecting tāmās encircling a padmasila. Except for the ornamentation of the first course the two ceilings in the side bays are identical in structure and ornamentation. The first course in the northern ceiling depicts a row of elephants (their fore part having been shown only) on the inner face, while its underside depicts a Nägapāía flanked on each side by a Kinnar at each of the four corners and a goose-band on the two projecting narrow sides. The inner face of the first course in the southern ceiling is adorned with a row of horseriders, while its underside depicts a human-couple seated in an arch of creepers issuing from the mouth of a kirttimukha at each corner and a goose- band on the two projecting narrow sides. The
The side bays are shaded towards the courtyard by a corrugated eave-cornice.
The courtyard is open in the northeast and southeast corners, so that the rangamandapa is highly ventilated. Devakulikas
They are approached from the courtyard by a A: flight of three steps cut across the wide platform on which they are perched. But for those in the back row, all the devakulikās are screened by a double arcade of pillars, each set of four pillars of which, with two pilasters flanking the door, forms two bays in front of each devakulika. The devakulikās, in the back row being confronted by one arcade of pillars, each set of two pillars and two pilasters here forms only one bay. The devakulikas are now marked with their respective numbers that begin from left as we enter the temple from the east.
All the devakulika pillars are of the octagonal type, and except for the four near the main entrance they are alike. Their base is composed of a khura, kumbha decorated with half diamonds, kalaša, antarapatra, and kapota decorated with caitya
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