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Structural Temples of the Caulukyan Period
The present dilapidated temple of the Sun was one of the most beautiful and splendid temples in Gujarat. Even in its rujn and decay it is still an imposing structure, with a majestic beauty rarely met with in such ruins.
· From the ruins it can be determined that the temple consists of a shrine proper i. e. Garbhagriha surrounded by circumambulation with small entrances in it on the two sides, a Gūạbamaņdapa, a detached Sabhāmaņdapa and a porch facing the flights of Sūrya Kunda just in front of the temple. From the extant remains of a Toraņa on its north-east, it appears that it had Toraņas on the both sides of the frontage serving as entrances to the temple. The position of the temple facing due east is such that the rising Sun at the equinoxes would shine straight through Sabhāmaņďapa doors into the shrine.
On plan the frontal structure i. e. open hypostyle hall (or Sabhā (Ranga) mandapa), is based on a square of nearly 15.2 ms. wide, placed diagonally with the axial line, its sides being interrupted at regular intervals by recessed chases. There are pillared entrances with cusped archways at each of the four corners and a smaller pillar set within each recessed angle, the whole system forming an adequate support to the wide projecting eave or Chajjā, and the triple cornice above. A dwarf wall, richly empanelled with figure subjects, and surmounted by the leaning seat-back encloses the lower part of this arcade, while the upper portion being open presents vistas of its fine interior columination.
The interior of the hall is composed of two aisles of pillars arranged along with diagonals of its square plan, thus producing a cruciform effect. By ommiting the central pillars at the junction of these cross aisles, the octagonal space of the nave opens out in the middle of the hall, and above this rises the domed ceiling, elavated higher than the aisles by means of an attic story. As to the dimensions the pillars are 4 ms. high, the rim of the dome is nearly 5.3 ms. with its centre 7.1 ms. from the floor level.
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