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The Ground Plan of the Garbhagriha
341 garbhagriha i. e. here the ground plan comprises 16 equal parts, out of which the central 4 are reserved for the garbhāgpiha. The remaing 12 parts cover the walls of the garbhagriha.48
This may be illustrated in several temples of pre-Caulukyan period as well Caulukyan.
The rectangular garbhagriha is termed 'Puşpaka'. According to one canon 44 it is divided into the ratio of 2:1 i. e. the length of the garbhagļiha is twice the width. According to another45 it should have 5 parts in length (Āyāma) and 4 parts in breadth (Vistāra). But the rules given here seem not followed by the two extant examples of this shape.
The garbhagriha at Kadvar measures 7x2.8 meters the ratio being almost 5:2. Here the width is found to be in ratio one half of that prescribed in APPR. The garbhagriha at Kalsar is 4.3 x 2.6 meters, the ratio almost being 8:5 It comes near the ratio given in Sm. Su.
It will be interesting to note here that APPR even though classifying certain varieties of temples having rectangular shrines under the heads of various types of temples, prescribe a definite rule that except temples belonging to Daruja and Valabhi Type, 46 the rectangular shape of the shrine may be avoided. Prasādamaņdan considers the rectangular garbhagļiha as a defective onę. 47
The device of dividing the ground plan in several parts such as 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 etc. serves two purposes, firstly it locates the position and size of the garbhagļiha , circumambulatory and internal as well as external walls as the case may be;
43. Sm. Su. LVI, 45,; APPR, CLV, 3-4 / This is also prescribed by early works Ag. P. XLII, 1-2; M.P. CCLXIX, 1-2. 44. Sm. Su. XLIX, 124
45. APPR. CLV. 12. 46. APPR. CXXVI, 25 (i) 47. store RAPITA PM. III, 3...
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