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The Vertical Parts of the Mandapa
441 Few instances of figural motifs in panels in the ceilings are also noteworthy. A fragment of a lotus medallion of the central large samatala ceiling of Kerakot temple (now preserved in Bhuj Museum) depicts seated figures in the petals. 9 9
(b) The second type of the Samatala ceiling is Compartmenttype wherein the ceiling is divided into several compartments or sections which are depicted with floral as well as figural motifs. The ceiling in the porch of the Someśvara temple at Gorad 100 is divided into several sections which are decked with floral motifs. The bays connecting the eastern corridor with rangamaņdapa of the Mahāvīra temple at Kumbharia are entirely filled with figures in several compartments (Here fig. 208).
In the Sabhāmaņdapa of the sun temple at Modhera, four ceilings of this kind, are available. All of these depict the episodes from Ramāyana, Mahābhārata and Purāṇas etc. on a small scale. The ceiling from Vasai, near Dwarka, belong to the same class, 101 Similar ceilings are available at Patan, 102 Prabhas Patan, 103 Kumbharia (śāntinātha temple ) and Abu (Vimalavasahi) also.
(c) The third type of Samatala ceiling can be described as Narrative-type wherein the scenes from Hindu and Jain Mythology such as Nāgadamana, Nộisimhavatāra, Rāsamaņdala, lives of Jain Tirthankaras, gods and goddesses etc. are carved.
Sometimes the lotus medillions of the samatala ceiling are completely replaced by mythical or legendary scenes such as found in the antarāla ceiling of Siva temple at Kotai (Here fig. 211) and another one in one of the ceilings of the bays of Sitalāmātā temple at Vadanagar (Here fig. 210). At times either in a panel or
99. KSD. Plt. on p. 150. 100. AANG. Plt. CIN. 101. Now preserved in Baroda Museum. CTG. fig. 15. 102. AANG. Plt. XVIII, 3. 103. A fragment of this ceiling is preserved in Prabhas Patan, Museum.
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