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The Structural Temples of Gujarat The pillars of the toraṇa have ornamental bases with niches on four sides containing amorous figures and mutilated figures of gods and goddesses. The niches are surmounted by miniature Sikharas above which the shaft of the pillars show the pūrņa ghata (ghața pallava ) motif. The toraņa beam contains figures of heavenly musicians and is decorated with two semi-circular arches with elongated ends issuing out of makara-mouths. Dr. U. P. Shah suggests a date c. 1000 A. D. or a little earlier for this toraņa.2 8
The toraņa at Baleja 9 is perhaps one of the rare extant toranas in the pennisula of Saurastra. It stands in front of the pre-Caulukyan Sun temple at Balej, but it is a late construction and is very simple except the superstructure which consists of several figures of demi-gods. In dimension the toraṇa is small, It consists of two pillars, a lintel and an arch like superstructure over the lintel. The central arch contains a seated figure of Śiva facing east. On the west it contains a figure of Devi with her vehicle buffalo. The central arch is flanked by miniature curvilinear sțing on either side.
(b) The Präkāra and the Balanaka
The Prākāra is the fortification which encloses the temple; the main entnance to it i.e. the entrance gate is known as Balanaka 30. The latter is either one storeyed or many storeyed structure. The space between the temple and the prākāra form a court yard which may be square or rectangular. The courtyard of many Jain temples is enclosed by a series of devakulikās (small shrines) on its sides, their back-walls forming the prākāra of the site.
28. SRR. p. 38. 29. Here Fig. 214/1. 30. Otherwise known as Pundarika. It is also sometimes known as * Pratoli'. Originally the term pratoli seems to denote the gate erected at the front of a street ( APPR. LXXXIII) but sometimes it also stands for the gate of the prākāra around the präsāda ( APPR. CXV, 22 ).
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