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Decorative Sculptures and Their Structural Functions
475 In respect to mithuna figures it imparts a special treatment. The available mithuna sculptures did not mean human couples only, but also those of animals, birds, Serpants etc. Two passages of Sm. Su. clearly enjoin the couples of monkey and of elephants playing in water to be used in decorating the building. 56 At several other places also it refers to mithuna figures.87
While describing several varieties of temples one by one, APPR. imparts, at times, instructions pertaining to floral, as well as decorative sculptures to be placed on the walls of temples, shrine doors etc. as for instance in describing the mandovara ( wall face) of Nāgaraprāsāda it recommeds that it should be adorned with figures of elephants, lions, alligators ( Makaras ), Vyālas (composite figures ), Dikpālas (guardians of regents) and several sculptures of gods-goddesses, Munis, Tāpasas etc.58 The description is followed by the later work Dipā.59
APPR. enjoins that door jambs should be adorned with decorative sculptures such as the figures of Ganga and Yamunā etc.60.
Further it has given a separate chapter on the treatment of figures of Dvārapratihäras (or Dvārpālas ) of the temples dedicated to different dieties.6 1
56. Sm. Su XXXI, 126, 134. 57. Sm. Su. VIII, 43 The Southern Indian Text Suprabhedāgama specifically mentions that the temples should be decorated with Śiva krida (Siva's sport), Harikrida (Hari's sport) Tāpasakrīdā (sport of the ascetics ) - Patala XXX. 58. APPR. CXXVII, 24-26. 59. Dipā. V, 26-27. 60. APPR. CXXXII, 4,5. 61. APPR CXXXIII.
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