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Appendix B
541
As regards the thickness of walls, the general ratio found to be 1/5th of the length of the cella, is in full accordance with that given in the canonical works like APPR.6 The canons followed in Gujarat seem to have prescribed the minimum thickness required according to the degree of the solidity of the material. The plan and the technique of the superstructure seem adjusted to the thickness of the wall as perfectly as possible.
The same applies to the beams the dimensions of which are determined by the thickness of the walls.
In most of the temples of Gujarat there are no transverse floors at different height within the tower? but the necessity of this device arises only in the case of storied structures. In the storied spire of the Dwarkadhisa temple at Dwarka, for instance, we do come across the adoption of this device. Moreover wooden beams were often laid diagonally between the different walls to add strength to them as in the case of Ajitanātha temple at Taranga. Again the cella was covered by a dome like ceiling made by diagonal corbels.
The spire of the temples in Gujarat was rendered light and shell-like by certain devices. Blocks of stones were laid vertically (rather than horizontally) in the upper part of the spire, the height gained by adding each coarse being great in comparision with the extent of the horizontal extent of the courses. The burden on the walls of the cella was further relieved by throwing the weight of the spire on the outer ring of pillars and walls of the circumambulatory of short width.
6. According to APPR. the thickness of the walls of the Prāsādas built of mud and the brick must be 4 of the length of the cella, while that in the case of stone-temples should be 1/5 or even 1/4 in ratio. 7. Bose N. K. lbid.
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