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490
The Structural Temples of Gujarat
The chief in the group, faces west. It has square garbhagá¹›iha
(2.1 × 2 ms.) with a pradakṣiṇ� 7 m. wide. The door
measures 2 × 1 meter. The rectangular attached mandapa
measures 3.8 × 2-5 ms. with 8 pilasters supporting its flat roof.
The pradakṣiṇ� is also covered with a flat roof, while the
garbhagriha has a spire over it.
Adjecent to this temple, there is another square temple
(2.1 x 2.1 ms.), facing west. These two temples are on the
east of the Kunda.
On the west there are two temples which face east and
on the south there is a temple facing north. All these three
temples are of the same size. The temple on south is similar
in plan and design to that of the small temple just described
above. The temples on west are similar in plan but they differ
in the architectural form of the Sikhara.
From the view point of the form of the spire or Sikhara
the whole group is divided into two forms of superstructure.
One form of the temples have spires with horizontal
tiers of diminishing sizes superimposed one on the other till
the apex of the spire is attained. Such tiers are numbered four
each one being adorned with the Caitya-arch ornament in low
relief. The apex is adorned with a heavy cogged amalaka and a
finial. But the spire of one of the two temples on the east facing
west is peculiar and is in greater similarity to that of one at
Bileśvara, and some what pyramidal in shape (See fig. 34 )
Here it contains three gabled tiers with high reliefed Caitya
arches in the centre of each tier and a replica or miniature
spire at the corners. The lowest tier has three Caitya arches,
the central one has two and the upper one has one such arch.
Each arch has high reliefed carving of full-blossomed lotus-like
design in the central nave, probably a sign of the Sun temple.
The uppermost tier is adorned with an amalaka and a finial.
4. Here Figs. 33, 34.
5. Here Figs. 33,35
6. Here Fig. 35