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The Matsya Purana denotes a complete chapter to the description of mandapas to be erected in accordance with the shape of the temples. 91 There are three broad categories: jyestha (high) madhyama (medium) and knistha (low). They are of twenty-seven kinds as given below in Table 5: Table 5 27 Kinds of Mandapas Mentioned in the Matsya Purana S.No. Name of mandapa Number of pillars in each mandapa 1 Puspaka 64 2 Pushabhadra 62 3 Suvrata 60 4 Amitanandana 58 5 Kausalya $|& 56 6 Buddhisamkirana 54 7 Gajabhadra 52

8 Jayavaha 50 9 Srivatsa 48 10 Vijaya 46 11 Vastukirti 44 12 Srutinjaya 42 13 Yajnabhadra 40 14 Visala 38 15 Suslista 36 16 Satrumardana =4 34 17 Bhagapanca 32 18 Nandana 30 19 Manava 28 20 Manabhadraka 26 21 Sugriva 24 22 Harita 22 23 Harnikara 20 24 Satardhika 18 25 Simha 16 26 Syamabhadra 14 27 Subhadra 12 121 PLAN OF THE MANDAPAS The Matsya Purana says that the plot for the mandapa should be divided into sixtyfour padas. The dvara should be placed in the centre. The height of the mandapa should be double the width and the kati (wall). Half of the total area should be covered by the walls, one-fourth of the central portion (encircled open space) should be taken as the scale for dvara whose height is the triple and width double of the scale. The jambs should be

122 decorated with three, five, seven and nine sakhas. The doors measuring one hundred forty and half, one hundred thirty and one hundred twenty angulas are considered as jyestha, madhyama and kaniyas respectively. The door measuring 180 angules is supposed to be the best for ventilation, while the other prescribed dimensions are 80, 90, 100, 110 and 116 angulas. There are ten doorways for mandapas Other dimensions are forbidden as they trouble the mind. There should be no obstruction, in front of the door, caused by tree corner, curve, pillar, banner, well, wall and charm or pit The prescribed shapes for the mandapas are trikona, vrtta, ardhendu, catuskona. astasra and dvirastaka; others may be inauspicious. 92 The GP also describes the shapes of mandapa as trikona, padma, ardhendu, catuskona and dvirastaka. A consecrator of these temples is said to be bestowed perpetual grant of statuary powers, wealth, longevity, sanction of sons and wives respectively. Another Meru prasada with hundred turrets, four dvaras and four mandapas is conceded as sublime and best of all. 93 The Bhavishya Purana says that on the north and south sides two mandalas should be constructed for offerings. The offerings of morning should be performed in the south mandala and that of evening in the other one, i.e. north mandala. The third mandala should consist of the idol of sun well established in the midst of the different auspicious sounds of musical

123 instruments like turya, sankha etc and decorated by four auspicious kalasas and the pitchers." 94 According to GP the mandapa and gavaksa have been optional portions of a temple. As the remnant monuments of the period indicate these were, most likely, not the inevitable organs of the temple. However, if the consecrator is willing, these should be raised in a hall (mandapa) and latticed windows (gavaksas) in front of, and attached with the garbhagrha. The length of the walls of mandapa may be double, equal or even half of that of the garbhagrha. There should be various types of projections (bhadras) in the walls of mandapa commensurating with the latter's dimensions in number and shape and size. The GP says that there should be constructed a manjari (small spire), above the mandapa embellished with high and low (visama) carvings relieved (utra) on it in accordance with the dimensions (parimana) of its elevation. It further 95 says that there should be constructed a small shrine (laghumandapa) for the concerning mount or animal conveyance (vahana). The recommended shapes are caturasra (quadrangular) and ayata (rectangular). These also should be adorned with sikhara and cadrasalas. The Agni Purana in chapter 65 discusses the methods of saptabhaumasabha mandapa in front of the temples. After examining the ground on which the mandapa (hall) is to be built, the vastuyaga ceremony should be performed. Now the saptabhauma (seven storeyed) hall sacred to Hari

124 (Visnu) should be constructed following the same rules which are applied in erecting the mansions of a king. It should be built consisting of one, two, three or four salas (enclosures or courts). The mandapa comprising four salas is considered the best of all. After building seven storeys one by one the saptabhauma hall should be consecrated with all the rituals which are consequent on the installation of a divine icon. 96