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CHAPTER IV THE COMPONENT PARTS OF THE FULL-FLEDGED TEMPLE The real foundation of structural temple architecture in Northern India was laid in the Gupta period (c. 350-650 A. D.). Before we make a general survey of the gradual development of architectural form of the structural temple it is necessary to introduce its principal component parts. (i) The Principal Parts of the Temple The principal parts of the temple are as follows: Throughout the greater part of the country, the sanctuary as a whole is known as the vimana.. The vimana is a small and generally dark chamber or cella for the reception of the divine symbol. This cella is the garbha griha or "womb-house," and was entered by a doorway on its inner, and usually, eastern side. In front of the doorway was a pillared hall, or mandapa. Some of the earlier temples indicate that the mandapa, was a detached building, isolated from the sanctuary by a definite open space, as in the 'shore' temple at Mamallapuram and in Kailasnatha at Conjeevaram, both near Madras, and built about 700 A. D.. A little latter it became the custom to unite the two buildings, thus forming an intermediate chamber, or vestibule and called the antarala. Leading up to the main hall, or mandapa is a porch or ardha-mandapa, while there may be a transept on each side of this central hall. known as the maha-mandpa. The most complete illustrations of the fully formed and coalesced temple structure, are the tenth century examples at Khajuraho, central India, especially that known as Kandariya Mahadeo. In this class of temple, each portion named above, has its separate pyramidal roof, rising in regular gradation,

32 The Structural Temples of Gujarat from the lowest over the porch (ardha mandapa), to the lofty spire over the sanctum. In some parts of the country it became the practice to enclose the temple building within a rectangular courtyard by means of continuous range of cells, facing inwards, the whole forming a substantial surrounding wall, and this ensuring seculsion. Most of the early temples have a processional passage or pradakshina patha consisting of an enclosed corridor carried around the outside of the cella.1