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[Full title: (A) The Northern or Indo-Aryan Phase; (iv) Temples of Madhya Pradesh (A.D. 950-1050)]

The group of Hindu and Jain temples at the old Chandela capital Khajuraho (Chhatarpur, central India) are second in importance and magnificance to the Orissan temples. They were built between 950 and 1050 A. D. The individual characteristics of this group of temple are: (1) Khajuraho temples, instead of being contained within the customary enclosure wall stand on a high and solid terrace. These temples may be classed as Jagati-Prasadas in the terminology of Silpa texts like Samrangana Sutradhara etc. Further on the broad platform i. e. terrace temples are erected not as a cojoined building, as in the case of Orissan temples but as a unified structure. (2) These temples are of not a great size, the largest is only thirty meters nearly, but consist of elegant proportions, graceful contours and rich surface treatment. (3) These temples are (3) These temples are notable for their 13. LABH p. p. 163.

The Development of the Regional Phases, of the Temple 55 simpler designs. The whole edifice is divided into three main compartments namely the cell or garbhagrha, an assembly hall or mandapa and an entrance portico or ardhamandapa. Supplementing these, are the antarala or antarala or vestibule to cella and in the more developed examples, the transepts or Mahamandapas, together with a circumambulatory around the cella, (4) Orissan temple roof is pyramidal but the Khajuraho roofs are domical in contour. Perscy Brown observes: "The graceful shape of these Sikharas has been effected in two ways, on the one hand by the subtle lineaments of the main curves, and on the other by the rhythmic disposal of the subsidiary members (i. e. urusrings) attached to them. It is only to realize the beauty of the former with its flowing profile. In the first place the contours at Khajuraho are more taut and tenuous, the tempo of the lines is accelerated as they mount up in a more decided incline. But the principal refinement is obtained by the design and distribution of the miniature turrets or urusrngas, which it was the practice to superimpose on the sides to break up the mass."14 The main group of temples at Khajuraho. consisting of at least a dozen buildings, arranged in two lines, with both Vaishnavite and Sivaite Shrines standing side by side. The finest specimen among these is Kandarya Mahadeva temple.15 The Vaishnava temple of Chatrubhuja and the Jain temple of Adinatha are also noteworthy. The temples at Gwalior ( 11 th cent. form a distinct group in this region. The peculiar among these are the two temples, in Gwalior Fort, both designated as Sas-Bahu temples (finished in 1093 A. D. ). Both are in much the same architectural mode, the smaller of the two although an elegant little building, in comparison with the larger example of which it is a reduced and simplified copy, is relatively unimportant. The large one is dedicated to Visnu. Only the main hall remains, the Vimana with its spire is disappeared. 14. lABH p. p. 134 15. IABH p. plt LXXX p. 128

56 The Structural Temples of Gujarat Externally this Mahamandapa or great hall has three stories. Each storey is defined by a massive architrave, with the spaces between occupied by pillars and piers, the effect of the facades being that of large open arcades. The roof is partly demolished, but was an arrangement of diminishing tiers of ornamental masonry rising up into a low pyramidal or domical formation. Externally, the building is in three stories, but this does not apply to interior as there is a large central chamber. It consists of one tall compartment only around which project the loggias, one above the other, which comprise the triple stories of its external elevation. From the design it can be said that the constructional principles adopted here were much alike the Rudra Mahalaya temple at Siddhapur.16 Brahmanical The Teli-Ka-mandira, is a rare type of sanctuary, a relic of the distant Buddhist heritage. It's Sikhara is remarkably noted for its affinity with that of Vaital Deul at Bhuvanesvara. It is over 30.5 meters in height. In its conception this building is rather more of a shrine than a temple, as it consists of a sanctuary only, comprising a tower together with a substantial porch and doorway leading to an interior cella; there is atached to it no assembly hall or mandapa, and none of those pillared pavilions which ordinarily formed part of the fully developed temple structure. It's shape externally as well as internally is oblong. The most marked departure from the Indo-Aryan style of the temple tower is in the composition of the summit or roof. Owing to oblong formation being confirmed throughout its height, the upper part of the building is also oblong in shape which in consequence is supersimposed with the vaulted roof of Buddhist Caitya-hall. To emphasize this character there is a form of sun-window at either end, a keeled ridge with finials, and pillared arcades derived from the rockcut colonnade system along each of its longitudinal sides. The roof of the porch also appears to have terminated in a Caitya arch gable.17 16. ABH p. p. 156-157 also Plt. Cl. OFF. F. 157. 17. ABH p. pp. 156 also plt. C fig. 2. facing p. 151

The Development of the Regional Phases of the Temple 57