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122
The Structural Temples of Gujarat
The principal building (the enclosed hall including shrine)
is an oblong formation with an extreme length of 24.4 ms.
and a width of 15-2 ms. having its long sides, not diagonal as
in the case of the hypostyle hall, but parallel to the axis of
the scheme as a hall. In its design recessed angles are also a
distinctive feature of the exterior; while the sole entrance is
through a pillared portico on the east, where it connects with
the western or rear doorway of the Sabhama峁囜笉apa. 65/1 At
intervals in the sides are window openings, five in number,
each a well proportioned aperature, and with its side pillars,
relieving the wall surface in an interesting manner. The
elevation is composed of the three main divisions already
referred to with the basement or pitha consisting of the
conventional range of carved mouldings, above which is the
spacious ma峁囜笉ovara or panelled wall-face, richly embellished
with figure sculpture, each image enshrined in a niche, the
principal divinities in the larger and central ones, female
figures such as dancers and musicians at the sides, with saints
and asceties in the smaller and less prominent sides. The
Superstructure of this building has completely disappeared, but it
comprised the traditional arrangement of a low pyramidal roof
over the front portion, and a tall turreted Sikhara over the shrine.
In both these formations the recessed chased, still visible in the
body of the structure, were continued upward, those carried
65/1 The original plan of the temple seems to have consisted of the
Garbhagriha and the G奴dhama峁囜笉apa, the Tora峁嘺 and the Kunda. The
Sabh盲ma峁囜笉apa seems to have been added later on as indicated by the
little space remaining between the Sabh膩ma峁囜笉apa and the Tora峁嘺.
Shri M. A. Dhaky, on the strength of his peculiar methods of the
style-critical analysis of Ra峁噄v膩va at Patan, ascribes the rangamandapa
(i. e. Sabhamandapa) of this temple to the early years of the reign
of Kar峁嘺deva. He also holds that the torana likewise was also latter
addition. According to him both these structures show close
resemblance in decorative and figural work but differ from those found
in the Main shrine. (CSTG. p. 77. )