Pallava Architecture, Part I (MASI 17) c2.97

c2.97

(12) Mogalrājapuram.—This little village is about three miles to the east of Bezwada and surrounded by small hills on the north and south sides. There are three small excavations in the hill to the south-east of the village. Number one, a small unfinished triple-celled temple with a decayed pillared porch in front which faces the north, is excavated in the northern face of the hill. There is nothing remarkable about it and there is not much to discribe as it contains no sculptures or ornamentation. On plan, it consists of a hall measuring 26' 6" in length and 5' 6" in width. The facade has a curved cornice running along the front but is not decorated with the usual gable ornament. There are only two square pillars in front dividing the facade into three small openings of equal size. One of these pillars has decayed. Cut in the back wall are three small shrines each 7' 6" square on plan with narrow door ways facing due north. We may presume that these shrines once contained images of the three gods of the Hindu Triad. [Plate VI (c).]