Studies in Indian Art c13.s3.22

c13.s3.22

According to the *Mānasāra* the front portion of the doorway (*mukhabhadra*) was to be decorated with the design of a *gavāksha*, a circular motif enclosing the figures of a *deva*, *bhūta*, *vyāla*, *simha*, *hamsa*, etc. and adorned by plants or creepers of foliated pattern, and this was beautified on the top by a projecting *Kirtivaktra* or *Kirtimukha* design: नासिकावृतबाह्ये तु गवाक्षाकारं तु पत्रयुक् ॥१४४॥ तस्मादन्तर्गतैश्चादिदेवभूतादिरूपकैः । व्यालसिंहादिहंसाद्यैर्मवल्ल्यादिभूषितम् ॥१४५॥ तदूर्ध्वं कीर्तिवक्त्रं तु निर्गमाकृति भावयेत् ।