Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c9.39

c9.39

The *Prāsāda* was built on a solid foundation or basement (*Vaththu*). In this connection some architectural elements are to be noted, e.g. a pillar (*Stambha*), *Tulā* (the transverse lintel on the doorway supporting the entablature, also called *Bhāra-tulā*), *Saṅghāṭa* (capitals of pillars with pairs of animals and human beings as *Haya-Saṅghāṭa*, *Gaja-Saṅghāṭa*, *Nāra-Saṅghāṭa* etc.), *Bhitti-pāda* (dado; now called *Ijārā*), *Kūṭa* (ridged roof with finials or *thūpikā*), *Gopānasi* rafters, literally bull's nose, a *Chaitya*-window-like motif on the outside of the walls where rafters were placed), *Pakkha-passa* (bondings of the walls), and *Mukhāvaṭi* (facade or freeze on the front side, Skt. *Mukhapaṭṭikā*). The pillars formed an important element of the house or palace. A thousand and a hundred pillars of the Vedas correspond to the *Sahassa-thambha* (J. 5. 169, VI 173) or *Bahut-thambhaka* (J. IV 153).