Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c12.31

c12.31

Behind the two lion columns or *sinha-stambhas*, was the vestibule to the hall, the front face of which was formed by a rock-cut screen having a triple entrance below and a pillared clerestory above On the space between these upper and lower openings, corresponding in some respects to a triforium, numerous mortice holes may be seen for the attachment of a minstrel's gallery of wood which extended right across the front. The wooden addition has completely perished but it was an important feature in the design of the facade and would improve its effect; access to this hanging gallery was obtained by means of a stairway at the back of the lion column on the left side. Passing through one of the doorways in the screen the vestibule is entered and the whole inner frontage with its sun-window, decorated arcading, and sculptured figure compositions, comes into view (Plate XXIII). The greater part of the inner wall of the vestibule is occupied by the towering horse-shoe archway within which is recessed the sun-window, portions of the wooden tracery in the opening being still in situ, but the lower section with its semi-circular screen of wooden trellis-work is missing. In the spandrils on each side of the great archway, and also on the narrower ends of this vestibule are carved in the rock tiers of chaitya arcading separated by bands of decorative railings, a very dignified method of ornamenting these subsidiary spaces. Below, some of the panels are filled with figures in relief, but several of them are later Mahayana impositions, and as they were not part of the original scheme they do not harmonise with the rest. Perhaps the most spirited motif in the entire composition is the series of supporting elephants at the ends, each half life-size in high relief and originally provided with tusks of ivory. By such artistic treatment and skilful distribution of all the decorative and symbolic elements, some of them repeated and alternated like a theme in music, the minds of the votaries were attuned and thus prepared for admission into the mysterious and sacred hall of the stupa.