Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c17.26

c17.26

The early Gupta style reached its culmination in a superb little structure at Deogarh in the Jhansi district, a Siva temple probably dating from early in the sixth century.¹ In this example is seen an effort to throw off the rudimentary and rather ineffective convention of the flat roof, and to obtain some appearance of height. Accordingly the upper part of the sanctum was carried upward in the form of a pyramidal tower, but unfortunately the summit is too ruined for its detailed shape to be made out, although its height when entire could not have been less than 40 feet. This tower-like shrine which at its base is 18 feet side, is further elevated by being placed in the centre of a square terrace five feet high, with a flight of steps in the middle of each side. In the ingenuous disposition of the pilasters, panels, and coping, on the sides of the substructure there is a suggestion of the railing around a Buddhist stupa. But the most notable feature of the Deogarh temple is the arrangement of its portico. Instead of only one of these, as is usual in front of the entrance to the sanctum, there are four of them, one projecting from each side of the central structure, each with a flat roof supported on a row of four pillars, with the customary wider intercolumniation in the middle. All the porticos have fallen but the general appearance of the building is shown in the diagram of a conjectural restoration in Plate XLI, Figure 6 In each part of the temple there is the same exuberance of carving as in the previous examples in this style, the pillars being elaborately chamfered, and the capitals of the vase and foliage type lavishly decorated with pendent scrolls.