Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c18.16

c18.16

Apart from the extemporaneous nature of its composition, the Ladh Khan temple contains several notable features. Although the plain square shaft and bracket capital is a characteristic of its style, an elaboration of this occurs in the pilasters placed at each of the exterior angles of the building. The shafts of these taper slightly at their upper ends, above which is a "cushion" capital with an expanded floral abacus supporting the bracket. This is probably the first appearance of a particular form of capital of great importance, because it afterwards became almost universal in the architecture of Southern India, representing, as it does, the "order" of the Dravidian style. Another element in the temple, and one already alluded to, is the stone seat of the portico, with its sloping back-rest. Here is seen the beginning of the *asana*, which developed into an ornamental feature used with considerable effect in the entrance halls of many mediaeval temples. The construction of the roof is peculiar, and is the original of a system which continued to be practised for a long period, for even as late as the thirteenth century it is found in the Chalukyan-Hoysala temples of Mysore (Chapter XXIX). It consists of large flat slabs, near the joints of which grooves were chiselled, with a corresponding ridge at the edges. Covering the entire length of the joints, long narrow stones were placed fitting into the grooves, on the principle of ordinary roofing-tiles, but to a much larger scale. In the shape of these stone ribs there is, however, a suggestion of a timber origin, while the heavy overhanging eaves of the roof which, in some instances also show ribs underneath, have been derived from thatch. That the temple of Ladh Khan was the near product of a primitive movement is shown by the nature of its masonry, which is composed of great archaic looking blocks dressed to level beds and placed one upon the other without any cement or similar binding composition. The walls are of disproportionate strength, yet not uncouth, although denoting a wasteful use of material, significant of inexperienced workmanship. The character of the portico is typical of the style. The prodigious shafts and ponderous brackets of the pillars, and its low beetling cornice are expressive of exultant strength, while the carving on its exterior has an elemental, almost savage beauty, reminiscent of that on the buildings of the Anglo-Saxons, which has the appearance of having been produced by the means of an axe. As in all the workmanship at Aihole, it is stark, strong, and enduring, the utterance of a robust and vigorous people having great potentialities but, at present, of undeveloped powers (Plate XLV).