Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c23.32

c23.32

Instead of the permanent yet inflexible carving of the granite, the art of structural building was taken up, as it was being realized that this process gave greater powers to the workman, it provided him with more freedom, so that he could place his structure where he pleased, and make it what shape he liked. The only limit to his performance was the extent of his knowledge of the principles of the mason's craft, and the size and strength of his materials. With the reign of Rajasimha therefore the second phase of Pallava architecture opens, in which all the buildings are entirely structural. The production of the first temples of this phase, and called the Rajasimha Group, began towards the end of the seventh century and occupied the whole of the eighth century, during which period several notable buildings were erected