Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c23.7

c23.7

It will be seen from the above that the rock architecture of the first phase takes two forms, referred to as *mandapas*, and *rathas*. In this connection, a mandapa is an excavation, while a ratha is a monolith. The former is an open pavilion, and, as excavated in the rock, takes the shape of a simple columned hall with one or more cellas in the back wall. A ratha is in reality a car or chariot, provided by the temple authorities for the conveyance of the image of the deity during processions. But here, by common usage, it refers to a series of monolithic shrines, which are exact copies in granite of certain structural prototypes.