Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c25.16

c25.16

So far the Pandya period has been represented solely by monumental gateways, but there is one example of a complete temple which may have been erected during this regime. If, as presumed, it was produced under the Pandyas, on grounds of style it must date towards the end of their rule, therefore during the first half of the fourteenth century. This is the temple of Airavatesvara at Darasuram in the Tanjore district. (Plate LXVI, Fig 2). The main structure of its composition, in a word the temple proper, is in plan very similar to the two great temples already described of the previous period, as it consists of a long rectangular building of no great height rising up into a pyramidal tower or vimana at its western end. On the other hand around this central feature and forming part of the architectural scheme, as they are all within the same enclosure, are several other edifices, the whole comprising a small but compact group of buildings of notable expressiveness. A system consisting of a group of religious structures, in addition to the one central temple, was an arrangement which now began to develop, but may be resolved more logically to the subsequent period, as it is particularly characteristic of the Vijayanagar manner. The architectural treatment of the Darasuram example however is obviously in the late Pandya mode, as is clearly shown in the design of the pillars, the capital and bases of which bear the unmistakable scol-loped edge of this period, while the bracket above the capital has a cyma recta curve, all distinguishing features of the Dravidian style at this juncture.