Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c25.3

c25.3

One of the reasons for this change of objective was that of sentiment. Distributed throughout the country on sites of great religious antiquity were a number of buildings of no particular artistic character, but on the other hand of marked sanctity, because enshrined within them were images of deep and lasting veneration. Custom at the same time ordained that, although these edifices were aesthetically insignificant, it was considered undesirable either to pull them down and erect others in their place, or even to change their appearance by structural alterations or improvements. These shrines therefore remained practically untouched, retaining their humble and somewhat primitive state, and also preserving at the same time that atmosphere of pristine holiness with which they were originally endowed. Religious emotion with regard to such edifices had however to find some form of expression, and it did so by exalting their environment, surrounding them by high walls to emphasize their sanctity, and making the entrances to the enclosures thus formed into gateways of imposing size and rich appearance. One of the results of this procedure was to give the temple confines the appearance of a fortress or citadel, as the outer scheme consists of a series of concentric walls enclosing open courtyards or *prakarams*, and approached through high watch-towers. The walls were purely utilitarian structures of no aesthetic value, being not infrequently provided with an inner platform, and battlemented, obviously as a means of defence in case of emergency. In contrast to the relative plainness of the walls, the tall gateways were made into productions of considerable architectural character, as they formed immense piles in themselves as well as providing a basis for a wealth of plastic embellishment. In the course of time these pylon-like entrances were introduced so frequently into the temple scheme, that they have become the most striking feature in the architecture of the south.