Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c26.23

c26.23

It has been already mentioned that buildings in the Vijayanagar style also arose in other parts of the southern empire, as for instance at Vellore, Kumbakonam, Conjeeveram, Tadpatri, Virinjipuram, and Srirangam. Among them the temple in the fort at Vellore is prominent, its Kalyana mandapa even excelling in the luxuriant character of its carving the buildings of the capital, being considered the richest and most beautiful structure of its kind. Nothing could exceed the spirit or vigour of the hippogryphs and dragons of its pillars, or the fineness and prodigality of the ornament. In the centre pillars of the pavilion there is a reversion to the sedent lion motif, as seen at least six centuries earlier in the rock-cut Yamapuri mandapa at Mamallapuram, but with every part of this archaistic element elaborated to accord with its more florid environment. The gopuram to this temple is characteristic of the style during the sixteenth century, as shown by the execution and disposal of its various traditional forms such as the foliation of the predestal (*padmam*), the pavilion-canopied niches, the voluted chaitya "antefixes" (*kudu*), and the flamboyant pilasters (*kumbhapanjara*) in the alcoves. (Plate LXXII)