Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c26.8

c26.8

The remainder of this central temple building, the part which is attached to the preceding and formed by the *ardhamandapa* and the sanctuary combined, resolves itself into a unified rectangular structure 135 feet long and 67 feet wide, its exterior walls embellished with that conventional arrangement of pilaster, niche, and alcove combination, which, in one form or another, appears as surface decoration in almost every phase of the Dravidian style This mandapa or assembly room, which is entered from the east front through the ardha-mandapa described above, has in addition two-side-entrances, each having steps and a pillared porch of some size Its interior is a square hall of 55 feet side surrounded by an aisle of 12 pillars with four others in the centre, one at each corner of a square dais. At the far end of the assembly hall is the doorway to the cella, behind which is a corridor or vestibule leading to the chamber of the god, enclosed within the solid masonry of the vimana. This vimana, or last of the three compartments of the central building, is externally 75 feet long and 72 feet wide, and is a little unusual in its plan. Apparently a processional passage, not included in the original scheme, became necessary, and was evidently improvised while the temple was still under construction. The floor of this ambulatory for structural reasons had to be on the same level as the courtyard, so one descends into it by two flights of seven steps, as into a crypt, one flight on each side of the vestibule leading to the cella Such an expedient implies some unexpected change in the ceremonial at this date.