Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c28.26

c28.26

Undoubtedly the most impressive feature of this temple is the great tower of the Srı Mandır, as it dominates not only the entire composition, but the whole town of Bhubaneswar with its height and volume At its base it measures 56 feet side, although owing to its projecting faces or *pagas*, it is not square in plan, as the sides are indented by regular chases. In its elevational aspect for approximately one-third of its height the sides are vertical, the lower portion of which constitutes the *bada* or ground-story, distinguished from the rest of the tower by a separate form of surface treatment. At the height of about 50 feet the contours of the structure, up to this point vertical, begin to incline inwards, speeding up into a pronounced parabolic curve to produce the "shoulder" at 125 feet from the ground. Above the curves of the shoulder rises the neck or *beki*, over which is the ponderous fluted disc or *amila-sıla*, supported by sedent gryphons, the whole being crowned by a vase-shaped finial (*kalasa*) bearing the *trisula* or trident of Siva. All the middle section of the tower is richly textured by means of horizontal mouldings, which, carried in lines across the recessed chases of the sides produce a suitable background for the attachment of certain selected motifs These motifs consist of a vertical line of miniature *deuls*, small-scale replicas of the tower itself, which fill in the angles of the recesses, and, on each side taking the shape of a prominent projection is a representation of a lion crushing down an elephant, a frequent symbol in the architecture of Orissa. Within the tower is the *cella* 19 feet square, but instead of a ceiled chamber it is continued upwards somewhat in the manner of a well, or chimney, forming a hollow space throughout the entire height.