Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c30.16

c30.16

No account of the temples of the Osia group would be complete without a reference to the doorways, particularly those which form the entrances to the shrine chamber. In most of the temple architecture, these are the features on which the decorator concentrated all his knowledge and skill, thus corresponding in their wealth of story to the doorways of a Gothic cathedral in the West. The fact that the shrine entrance led immediately into the divine presence seems to have given wings to the artist's imagination, so that here we find portrayed, by symbol and image, whole volumes of folk lore and mythology for those who can see but cannot read On the lintel are represented the nine planets or *navagraha*, while below are ornamental niches each enshrining some well-known incident. Simulating a key-stone is the dedicatory block, often depicting a figure or emblem associated with the divinity within the cella, while in panels down the jambs are figure-subjects of lively interest. Decorative mouldings outline the doorway, among which is a motif of double spirals continuing right round the opening delineating the intertwined coils of the snake Sesha, the king of the Nagas or serpent race, a device signifying an endless destiny or eternity. The river goddesses of the Ganges and the Jumna figure at the base of the jamb, to which position they were relegated after the Gupta era; one of the conventions of that period was to include these deities at the upper angle of the doorway, the sixth century marking the date of this change.