Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c32.17

c32.17

The course of the style is carried a step further by several temples built probably after the middle of the twelfth century, of which one of a group of five near the village of Pedgaon in the Ahmednagar District is a typical example. This is the temple of Lakshmi-Narayan, a small structure measuring only 54 feet by 35 feet but so finely proportioned and profusely sculptured as to present a perfect but miniature model of its class. A noticeable departure in the architectural character of this building is in the treatment of the pillars, which include in their design the "vase and foliage" element, a motif not found in the previous examples of these parts, but evidently imported from Gujarat. Another original expedient is in the walls of the pillared hall, as these are composed of square panels containing perforated patterns thus admitting more light and air into this compartment than in the older temples. This system appears to have been derived from the Chalukyan style as it prevailed towards the south, where highly decorated and intricately perforated screen walls are characteristic.