Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c34.11

c34.11

One of the finest of the Mudabidri group is the temple of Chandranatha, which may have been built early in the fifteenth century. It is contained within a high walled enclosure having an entrance on the east, which opens immediately on to a fine free-standing pillar (*mana-stambha*) in front of the main doorway. The temple building consists of three halls, corresponding to mandapas, all combined and connected with the *vimana* containing the cella, in which is the divinity, or Tirthankar. It was the custom of two and sometimes three of these compartments to form the front portion of this class of temple, and, each of these to be designated by a name, in the Chandranatha example they are known as the Tirthankara, Gaddije, and Bhiradevi or Chitra mandapas. (Plate CXIX, Fig. 1).