Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c36.7

c36.7

With regard to the first of these characteristics, that relating to the disposition and general arrangements of the temple, the scheme as a rule is similar to that found in most parts of the country, as it comprises a central structure within an enclosure, the surrounding walls of which contain ranges of cells fronted by a pillared verandah or cloister. The central structure, or main building, in its simplest form resolves itself into the customary three compartments, namely, the cella, or *garbha-griha* attached to a vestibule known as the *sukhanasi*, which connects with a pillared hall or *navaranga*; in front of the last is very often an open pillared pavilion or *mukha-mandapa* It is however in its actual conformation that the Hoysala temple is distinct from all others. In the first place many of these structures, instead of consisting of a single cella with its pillared hall, are multiples of this system, in numerous instances they are double temples having most of their essential parts in duplicate, and quite frequently they are triple, quadruple, and, in some instances, quintuple in their plan and general arrangements. Further, it was a common practice for main portions of the scheme such as the sanctuary, to have the plan of the outer walls, not laid out by means of right lines and angles but in a series of points, resulting in the conventional figure of a star. There are many temples, especially on the western side of India, which have their plans elaborated into the shape of a star by means of a series of recesses and off-sets, but the indentations and projections thus formed are produced by right angles, or curves on right lines. In contrast to this, in the Chalukyan style, the stellate or *astha-bhadra* plan, is worked out on an entirely different principle, being obtained by means of an intricate geometrical device. This consists of a combination of equal squares, each with a common centre, but whose diagonals vary by several degrees, the amount of difference in degrees being in accordance with the number of points required to form the star. (Plate CIX, Fig. 1). Although a special characteristic of the Hoysala temple, the stellate plan is by no means confined to this style alone, as instances of a similar kind are to be found in other parts of the Deccan, such as in the temples of Patna, Kokamthan, and Lonar, in Kandesh, in a temple at Karusa in Andhra Pradesh and in several others in Rajputana and elsewhere.