Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c41.64

c41.64

As to the elevational aspect of the Lohaprasada it may be assumed with a fair amount of certainty that it followed the pattern of a type of monastery building which was evolved in southern India, including Ceylon, during this early period of Buddhist monachism. This pattern may be studied, translated into a monolithic stone monument in the Dharmaraja ratha at Mamallapuram (Seven Pagodas) near Madras. Although this rock-cut model is several centuries later than the Lohaprasada, it preserves a tradition, of which the Anuradhapura building is an early example. The pillars of the ground story are the remains of the spacious hypostyle hall where the priests would assemble for congregational worship. Above this were the eight remaining floors each containing a row of cells for the accommodation of the resident brotherhood, these floors diminishing as they ascended, each with a courtyard or narrow passage to give access to the cells, the backs of which formed the exterior elevation A reference to the Mamallapuram ratha (Plate LXI, Fig 2) will explain the principle of this system, while a study of the sectional elevation of the Vaikuntha-Perumal temple (Plate LXIV) at Conjeeveram, in Madras State, will give some idea of the interior arrangements, although in this instance they have been modified in order to adopt them to the Hindu ritual. It has been already remarked that from the combination of cells in the Buddhist monastery the sikhara of the Indian Dravidian temple was developed, and in some of these sikharas the domical shape surmounting the entire structure of the Hindu example was of the same type as that which, bronzed and gilt, crowned the Lohaprasada, thus accounting for its name the Brazen Mansion. But, alas, the value of its bronze cupola no doubt attracted the cupidity of a later generation of invaders, while the considerable amount of wood in its construction would account for its ready destruction by fire Some of the lintels of the lower stories were of stone but timber beams were mainly used, and these supported roofs of terracotta tiles shaped like wooden shingles. It is true the data for an attempted reconstruction of this building is scanty, but there are records that enable its great size, towering height, probably in the vicinity of 120 feet, and the crowning glory of its gilt metal cupola, to be dimly visualised.