Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c43.45

c43.45

And towards this architectural consummation the artistic and structural treatment of some of the more important elements, so skilfully united, may be individually studied. In such an immense undertaking, and where every constituent part is so experientially worked out and applied, it is not possible to refer to many of these, but some of the more salient may be selected On account of their singular character as well as for their significance in the scheme as a whole, the towers or sikharas of the Cambodian temples merit special reference, those on the Angkor Vat being fully representative of the style The obvious cognate relationship of this form of spire to the sikhara in the Indian temple cannot be overlooked, but there are differences between the two types which in many aspects are fundamental Except for its main outlines and volume conforming to the same structural principles as those employed in the better-known Indo-Aryan examples, the surface manipulation of the Khmer sikhara manifests definitely original attributes. The shape of the Cambodian tower has been likened to a gigantic fir cone and the simile is not an inapt one. Apart from its intentionally aspiring quality the most pronounced feature is its texture, produced by a horizontal system of zoning, and herein lies its resemblance not so much to the Indian style but more to the conventional design of the pagoda as seen in buildings in the Far East, an example of which is a brick structure at Sung Shan (Honan) dated A.D. 523. Here the horizontal courses are emphasized in the same manner as those in the Angkor sikharas, the designers of the latter apparently at some formative stage of their development having looked more to the East than the West for inspiration on this point of detail. On the other hand the fact that the Khmer Sikhara is stellate in section allies it to some of the Dravidian examples in Southern India which assume this distinctive shape. In view of its architectural significance the scheme of the Khmer sikhara may be described more fully. On plan, and in its lower portions, the sikhara is rectangular, although this square shape is interrupted by re-entrant angles, and also on the free sides there are shallow recesses. Rather less than half way up the height, the rectangular base changes in section to become star-shaped and this continues in diminishing zones, usually nine in number, to terminate in a metal crowned finial, the height of the whole being 2½ times the diameter of the square base. The diminishing zones are sharply defined by prominent string courses, also stellate in plan, with wide cavetto intervals between each course These intervals of dark shadow are relieved by a series of semi-detached motifs, not unlike Greek acroteria, known to Indian craftsmen as a *khudu*, an element in miniature derived from the chaitya-arch form of the Buddhists Each zonal cornice is supported on small decorative arches, simulating in some respects the technique of Islamic honeycomb vaulting. The appearance of the whole is rich and animated, an appropriately vibrant treatment to this outstanding feature of the style.