Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c45.9

c45.9

In the tenth century a departure took place, when the king Indra-Varman, an ardent Buddhist, built a temple to that faith at Dong-Duong, which although following the same general principles of the prevailing style, was designed to accommodate, in its much enlarged interior, figures and symbols of the Buddha These consist of a stupa in the centre on a high and decorative plinth and approached by elegantly designed steps, with an enthroned figure of the Buddha on a tall pediment attended by his disciples The pedestals and thrones, platforms and steps within this interior hall are all profusely embellished with high relief figure-subjects relating to the Buddha cult, and it is evident that the people rejoiced in richly ornamented shrines. Part of the exterior scheme consists of tall fluted pilar-like structures grouped on each side, the Cham interpretation of a stupa, but very far removed in appearance from the original tumulus mound.