Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c46.41

c46.41

centuries. The more modern type of Balinese temple, although usually of a simple and primitive order displays in its arrangements certain features of interest. Dedicated to Hindu divinities, there are often images of these, such as Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, carved in a black stone and enshrined within the interior courts. It is the disposition of these courts, with a large and highly decorated entrance gateway, which, although in a very rudimentary form, are reminiscent of the Hindu temple system in Southern India. Rectangular in plan the three courts are concentrically arranged, in the outer of which the *gamelan*, temple bells and musical instruments, are kept, while feasts are also held in this portion. In the second court, or *vale-agoeng*, the council meetings take place, while in the innermost court, or *djeron dewa*, the holy of holies, are the shrines and altars, generally carved in limestone, elaborately moulded and decorated in fantastic patterns in high relief similar to the later and Eastern Javenese School of sculpture Architec-turally the temple building is distinguished by pagoda-like structures, called *meioes* (probably referring to Mount Meru, the Olympus of the Hindus) which rise up into tiers of diminishing thatched roofs, seven or nine in number, sometimes even as many as thirteen, similar to those in the Buddhist umbrella finial. The main entrance to the enclosures is of brick with columns in pairs, or imposing stone gates, the whole elaborated with a confusion of ornamental attach-ments. Such are the temples of Poonkulang near Sangsit, the Taman Sari, Bengali, Sockawati, Den Pasur, Gelgel, and many others.