Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c47.9

c47.9

The next group of temples and *viharas* in chronological sequence would probably include those in which the "vase and foliage" capital begins to be adopted as one of the main architectural features for decorative and structural purposes This particular form of capital seems to have been borrowed from Ajanta towards the middle of the seventh century. I shall deal with this matter more in detail in connection with Ajanta where something happened which interrupted further work just at the identical time that the "vase and foliage" capital was in the process of being adopted on an extensive scale as an architectural order. It is not unreasonable to suppose that the same sort of thing happened at Ellora. I therefore think that it is probable that some of the early caves in which this form of capital appears at Ellora were in an unfinished condition in 642, and that the work there was interrupted for some years ultimately to be completed during the last quarter of the seventh century.