The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c15.s1.4

c15.s1.4

The temple has two porches, constructed in the same manner as the large open halls we shall presently consider. The low walls, that enclose the porches, have benches or *sedelia* running round them on the inner side. The outside of these walls is richly decorated with bands of fine scroll work and a line of numberless repetitions of a little *śikhara* upon a short pilaster. It is evident that, from the constant occurrence of these little spires, which so profusely adorn the walls of most of the temples of this period, and which, it will be noticed, are of the northern type, that the main tower of a temple was considered by the architects of those days as the most important feature of the building after the *cella*.