Mediaeval Temples of the Dakhan c7.s1.12

c7.s1.12

The ceiling panels, within the hall, are very richly decorated in the prevalent style of the best work of the eleventh century. In the central bay, which rests upon the four heavy beams over the four central pillars, is the main dome. It rises in a series of concentric circles to a central pendant. The lowest circle is decorated with a running scroll, while the remaining four are scooped out into half cup-shaped and cusped hollows. These allow of an effective play of light and shade. The triangular spaces in the corners, between the angle of the beams and the edge of the circle, are filled in with the *kīrtimukha* face and scrollwork. Between the central dome and the shrine doorway are two flat ceiling panels which are repeated in the recesses of the three entrance doorways. These are decorated with lotus rosettes and other flat ornament. The ceiling, upon three sides, between the columns and the walls, is coved downwards from the inner square to the walls, and this is decorated with two tiers of ribbing with lozenge-shaped rosettes between the ribs. The ceilings of the porches are flat. In the hall the faces of the beams are decorated with rows of little figures in miniature pillared niches, and a string course of these runs round the tops of the walls just under the coved ceiling. This string course is broken above the north entrance by a curious group of sculpture which will be noticed again in connection with the inscription below it.