History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v1.c19.s12.15

v1.c19.s12.15

From the history of the period we learn that the râjas of Râmnâd were at times independent, at others at war with the Nâyyaks; but in Tirumalai Nâyyak's time they were either his allies or dependants; and the style and design of the .two buildings are so absolutely identical that they must belong to the same age. If the king of Madurâ had indeed been allowed any share in making the original design, that temple would probably have been a nobler building than it is; for, though the details are the same, his three aisled hall leading to the sanctuary would have been a far grander feature architecturally than the single-aisled corridors that lead nowhere. The expense of one of the single-aisled corridors at Râmêsvaram, almost 700 ft. long, would have been about the same as the triple-aisled chaultri at Madurâ, which is half their length. Consequently the temple must have cost between three and four times as much as the chaultri; and the actual cost must have been immense when we consider the amount of labour expended on it, and that the material in both is the hardest granite.