History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v1.c19.s17.1

v1.c19.s17.1

The buildings mentioned, and more or less perfectly described, in the preceding pages are in number rather less than one-third of the great Dravidian temples known to exist in the province. In importance and extent they certainly are, however, more than one-half. Of the remainder, none have vimânas like that of Tanjor, nor corridors like those of Râmesvaram; but several have gopurams quite equal to or exceeding those mentioned above, and many have mantapams of great beauty and extent. Several—such as Avadaiyâr-Kôvil, Virinjîpuram near Vellor, Târamangalam in Salem district, Kurugodu in Bellâri, and others—possess features unsurpassed by any in the south, especially the first named, which may, perhaps, be considered as one of the most elegant of its class, as well as one of the oldest. It would, however, be only tedious to attempt to describe them without plans to refer to, or more extensive illustrations than are compatible with a work of this class. They are, however, worthy of more attention than has yet been paid to them, and of more complete illustration than has hitherto been bestowed upon them. Taken altogether, they certainly do form as extensive, and in some respects as remarkable, a group of buildings as are to be found in provinces of similar extent in any part of the world—Egypt, perhaps alone excepted; but they equal even the Egyptian in extent, and though at first sight so different, in some respects present similarities which are startling. Without attempting to enumerate the whole, it may be mentioned that the gopurams both in form and purpose, resemble the pylons of the Egyptian temples. The courts with pillars and cloisters are common to both, and very similar in arrangement and extent. The great mantapams and halls of 1000 columns reproduce the hypostyle halls, both in purpose and effect, with almost minute accuracy.