History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v1.c19.s5.20

v1.c19.s5.20

One class of the Stambhas at Hindû temples was intended to carry lamps at festivals, of which Woodcut No. 203 represents a specimen; but another class—the dhwaja-stambhas—like the above at Elûrâ, are frequently in pairs, and bear the symbol of the sect—the trisula or Garuda. Besides the well-known pillar at Eran, a fine example of a Vaishnava Stambha, consisting of a very lofty square tapering monolith, carved with a creeper pattern up each face and standing on an elaborately carved base, is found at Sompalle in South Arkat district. At Balagâmi is one 35 ft. high, erected by Somesvara I. Chalukya, about 1047, crowned by a human figure having two birds’ heads, called a Gandabherunda,—a form of Garuda. There is a well-known example also at Jâjpur (Woodcut, vol. ii., No. 321), and another, removed from the Kanârak temple, stands in front of the great Purî temple.