History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v1.c19.s5.39

v1.c19.s5.39

capitals. These piers are arranged in fours, as in Kailâs temple, with pilasters against the walls. The lintels over them and the slabs of the roof, as well as the faces of the pillars, are covered with archaic sculptures, and the central square of the roof is filled by a great coiled Nâgarâja with five hoods, protected by a chhattra, and two Nâginîs with triple hoods are intertwined with his tail. This mandapa is lighted by twelve perforated stone windows — four in each wall, — an arrangement not found in modern temples. On the inner side of the hall stand two more square piers before the shrine, the doorway of which projects forward, forming a passage 10 ft. in length, into the cella which is 12 ft. square and contains the Saiva altar. A circumambulatory passage goes round this, lighted by two perforated windows in each outside wall.