The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c12.6

c12.6

At Têr, the ancient Tagara, in the Waldrug district of Hyderabad, there is a building of a similar type, one of the oldest structural chaitya-houses now existing, which was discovered by Mr. H. Cousens in 1901. It is built of brick and plaster, with a roof exactly like that of the village huts sculptured at Bharhut (Pl. I). The entrance faces east: a single window over the doorway was intended to throw a strong concentrated light upon the chaitya at the farther end. The hall, or *mandapam*, shown in front of the chapter-house in the illustration (fig. 28), was most probably intended for the lay members who attended the service, or it may have been used as the assembly hall of the village.