The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c20.36

c20.36

The entrance to the Indra Sabhâ (Pl. LXIX) is completely sculptured out of the living rock, like the Kailâsa temple which it resembles in many respects, though on a considerably smaller scale. It is approached through a gopuram with the usual guard-house sculptured in miniature on the top of it. Immediately within the walls stands the Jain equivalent of Siva's Nandi shrine. The cubical cell is of the Brahmâ type, with a door on each of the four sides, and the square block of stone in the centre of the shrine, sculptured on each side with a figure of Mahavîra, the Jain contemporary of the Buddha, stands for the four-headed Brahmâ symbol as seen at Elephanta. The roof of the shrine is of *panch-ratna* or "four-jewelled" type—that is, a yogi's cell, covered by the stûpa dome in the centre, with four similar ones of smaller size placed at the corners of it. Variety is given to the traditional design by adding a porch, or antarâla, with its deep chhaja to each side of the shrine and corresponding sun-windows or gables filled with sculpture on the roof.