The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c21.48

c21.48

Nor are richly carved doorways and pillars a peculiarity of these provinces, and if technical distinctions like that of pillars turned in a lathe are to be catalogued, every one of the provinces of India must be assigned its own style, for every locality had its own school of craftsmanship with certain technical traditions peculiar to itself. In this case the local school developed a special skill in turning massive stone columns upon a vertical lathe, and consequently every temple in those districts was ornamented with elaborately turned pillars as specimens of its skilled craftsmanship. The mandapam of the temple of Rangaswami in the Dharwar district of the Bombay Presidency (Pl. LXXXII) is a fine example of this local peculiarity; but though admirable as a technical achievement, it is not altogether an artistic success on account of the bewildering repetition of circular mouldings by which the craftsmen sought to display their skill in turning.