The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c9.30

c9.30

A "Vishnu" shrine, according to the Mânasâra, has one entrance, always facing the east, except when dedicated to the Narasinha (Man-lion) incarnation of Vishnu, in which case it was to be built outside the village, with its entrance turned away from it. In this exception there may be some old tradition of a Brahman or Kshatriya hero's success in warding off a great danger to the whole Indo-Aryan community. The special characteristic of a "Vishnu" shrine is the curvilinear spire, or *sikhara*—a symbol of Vishnu's pillar, standard, or of his holy Mountain—which Fergusson took as the typical feature of his "Indo-Aryan "style," though he left the origin of it unexplained.