The Hindu Temple v1.c7.s2.3

v1.c7.s2.3

⁷⁵ Some of the most perfect temples in Central India, at Khajuraho, have their facing stones of fine sandstone embedded in lac (lakh), apparently resinous Vajralepa; chunam concrete being generally used in the core. Iron clamps are also freely employed; (B. L. Dhama, ‘A Guide to Khajuraho’, p. 4). In the Panjab the Kafirkot stone temples are cemented with lime mixed with quartz (Cunningham, ASI, Vol. XIV, p. 26). The earliest preserved dry masonry is the stone facing of Stūpa I, Sāñcī; the earliest occurrence of lime mortar in historical times is in the brick foundation of the Viṣṇu temple at Besnagar (ASIAR, 1913-14). Brick temples have frequently a thin layer of a clay mixture as an adherent between the bricks (P. Brown, ‘Indian Architecture’, Pt. I, p. 16). The brick temples in Sirpur, C. P., seventh century, were completely covered by a thin layer of white plaster. The bricks are carved (ASIAR, 1909-10, p. 11). The ‘Bṛhat Saṃhitā’ Ch. LVI, 1-3, 5-8, and the ‘Viṣṇudharmottara’, Pt. III, Ch. XCII,