The Hindu Temple v1.c8.s3.4

v1.c8.s3.4

⁴³ The superstructure, of many origins and the most prominent part of the complete temple, seen historically, is not indispensable. Flat roofs (chādya), however, do not belong to the perfect, i.e., complete, type of a Hindu temple; they show it in its making and are separately dealt with in Vāstuśāstra (see Part VII). Another type of temple, illustrated in the reliefs of Barhut, etc. was known in various types by 100 B.C. approximately. This was an open pillared hall, rectangular or round, with or without a second storey, and always with a sloped roof, either in the shape of a dome, or of a vault, etc. The forms of parts only of this open, pillared temple, built in the main of wood, were integrated in the Hindu temple as represented by preserved structures.