The Hindu Temple v1.c8.s4.5

v1.c8.s4.5

The rectangular Garbhagṛha is an application of the square for definite purposes, when for instance more than one image is the cult object, in temples of the 10 Avatārs of Viṣṇu, such as the now so-called Varāha temple at Kadvar (Cousens, ‘Somanātha, and other Mediaeval Temples in Kathiawad’, ASI, I.S., vol. XLV; also H.D. Sankalia, ‘Archæology of Gujerat’, p. 63), or in those of the Mothers (Kapālinī Devi Temple or Vaital Deul, Bhuvaneśwar, Orissa; Navadevi shrine, Jageśvar, Almora, ASIAR. 1928-29, pl. IV.). Other rectangular Garbhagṛhas are those of the Temples at Eran (ASI, vol. X. p. 69), Teli-ka mandir, a double square, 30 x 15; (Percy Brown, ‘Indian Architecture’, p. 152); the Gadarmal temple at Pathari, Bundelkhand, (Cunningham, ASI. vol. VII. pl. 8); also at Gyaraspur. Āyatāśra is the term for ‘rectangular’; it means ‘with long sides’, in the sense of having two parallel sides of the polygon longer than the others; this is a modification of the square plan (caturaśra) just as the Āyatavṛtta, an oval plan, is a modification of the circular or Vṛtta plan (Part VII).