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The Hindu Temple v1.c9.s2.t2: IIA. The Cluster of Śikharas

The Hindu Temple v1.c9.s2.t2

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IIA. The Cluster of Śikharas

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The extant temples having curvilinear Śikharas are distinguished by the following features: The plan appears cruciform (see drawings in Part VII); this is, the result of the central major projection of each side, generally called Bhadra, being flanked by more shallow lateral offsets, called Ratha. If the temple has an ambulatory the Bhadras appear like transepts in the plan; the Talacchanda of the Prāsāda is accentuated in the 4 directions, in which the temple seems to step forth from the straight inner walls of the Garbhagṛha. The square of the Garbhagṛha is transmuted into the cross of the Prāsāda; the static centre of the temple is ensconced by its dynamically laid out perimeter. The steps in the plan correspond to the buttresses or planes of the perpendicular wall of the Prāsāda. They have no structural purpose and are the monumental form of the progression from the centre; they are carried up the Śikhara, and terminate at the shoulder-course (skandha); in certain temples as already pointed out, the main offsets of the Śikhara even exceed the skandha and point towards the Āmalaka (Pls. XLIII, XLV; Fig. i).⁸³ Above the skandha, the Āmalaka, held aloft by the round neck, supports the finial.

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⁸³ In this final and ‘excessive’ ascent the buttress quits the body of the building; while it is non-structural throughout its end has the appearance, though not the function, of a flying buttress (Pls. LXXI, XLIII).

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The Śikhara has two main shapes. The one, IIA, consists of a central curvilinear Śikhara surrounded by clusters of similar Śikharas (Pls. I. IV; Fig. i). These are formed by one or several half Śikharas or Śṛṅgas leaning against the ‘chest’ (uras) of the main Śikhara and of each successive Uromañjarī. At the corners, narrow and high quarter-Śikharas fill and round off the recesses between the Uromañjarī and the main Śikhara (mūla-Śikhara or Mañjarī), while smaller part or three-quarter Śṛṅgas are grouped in the lower courses of the Śikhara each in continuation of a buttress or offset of the perpendicular wall of the Prāsāda. The many variations of the theme of the Śikhara cluster are brought about by the number of Uromañjarīs of the Śikhara, the number of Rathas or offsets of the perpendicular wall and the number of horizontal rows in which are set the miniature Śikharas called Tilaka (sesamum seed) at the base of the main Śikhara, the Mūlamañjarī. These factors depend on the specific proportions of the particular type of temple and also on its height and the curvature of the superstructure. All the subsidiary Śikharas and other shapes are always subordinated to the main and dominant central Mūlamañjarī.

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Type IIA has the multiples of its own form set forth in the 4 directions; they ascend moreover from the corners, and each time to the same height as the respective Uromañjarīs; they are accompanied furthermore in this massed competition towards the apex, by lesser replicas at the base, attaining to smaller fractions of the height while they reinforce on their own, lower levels the urgency of the ascent. Each of these multiple replicas has a ‘neck’ (grīvā), Āmalaka and finial of its own; while these terminate the single forms, they punctuate the striving of the entire mass of the superstructure towards the final point which lies beyond its trunk, whatever its height. The single Śṛṅgas, as a rule, are spaced with increasing distances towards the top whereas the single Bhūmis or horizontal courses of which each Śṛṅga is composed, decrease in height towards the summit of the Śikhara. A counter-play of proportions results from this double progression, contracting on the upper register of the wall surfaces of each Śṛṅga and expanding with reference to the superstructure as a whole. Its tension makes even more ostensibly coherent the substantiality of the monument whose texture thus is seen not as that of the stone or the bricks but appears to be composed of the acceleration and the halting of the ascent.

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Temples of this type are represented most perfectly in central India, especially in Khajuraho; in northern Gujarat, and also in Rajputana;⁶⁴ the Rāja-Rāni temple in Bhuvaneśvar, Orissa, belongs to this type according to the style of that country.

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⁶⁴ [^cont]: ...

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Fig. 1. KANDARĪYA TEMPLE, KHAJURAHO. From B. L. Dhama, ‘A Guide to Khajuraho’, Pl. IV.

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The pillared halls which lead to, and surround, the Garbhagṛha occupy the ground floor (samsthāna) only. The vast superstructure is invisible from inside, where halls and Garbhagṛha are closed by trabeate domes of varying height. The main dome is over the centre of the main In this zone across the width of northern India, however, none of the extant temples of this type is earlier than the tenth century. This does not imply the relative lateness of the type; on the contrary, earlier less evolved temples of this type are no longer in existence.⁶³ There ought to be Śikharas with but one set of Uromañjarīs instead of the usual two or four sets; the centre, the Mūlamañjarī, if imagined without the many flanking Śṛṅgas and Tilakas, corresponds to a complete curvilinear Śikhara in the shape in which it has not only the widest distribution but also the longest history (Type II[B]). Although relatively earlier Śikharas of this type (II[B]) are preserved—from c. the sixth century, type IIA of which no earlier representatives than those of the tenth century exist, is the more pure of the two embodying in the main but one prototypal shape which is that of the Tabernacle of bent branches. This shape was amplified by throwing forth multiples from its curvilinear walls, clinging to them like the petals of a bud about

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hall (Mahāmaṇḍapa). The Garbhagṛha, though raised high above the level of the Maṇḍapa, has its dome on a lower level than that of the central dome of the Maṇḍapa.

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The Liṅga in the centre of the Garbhagṛha is straight below the finial and the middle of the Grīvā, if the shaft of the latter is imagined to traverse the whole Prāsāda.

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The interior of the superstructure is not meant to be seen; cf. note 65.

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Seen from the outside, the superstructure three times rises and falls to an ever higher level; each of its peaks is above the centre of a hall; the long drawn out descent of the superstructure above the main hall is met by the steep vertical of the Sukanāsā, the antefix of the front of the Śikhara of the Prāsāda. The Sukanāsā is above the Antarāla or porch of the Garbhagṛha (re. Sukanāsā, see Part VII).

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The steep slope of the back of the Prāsāda (W) is beset with Uromañjarīs. Their Kalaśas, and the high ends of the middle buttress of each, punctuate its curves.

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The perpendicular walls of the temple open up between rooflets and seats. The latter with their sloped backs are shown in the sectional drawing; the seats rest on 'pillars' which also traverse them.

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The temple rises from a high socle (adhiṣṭhāna) and has steps in the East. Below the solid Adhiṣṭhāna is the broad terrace which supports the temples of Kandarīya, Mahādeva and Jagadambā Devī (Pl. I).

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⁶⁴ Jain Temple in Osian; Someśvara Temple in Kiradu, 12th century, etc. The Mūlamañjarī or main Śikhara exceeds by 3/10 parts of the height of the Śikhara, the portion (7/10 parts of the height of the Śikhara) occupied by the Uromañjarīs ('Bṛhacchilpaśāstra', III. So).

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⁶⁵ The 'Four sided' temple of the 'Bṛhat Saṃhitā', LV, having 5 Aṇḍas appears to have had 4 Uromañjarīs massed around its Mūlamañjarī (see Part VII). The Sukanāsā of Type IIA, as a rule, has the outline of a triangular pediment and not of a Gavākṣa. It is however filled by a network (jāla) of Gavākṣa tracery; Tilakas or Kūṭas in many cases add their small but solid shapes to this particular Sukanāsā (Pls. I; LXXI). The topmost Gavākṣa, forming the apex of this pediment is an actual small window opening in the Śikhara of the Kandarīya temple. The interior of this Śikhara (Fig. i) is divided into internal chambers bounded by large piers and having for their floor and ceiling transverse stone beams. The single, dark, room like, corbelled cavities may be entered by an invisible opening above the Antarabhitti, the inner wall of the Prāsāda (see Part VII), whence the stalagmitic interior of the superstructure may be traversed in all directions. It served however no part of the cult and was not meant to be seen. It is built on the principle of the horizontal tie-plate.

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In the temples of Orissa, there are four such horizontal courses only, those of the ceiling (garbha muda) and shoulder-course (ratna muda); between these are the Balimuda and Lakhi muda; these are invisible from outside. Below the Ratnamuda, a small rectangular window opening admits some air and light into the interior of the 'gaṇḍi', the trunk of the Śikhara.

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to open. Far from imitating forms of nature, such as volutes, stems, foliage or flowers, it was made in conformity with the energies active in producing those forms. Repeated in proportionate reductions, the Śṛṅgas, together with the symbols carved on them, integrally belong to the whole Śikhara and with it lead towards the highest point of the temple. The Tabernacle of bamboo, leaves or bended branches translated into brick or stone was elaborated and amplified logically in accordance with the energies of form inherent in its pristine shape.

Cites (3)