The Hindu Temple v2.c12.12

v2.c12.12

The several halls, the great Maṇḍapa, etc., and the half-Maṇḍapa (Mahāmaṇḍapa; Ardha-maṇḍapa) each have their separate superstructure with its Āmalaka finial; miniature Maṇḍapas cluster on the superstructure of each Maṇḍapa and are subordinated to it in the same way as are the Uromañjarīs to the Mūlamañjari of the Vimāna. Similarly also the small trabeate domes of the Mahāmaṇḍapa cluster around the large dome in the centre below the peak of its roof. The pendant, projecting downward from the apex of the dome, is below the Kalaśa on the summit. The superstructures are graded in height towards the Prāsāda, that of the Mahāmaṇḍapa ending below the top of the Śukanāsā. On its ridge, a Siṃha overlooks the cascades of Bhūmis and the stations of the many Kalaśas showing their contents as an emerging bud-like shape (Fig. i, p. 212), the Bījasvara (SS. LVII. 425), the ‘seed-sound’ or primeval sound. The pile of masonry above the ground floor, but for one small Gavākṣa, has no external opening (Pl. IV); internally, ties made of stone slabs are laid horizontally at the height of the shoulder course (skandha) of the Uromañjarīs from the ‘sheath’ of the walls towards the internal piers. The compartments so formed are left hollow (Fig. i.) according to considerations of weight and stability. The central ‘shaft’ of the Prāsāda is ideally present and reaches from the floor of the Garbhagṛha, beyond its ceiling, also beyond the Skandha and across the Āmalaka; it is capped by a flat, inverted bowl shape above the Āmalaka and below the Kalaśa, which is known under the names Padmaśīrṣa (lotus-head); Karpara or Karparī (pan, skull); Candrikā (cardamon? a moonshaped circle) and Daṇḍikā (necklace) (S.S. LVII. 85; 170; 324, etc.). The first two names illustrate the ‘piercing of the skull’ of the Prāsāda by the bolt of the finial.