The Hindu Temple v2.c12.217

v2.c12.217

The Nīlakaṇṭheśvara temple shows the themes of its perpendicular walls continued on the curvilinear Śikhara. The close correspondence of the structure and superstructure of the temple brought about by the theme of the pillar is however not particular only to the Nīlakaṇṭheśvara temple at Udayapur, Gwalior; nor to ‘star shaped’ Prāsādas in general. Temples with orthogonal buttresses are similarly ordered,* the composition moreover follows the same vision whether the temples belong to the Nāgara or the Vārāṭa ‘style’.** Thus they are prescribed to be built in the ‘Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra’, chapters LXIII and LXIV, treating of Nāgara and Vārāṭa Prāsādas respectively. In Central India as well as in the Deccan including the Kanarese country, the shape of the pillar is an abiding theme on many temples.