The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c7.379

v1.c7.379

This classification of temples is no doubt tentative—purely provisional for the time, and adopted with a view to convenience, until a more reliable one is developed by further research. In drawing it out we have directed our attention more to general outlines and plans, than to ornaments and architectural details, for they have been so extensively interchanged, or used in common, that it would be relying on broken reeds to accept them as guides to classification. Thus for instance, the crucial capitals, which have been accepted by many as positively and unmistakably Buddhist, occur alike on Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples. Mouldings, bands, brackets, cornices niches, are also alike on Hindu and Buddhist fanes, and it is often difficult if not impossible, to pronounce upon the character of a building in the absence of especial sectarial marks, or specially sectarian ornaments, such as the Buddhist rail and the like.