The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c17.s1.216

v2.c17.s1.216

**The Great Temple.** As at Bhuvaneśvara so at Puri the principal temple of the place includes four distinct buildings, of which the temple proper and the porch are of one date and the other two of two separate dates. As already stated (*ante* p. [109]), the temple was built in the reign and by order of Anaṅgabhīma Deva of the Gangetic Dynasty of Orissa⁴⁸. The Dancing Hall or Nāṭ-mandir is obviously of a later date ; but I could not ascertain the name of the king who had caused it to be erected. The Refectory or Hall of Offerings is attributed to the Marhattas of last century. The architect of the temple was Bhāskara Pandit and he devoted to the task full twelve years, bringing it to completion in A. D. 1197. The cost, it is said, amounted to forty lacs of rupees, a very large sum at a time when money was dear. The general style adopted was the same as that of the Great Tower of Bhuvaneśvara, but on a larger scale, and some of the details were changed to suit altered circumstances. The ground plan of the Great Tower is a square of 66 feet whereas that of the Puri temple is 80 feet from central pier to central pier—and the height has been raised from 160 to 192 feet. The last was ascertained by me from several angles taken from different distances.