Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c57.22

v1.c57.22

Guhārāja, King of Caves, is a name as suggestive as it is unique among the ever-increasing types or Jātis of temples enumerated and described in the texts like the S. S. and A.P. the medieval compendiums of Indian Architecture. The name however occurs also as that of actual temples, such as 'Kuraja' (Guhārāja), Bir, Temple which is situated between Deogarh and Candpur in Central India. Kuhara or cave is a synonym of Śālā, or room in the Bhaviṣya-purāṇa (CXXX. 27) where the type of temple, called Meru, is described as having Kuharas. The Anand Pagoda, in Pagon, Burma, being a, (Ku) or cave has such Kuharas, 'caves' or halls in the four directions radiating from a massive centre. The Burmese name for structural brick temple is (Ku) which is only an imitation of our Vāstuśāstra tradition.