Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c57.37

v1.c57.37

As regards the series of monolethic temples called rathas, popularly known as the ‘Seven Pagodas’ they may be regarded a stupendous artistic creation and an entirely novel form of expression. “Solitary, unmeaning, and clearly never used, as none of their interiors is finished, sphinx-like for centuries these monoliths have stood sentinel over mere emptiness, the most enigmatical architectural phenomenon in all India, truly a riddle of the sands. Each a lithic cryptogram as yet undeciphered, there is little doubt that the key when found will disclose much of the story of early temple architecture in Southern India.”