History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c46.119

v2.c46.119

Before proceeding to the next group of temple types in Orissa, we must turn our attention to two exotic types in Bhuvaneśvara : the Vaital Deul and the Rājā-Rāṇī. The former is an example of the Gopuram or Drāviḍa style and the latter, of the pure Nāgara or the Indo-Aryan style. There is no necessity to discuss the identity of the Vaital Deul with the Drāviḍa style, as the similarity of the spire to the oldest temples of Kāñchī or Conjeeveram,¹ and the comparatively modern temples at Śrīraṅgam, Madurā and Rāmeśvaram will prove immediately. The Vaital Deul of Bhuvaneśvara is a peculiar structure, because to the Vimāna of the Dravidian style is added a Jagamohana of the Paraśurāmeśvara and Gandharāḍi style. From the style of the plan and elevation of the Jagamohana and style of ornamentations, specially the chaitya-win dows, it is pretty certain that this structure is much older than the Mukteśvara and perhaps of the same date as the Paraśurāmeśvara and the twin temples at Gandharāḍi. The late Mr. Mano Mohan Ganguly saw some Buddhist influence in this temple, because he did not know what part semi-circular and three-quarter medallions played in Indian temple architecture as decorative motifs till the end of the 6th century A. D. There is no Buddhist influence in any part of the architecture or decorative art of the Vaital Deul.²