History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c47.88

v2.c47.88

From the earliest period of mediaeval art in Orissa till the 13th century A. D., another favourite device was the Nāga pillar. We find the use of it for the first time in the twin temples at Gandharāḍi, where each opening of the stylized chaitya-window of the Liṅgarāja type is profusely used, as also in the Sūrya Deul at Konārak. Here we find chaitya-windows with two medallions and the upper projection ending in a Kīrttimukha and the entire motif surrounded by ornamental foliage. In other cases we find a chaitya-window placed over another medallion, both having more than one concentric medallion.¹ This is the last phase in the evolution of this motif, which was neglected by later artists and is almost totally absent in the Bhogamaṇḍapa of the temple of Jagannātha at Puri.