Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East (Vol. I: Champa; Vol. II: Suvarnadvipa) v2.c21.s3.t2.7

v2.c21.s3.t2.7

A staircase in front of the temple leads to the terrace above the basement. The part of the projection adjoining the staircase has a different profile from the rest which follows that of the basement. A second staircase enclosed between curbs with volute ends leads to the doorway of the cella, and obviously this feature is partly imitated in the case of the niches. In almost all respects the front resembles the side walls, if we substitute for the niches the doorway whose ornaments repeat on a large scale those of the niche. There are, however, two notable exceptions. In the first place, the big Kāla-head placed above the doorway covers the entire upper part reaching the first stage of the roof : secondly, there are two small niches on two sides of the doorway, just where we should expect the lower medallions on the analogy of the side-walls. These niches resemble in main features the great ones on the side-walls, and one of them has in front the figure of Mahākāla. The other niche was evidently meant for the other gate-keeper, Nandiśvara.