The Colas c35.35

c35.35

The main *vimāna* is of the *uttama* (high-class) type, also called a *māḍakkōvil* in Tamil and Dakṣiṇa-meru—the Koraṅganātha, as already noticed, being perhaps the earliest example of this type. It rests on a solid square base of 99 feet side, of which the horizontal outline is broken by five projecting bays, the central bay larger than the rest, alternating with recesses—all continued right up from the basement to the topmost storey of the pyramid above, where the *śikhara* springs. The base (*pīṭha*) is ornamented by pilasters alternating with recesses and carries a *kapota* (cornice) pressed down as it were by a *yāḷi* frieze. On this *pīṭha* rises the *upapīṭha* of a lesser area of 63 feet square of which the *upāna* covered with inscriptions forms a *padmadala* receptacle for the massive semi-circular *kumuda* with *padmadala* courses above and below; the *kumuda* is chamfered octagonally where it turns into the transept at the eastern end. The *kaṇṭha* and *kapota* have been virtually suppressed, and immediately above the *kumuda* is found the *varimānam*, a series of lion figures in profile with riders on their backs, the lions giving place at the corners to *makara* heads with warriors, horses or equestrian figures in their gapes. The vertical walls of the cella follow the contours of the pediment as already stated, and rise to a height of 50 feet; they are divided into two storeys by a massive curved cornice with a number of *kūḍus* bearing sculptures in low relief; the second storey also ends with an overhanging cornice on top with a frieze of *yāḷis* above. The niches and recesses throughout bear graceful figural sculptures and have the typical Cōḷa forms of architectural members and ornamental motifs. Some of these are so prominent and characteristic of the style as to deserve particular mention. As already indicated the niches (*devagoṣṭhas*) are no longer shallow recesses adorned with bas-reliefs as in Pallava times, but deep hollows serving as receptacles for statues almost in the round generally of the various manifestations of Śiva. On either side of the niche are pilasters with bulbous capitals which differ from other pilasters by their section being polygonal and not square. Again, beneath the architrave over the niche we find a *tiruvācci* whose form begins to resemble the *kūḍu*, a transformation which is fully effected in the next period. The centre of this *tiruvācci* is circular as in the *kūḍu*, but the *makaras* on the sides have pendant tails as in the Pallava period—a feature which disappears later. There is another motif peculiar to the Cōḷa epoch and unknown in Pallava monuments. It appears in the recesses between the niches carrying sculptures and takes the form of a tree or pillar growing out of a vase (*kumbha*) and crowned by a sort of capital with brackets of rearing horses supporting an ornament which in general resembles the *tiruvācci* described above and takes the shape of a flower bearing flames or arabesques. This ‘decorative pilaster’ motif develops in the fourteenth century into the *kumbhapañjara* in which the top member grows into something like a *pañjara*.