A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c21.56

c21.56

The last type, a complete monolithic structural temple, is represented by the unique example of Kailāsa at Ellora (Pl. V), excavated under Rāṣṭrakūṭa Krishna I. In its general plan, it bears a certain resemblance to the Virūpāksha temple at Pattadakal though it is more than twice its size. The temple resolves itself into four parts—its main body, the entrance gateway, a nandi shrine in between, and cloisters round the courtyard. Supplementary chambers, probably of a slightly later date, have been cut on the sides of the courtyard, that in the north wall called the Laṅkeśvara being a large, pillared hall. The entrance to the temple is on the west, and its main body measures roughly 150 feet by 100 feet, with projections at intervals throughout the entire height of the structure. The lofty and substantial plinth 25 feet in height is marked by heavy mouldings, above and below, while the central face is taken up by a magnificent series of elephants and lions seeming to support the structure (Pl. VIb). We cannot do better than quote the description from Percy Brown: