A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c21.63

c21.63

The rock-cut temple of Anantaśayana at Undavalli (Guntur district) and the series at Bhairavakonda (North Arcot district) towards the end of Mahendra's reign attempt a departure from the very plain treatment of the earlier examples. Undavalli is probably an attempt to copy a Buddhist vihāra and consists of four storeys of pillared maṇḍapas set one above the other and rising to a height of 50 feet. But it is in the elaboration of the pillars of Bhairavakonda that the beginnings of a distinctive Pallava 'order' can be traced, and the figure of a lion is introduced and combined with the pillar in its lower portion and another in the capital. This order of pillar and capital was further refined and developed into a column of striking elegance in the productions falling in the second group called after Mahāmalla.