Ancient Indian Colonization in South-East Asia c11.23

c11.23

The lintel of a large doorway found among the ruins at Sarnath contains two representations of shrine and three pediments or tops of temples². The roof of each shrine consists of three gradually receding storeys, with clear recesses between the stages, crowned by an *āmalaka* finial flanked by two leographs facing opposite directions. The three pediments, which alternate with the shrines contain each two niches, one above the other, which have the form midway between a Chaitya window of horse-type and what was known as *Kuḍu* in later days in South Indian temples of the Pallava style. The upper niches which present lion's heads or *Kīrttimukhas* are flanked by lions *sejant* in two cases, and the lower ones contain human figures.