History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c29.s2.t5.41

v1.c29.s2.t5.41

The earlist rock-cut Buddhist and Jain sanctuaries had timber- like ceilings with cross-beams and rafters: actual teak ribs were even inserted into the stone vaults. Clearly, these artificial caves were intended as copies of timber structure. Stone posts and rails that surrounded stupas also imitated timber originals, even to the details of jointing, so too did the stone gateways with carved architraves known as ‘toran’. Masonary details of temples were often wooden in origin: projecting blocks on basements and cornices were derived from the ends of timber beams, doorways had jambs and lintels of timber designs. Towers with curved profiles and roofs with barrel-vaulted or dome-like tops were also wooden in origin as were the curved cornices but like roofs of brick temples in Bengal in eastern India, or the sloping stone roofs of temples in coastal southern India. Some completely wooden structures have survived the corrosive effects of India’s climate. In the Himalayan valleys and in Kerala, temples have carved timber doorways, columns and beams, angled wooden brackets etc.