2.2. One-shrine temples

[Full title: The Caulukyan (Solanki) Phase (1) One-shrine temples]

Normally a temple contains a single-shrine. Accordingly most of the Caulukyan temples fall under this group. But they contain as many as ten varieties with respect to the total number of their components. E (a) Some tiny edifices consit of only the garbhagrihas which are surmounted by the usual curvilinear Sikharas. The square ground plan of these temples have lateral projections with mouldings like Jadambo, Kumbho, Jangha (containing central niches for sculptures of Gods and Goddesses), Kevala, Bharni, CHHADYA (eave) etc. in their elevation. The Sikhara, corresponding the lateral projections and vertical chases, have cluster of anga Sikharas round its body and is surmounted with the usual amalaka and Kalasa (finial). The best surviving example of this group, though later, is the small temple of Kasivisvesara adjoining the famous Hatakesvara temple at Vadanagar. 57 The small temples situated on the banks of the Munasar lake at Viramgam 58 and those on the bank of the Surya Kunda at Mohdera also fall in this group,59 The same applies to the small shrines (Devakulikas) aligned in the corridors surrounding some of the Jain temples. (b, Some of the one-shrine temples contain a porch attached axially to the garbhagriha which is almost plain. The porch as a structural component consists of with drawf walls or without walls having two free standing pillars in front and two pilasters attached externally to the garbha-wall. The pillars support the superstructure over it. 57. Here Fig. 144. 58. Here Fig. 101. 59. Surya Mandira Visesanka Plt. Vedic Index, fig. 25; Pit XIV, fig. 35.

300 In plan the The Structural Temples of Gujarat whole structure is rectangular but deep cut recesses in the walls and corners give it a poly angular look. The early example of this type is the Vaisnava temple at Odadar.60 The walls of the garbhgriha, except the horizontal mouldings at the base and vertical chases due to lateral projections at jangha, are quite plain. The eaves over it are of low projections. And the Pancanasika projections rising from the surface of the wall reaching to the apex are also plain. The superstructure is adorned with a heavy Amalaka. The attached porch has much more projecting eave and the superstructure over it is damaged. The Sikhara illustrates the transitory stage. The other noteworthy temples of this group are the small temple in the vicinity of the Sander temple 61 and the Ranakadevi temple at Wadhwan.62 They form a distinct subgroup by the style of their Sikhara. Here we see, again the repetation of the Caitya window ornament alternated by amalaka shaped ornament in the vertical chases of the Sikhara. (c) The temples, having a grabhgriha with an attached mandapa, form a distinct group. The Siva temples at VirtaⓇs and Bavaka 64 and the Surya temple at Madhavapur 65 have such arrangement of the plan. The open mandapa is contained within a dwarf wall, above which, leaning outwardly, is the sloping asana (Kaksasana) while the pillars of the interior are square in section with reminiscences of the vase and foliage motif among the decoration of the shaft. 60. Here Fig. 154/a. 61. Architectural Antiquities of Northern Gujarat Plt. XCV. 62. Here Fig. 133. 63. Architectural Antiquities of Northern Gujarat Plt. XCVI 4. 64. Indian Archaeology 1955-56 pp. 47-48. 65. Somanatha and other Medieval Temples of Kathiawad Plt. XCI.

The Architectural Forms of Temples 301 (d) A number of small temples fall under this group. The temple of this type consists of the shrine (garbhagrha), a mandapa, which extends on either side and a small porch in front of the mandapa. The mandapa here in reality square, but the projection on either side make it rectangular. On account of this peculiar construction, there are sixteen pillars to support the roof, eight of which directly support the dome above. Inside, the dome, resting on an octagon, rises in concentric circles, built on corbel principle. The roof of the mandapa as well as that of porch which is supported by four pillars each placed in the corner of the square forms a small pyramid the summit of which is crowned with small amalaka and a finial (Kalasa). The mouldings of the mandapa wall, corresponding the basement mouldings of the shrine proper, are decorated from the base. The part corresponding the Jangha of wall of the shrine, is sculptured at intervals with gods and goddesses. The best preserved example of this group is the Nilakantha Mahadeva temple at Sunak.66 In plan the temples at Sander Kanoda. Gorad, 67 Gorad,67 Manod (Manuda), Ruhavi, 68 Delmal, Dhinoj, 69 Chaubari, Harasiddha, Miyani (Nilkanta Mahadeva ), Bhayavadar (Somanditya temple), Mandrapur, Asoda, Valam, Madhavpur (Madhav temple), Than (Sun temple), Dwarka 66. For detail description vide Section II, ch. 4. Here Figs. 55-58 & 220. also Architectural Antiquities of Northern Gujarat Pits. LXXXI & LXXXIII. 67. The Gorad temple had lost the roof of the mandapa which is now replaced by a Muslim dome (Archaeology of Gujarat pp. 77-78). Here Fig. 61. 68.. The Ruhai temple had lost its porch and mandapa, when Burgess visited it. A new porch is now built instead. It also stands on an artificial brick mound, now paved (Archaeology of Gujarat p. 77 also f. n. no. 16, Fig 33) Here Fig. 65. 69. At Dhinoj the temple is rebuilt completely, but with the old material (Archaeology of Gujarat p. 78) Its mandapa walls may be in tact as the photograph shows. (Burgess Architectural Antiquities of Northern Gujarat Plt. XCVII), Here Fig. 131.

302 The Structural Temples of Gujarat (Rukamani temple ), 70 Visavada (Ranchhodji and Rudresvar Mahadeva temples )., Kuchhadi, Tukada 71 etc were all originally similar to Sunak. The sun temple at Kotai, 72 displaying the ground plan with the features of this group, has a typical gable-roofed superstructure over the mandapa and the porch. The nave of the mandapa is covered with a pyramidal superstructure but the aisle of mandapa and the porch in front of it have a gable-roofed superstructure slanting on either side. Certain Jain temples fall in the group but they from a distinct variety owing to the peculiarity of their ground plans. At vasai, the temple complex known as Junagadhi 73 is within in an open paved court and is surrouned by a corridor on three sides. The garbhagriha (extinct) seems attached with front gudha mandapa by a narrow slit of passage and the latter with a sabhamandapa, which is connected with the corridor. by means of a pillared and perhaps covered passage.14. There is a porch 75 in front of the corridor. The superstructures of all the components are either extinct or damaged. In the Temple of Sarotra 76 the Gudhamandapa is connected with the sabhamandapa by means of 16 pillared porches known as Nava Coki. The temple is enclosed by a series of 52 cells and in front of it there is a 'T' shaped porch with flight of 70. This temple has an additional detached rectangular Coki in front of the attached porch to the mandapa Here Fig. 153. 71. The porch is extinct here. Here Fig. 159/b. 72. Antiquities of Kaccha and Kathiawada Plts. LXIV, LX, Fig. 4. Here Fig. 70. 73. Here Fig. 107/b. 74. Extinct but remains determine the existence. 75. Here Fig. 107/c. 76, Architectural Antiquities of Northern Gujarat Plt. LXXVII.

The Architectural Forms of Temples 303 steps. Similarly the temple at Bhadresvara is surrounded by 52 cells but in composition it is simpler for it contains only one mandapa and a porch. 77 The same is the case with the Kumarapala temple at Girnar, 78 while the Naminatha temple at Kumbharia has two mandapas. (e) Some of the temples have an intermediary section between the sanctum and the porch. Accordingly they consit of a sanctum, an antarala and a porch. The typical early example of this group is the old Siva temple at Nandisvara. 79 The superstuctures display some early characteristics like Caitya-arch ornament and amalaka quions at interval over the facets of the Sikhara and a gable-roofed and pyramindal arrangement. But the best specimen of this group is the Hingolaja-mata (Sarvamangala devi) temple at Khandosan.80 It displays all the Caulukyan characteristics in wall mouldings as well as in the superstructures surmounted over the garbhagriha and the attached porch. The porch has the leaning seat ( Kaksansana ) on its either side. (f) The garbhagriha of the Sitla-mata temple at Piludra 81 preserves the attached portion of the antarala while the mandapa seems extinct. This is perhaps the solitary example of the temple consisting of a sanctum, an antarala and a mandapa. (g) The temples of this type consists of the shrine, an antarala, a circumambulatory and a mandapa. 77. Antiquities of Kaccha and Kathiawada Plt. LVIII. 78. Antiquities of Kaccha and Kathiawada Plt. XXXIII. 79. Here Fig. 160/a. 80. Baroda Archaeological Department '39. Pl. IX. 81. Here Fig. 117.

304 The Structural Temples of Gujarat on The sun temple on the bank of the river Triveni at Prabhas and that at Bhimanath 82 follow this ground plan. The mandapa in the first intance has a projecting balconies either side. The antarala has no distinct superstructure consequently the Sikhara covering the projections of the ground plan, covers the upper portion of the antarala. The restored plan of the Rudramala at Siddhapur^{3 3} indicates similar features of the ground plan. The temple complex also contained eleven small shrines 84 arround the main temple a separate detached nandi-pavilion in front of the mandapa and two Kirtitoranas, each on either side. (h) A few one-shrine temple are provided with antarala, mandapa and porch, but the circumambulatory is missing. The temples at Sejakapur 85 (Navalakha), Lovrali 88. (Gokesvara), Baradia (Rama), 87 Vasai (Dist. Mehsana ), 88 Vadanagar (Hatakesvara) 89 consist of all the components of the ground plan except the circumambulatory. i. e. they have sanctum, antarala, mandapa and porch or porches as the case may be. The restored temple of Tarnetar 90 indicates that orginally this temple also had a similar plan. It had superstructure similar to that of the sun temple at Kotai. 91 Some of the notable Jain temples, though displaying some additional features in the ground plan may be classified in this group. On the whole The Vimalavasahi 92 and Lunavasahi 93 temples at Abu 82. Somanatha and other Medieval Temples of Kathiawad Plt. XIII. 83. Architectural Antiquities of Northern Gujarat Plt.XXXVIII; Here fig. 227. 84. Architectural Antiquities of Northern Gujarat Fig. 6, p. 73. Here Figs. 99-100. 85. Somanatha and other Medieval Temples of Kathiawad Plt. LXV. 90. Here Fig. 85. 86. Here Fig. 159/a. 91. Vide Antiquities of Kaccha and Kathiawada Plt. LX. 87. Here Fig. 114. 92. History of Indian and Eastern Architecture II, Fig. 283 p. 37. 88. Baroda Archaeological Department' 38. p. 36. 93. Ibid. Fig. 285 p. 41. 89. Here Figs. 138-140.

The Architectural Forms of Temples 305 have similar arrangement of the groud plan. Both the temples stand in the centre of the court yard which is surrounded on all sides by rows of cells with a covered and enclosed passage in front of them. But the temple of Neminatha at Girnar, 94 though similar in plan is located in front rather than in the centre, while the mandapa is fronted by two porches arranged axially. The Jain temple at Miyani 95 has two mandapas connected by a rectangular porch with six compartments (Chacoki). The extant sabhamandapa shows traces of the porch, which now exists no more. (i) Some of the temples are provided with circumambulatories, antaralas and mandapas, From the view point of the arrangement of the plan the temple at Kheda display the stricking example as it comprises the garbhagrha, circumambulatory and the mandapa. The transitional Sikhara displays characteristics of both types i. e. it is curvilinear in shape with horizontal tiers adorned with Caitya-window and amalaka quoins at its facets. The temple at Modhera apart from the components required by the group of these temples, have a detached sabhamandapa with a Kirtitorana in front of the Gudha mandapa and two Kirtitoranas on the front, each in eitherside and an artificial reservoir. The garbhagrha as well as both mandapas have lost their superstructures. 95 ()) The temple of this type consists of a shrine, a circumambulatory an anatarala, a mandapa and a porch. This plan represents a full-flaged type of the Caulukyan temple. The best of this type is supplied by the Sun Temple 94. Antiquities of Kaccha and Kathiawada plt. XXXII. Here Fig. 239. 95. Here Fig. 64 & 241.

306 The temples The Structural Temples of Gujarat at Prabhas ( Somanatha, 96 at Modhera. Sasibhusana, 97 Rudrasvara 98 and the sun temple on the bank of river Hiranya 99), Dwarka (the Dwarkadhisa temple), Vasai ( Kankesvara ),100 Dhrasanavel (Magderu ), 101 Ghumali (Navalakha )102 and Taranga (Jain temple of Ajitanatha )103 all display the full-flaged ground plan of the Caulukyan period. The old Somnatha temple is now extinct but the ground plan indicate by its ruins is well preserved in the new temple erected in its stead. The superstructures over the temples of Ghumali and Surya temple at Hiranya have been lost; that of Vasai displays its crude form; those of Sasibhusana and Rudresvara are restored and rebuilt to some extent and so devoid of their past glory, the curvilinear facet of the superstructure of Magadera contains horizontal tiers adorned with Caitya window and amalaka quious design; while those of Dwarkadhisa (though later) and Taranga display all the chief characteristics of Caulukyan Sikhara style. Moreover the Samarana (Samvarna) over their storied mandapas also are typical Caulukyan in design and set up.