260 THE TEMPLE. 



It is the chief aud most conspicuous building in the monastery and 

 isolated from the other buildings. It is usually 



Exterior. surrounded by a paved path to allow of pious circum- 



ambulation, and it is sometimes shaded by a cypress tree. Built in 

 the Sikhim style of architecture, it is a heavy ungainly building with 

 squarisli base, tapering whitewashed stone walls, and a huge projecting 

 flattish roof of thatched bamboo. In the wealthier monasteries the 

 thatch has lately been replaced by corrugated iron, which does not 

 improve tlie appearance of the building. As the wide projecting eaves 

 render tlie roof liable to be blown off, the latter is tied down to the 

 ground at the four corners by long pendant ropes. The roof is sur- 

 mounted by one or a pair of small bell-shaped domes of gilt copper : 

 if a pair, they are placed one on either end of the ridge, and called 

 jira-^ if a solitary one in tlie middle of the ridge, it is called gyal-tsUn? 

 They are emblematic of the umbrella-banner of victory and good 

 fortune. The building is usually two stories in height with an outside 

 stair on one flank, generally the right, leading to the upper flat. In 

 front is an upper wooden balcony, the beams of which are rudely 

 curved and its doors variously ornamented." The necessary orienta- 

 tion of the building has already been noted. 



In approaching the temple door the visitor must proceed with 

 his right hand to the wall, in conformity with the Hindu ceremonial 

 custom of pradaksliina already noted. In niches along the base of 

 the building, about three feet above the level of the path, are some- 

 times inserted rows of prayer-barrels which are turned by the visitor 

 sweeping his hand over them as he proceeds. 



The main door is entered by a short flight of steps. On ascending 



the steps, tlie entrance is at times screened by a 



Entrance. large curtain of yak-hair hung from the upper 



balcony, which serves to keep out rain and snow from the frescoes 



in the vestibule. 



Entering the vestibule, we find its gateway 

 Vestibule figures. guarded by several fiendish figures. These are— 



I. — The Demon of the Locality, usually a Tsm or male demon 

 of a red colour, but differing in name according to the 

 locality. 



' kny]m. I " rgyal-mtshan. 



•' At J-'eiciongchi the balcony doors contain painied representations of the seven 

 T)rccious things of a nnwersaX em\>evov (Chakravarta rajd), such as Shakya was 

 to have been had he not become a Buddha ; viz. — (1) the precious wheel ; (2) 

 the precious white elephant; (3) the precious flying horse; (4) the precious 

 gem ; (5) the precious general ; (6) the precious minister ; and (7) the precious 

 wife. These objects are frequeutly figured in the base of images and pictures 

 ■){ Buddha. -See also Chapter V, page 323. 



