214 



DESCRIPTIVE REMARKS ON 



ornamentation that at present it resembles a very modern Dra- 

 vidian Vaishnava temple : nevertheless a few points about it 

 may be worth noting. 



Admission being denied, it could only be observed from with- 

 out. 



The first peculiarity that struck me was the fact that the 

 principal vimana or sanctuary-spire is not square and pyramid- 

 roofed, but oblong like an ordinary gopuram or entrance-tower 

 crowned by a waggon roof, the ridge of which is surmounted 

 by five modern kalasam-finials between the horns that cap the 

 simhamukha ends, or north and south faces of the waggon roof. 

 It occupies the west centre of the inner enclosure exactly 

 opposite the entrance. There is another and smaller shrine 

 alongside, in the south-west corner of the enclosure, covered by 

 a small pyramidal and dome-capped spire containing in all pro- 

 bability the shrine of the goddess (Lakshmi). The oblong 

 shape of the principal (god's) shrine with its ridge roof and 

 kalaeams may be referred to in the Sthalapurana (See Carr, 

 Appendix, p. 181): " Afterwards & vimana, called Anandanila- 

 yam, having seven pinnacles and containing a shining image, 

 descended from Vaikuntha, round which the king built a wall 

 with a gopura." 



The roof dormers and the horse-shoe facets of the domical 

 cells which adorn the sanctuary tower contain human faces or 

 masks, and the lion is repeatedly represented and the Nara- 

 simha or man-lion form occupies the central place on the west 

 face. 



There are two rows or terraces of cell ornaments above the 

 level of the flat roof of the main body of the temple in front 

 (east) of the shrine and below the highest storey or terrace which 

 carries the waggon-roof. There are three cornices ; one below 

 each of the terraces or steps of the roof. The lowest of these 

 is of stone and runs round the entire building. It is simply 

 convex and rather cramped than boldly prominent. It is 

 ornamented with the usual erect horse-shoe medallions, each 

 containing a human face] or mask. The brick- and- stucco 



