at intervals, to give the necessary rigidity and stability to the tower; this is most easily, economically, and unobtrusively done by floors extending across, internally cutting up the tall tower into a number of more stable low chambers, and, as may be seen, this has been the expedient universally adopted; constructively, therefore, at least one, and preferably several, floors, extendng across the tower, opening internally, is a necessity; the tiers of openings over the entrance are also constructively necessary, to relieve the lowest architrave from the weight of a great mass of superincumbent masonry; and where this expedient has not been adopted, failure has resulted, as may be seen from the temples of Central India and elsewhere; more of which have failed through the single fault of the architrave giving way, than through all other natural causes put together.
But, though constructively correct, it cannot be denied that the front elevation of the temple under discussion is any thing but beautiful; the temple has, it is true, lost the mahamandapa, the roof of which would have been, and was probably designed with a special view to hide away these ugly openings; but how this was effected in this particular temple, where the openings extend a long way up, is doubtful. Remembering, however, that the numerous pillars, now built into a long pillared hall in front, are not likely to have been brought from elsewhere for the purpose, but must have been lying on the spot, and therefore belonged to the mahamandapa, &c., of the temple, I am inclined to think that the mahamandapa of this temple was of much more than the usual size, and, therefore, had necessarily a larger and higher roof,—high enough to keep the openings out of sight. Whether the temple, as a whole, looked well or ill with this overgrown mahamandapa, is a question which it would be idle to attempt answering, till we can find out the size of the mahamandapa,—a desideratum we do not now possess.
The temple is poor in ornamentation, and the pillars forming the colonnade in front are all quite plain, nor are the mouldings of the basement bold or elegant; it is interesting chiefly as being singular in the elevation of its present façade.
TELKUPI.
About four miles north-east of this place, on the south bank of the Damuda river, is the village of Telkupi, containing,
