Interior of the mukhamantapa (porch)
Interior of the mukhamantapa
The mukhamantapa is a pillared hall with four pillars inside and several pillars at the periphery. The space covered by these pillars is elevated and forms a small mantapa (hall) within the mukhamantapa. The image shows the upper part of this mantapa.
As you can see from the image, the stone beams connecting internal pillars form two deeply recessed square-shaped blocks on the ceiling. The roofs is elevated to accommodate these blocks. Carved into the recessed blocks are the two beautiful bas-reliefs, Matsya Chakra and Coiled Nagaraja. Attached to the beam separating these blocks are the slightly-curved buttresses. The bottom part of these buttresses are the Makara faces projecting out of the capitals of the pillars.
The internal mantapa is accessed through a flight of steps on the east end, and the other end of it is the Dvārabandha, i.e., the entrance to the sabhamantapa and garbhagriha.
Durga Temple Images
– Exterior: Front view, Rear view, West side view
– Mukhamantapa: Exterior, Interior, Ornate pillar, Mithuna Shilpa, Vidyadhara couple, Romantic couple, Coiled Nagaraja, Matsya Chakra
– Interior: Dvārabandha, Sabhamantapa, Garbhagriha
– Pradakshina Patha: West facing view, East facing view,
– Devakoshtas: Shiva with his vehicle Nandi, Narasimhavatara, Vishnu riding Garuda, Varahavatara, Durga as Mahishasuramardini, Harihara
– Jālandharas: Swastika and lotus flower patterns, Rhombus-shaped perforations, Dharmachakra – 8 spokes, Dharmachakra – 12 spokes, Square perforations
Related Pages
– Durga Temple at Aihole
– Badami, Cave – 1, Cave – 2, Cave – 3, Cave – 4
– Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Bracket Figures
– Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Navaranga
– Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Garbhagriha Outer Wall
– Somanathapura Keshava Temple
– Hampi Virupaksha Temple Murals
Copyright © 2021 by YatrikaOne. All rights reserved.