DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0368
34t
DRAVIDIAN STYLE.
Book IV.
other smaller shrines in the enclosure, one of which, dedicated to
Soubramanya, a son of Siva's, is as exquisite a piece of decorative
architecture as is to he found in the south of India, and though small,
almost divides our admiration with the temple itself (Woodcut No.
192). It is built behind an older shrine, which may be coeval with
the great temple as originally designed.
One of the peculiarities of the Tanjore temple is that all the sculp-
tures on the gopuras belong to the religion of Vishnu, while everything
in the courtyard is dedicated to the worship of Siva. At first I felt in-
clined to believe it had been erected wholly in honour of the first-
named divinity, but am now more inclined to the belief that il is
only an instance of the extreme tolerance that prevailed at the age
at which it was erected, before these religions became antagonistic.
DRAVIDIAN STYLE.
Book IV.
other smaller shrines in the enclosure, one of which, dedicated to
Soubramanya, a son of Siva's, is as exquisite a piece of decorative
architecture as is to he found in the south of India, and though small,
almost divides our admiration with the temple itself (Woodcut No.
192). It is built behind an older shrine, which may be coeval with
the great temple as originally designed.
One of the peculiarities of the Tanjore temple is that all the sculp-
tures on the gopuras belong to the religion of Vishnu, while everything
in the courtyard is dedicated to the worship of Siva. At first I felt in-
clined to believe it had been erected wholly in honour of the first-
named divinity, but am now more inclined to the belief that il is
only an instance of the extreme tolerance that prevailed at the age
at which it was erected, before these religions became antagonistic.