DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0399
Chap. III.
VIJAYAXAGAR.
375
,31
1 \j
210. View of Porch of Temple of Vituba at Vijayanayar. (From a Photograph by Mr. Ntill.)
supports, and other changes have been made, which would inevitably
have led in a short time to the new style of the Nayak dynasty.
The little building on the right is the car of the god, formed of a
single block of granite, with movable wheels, but they are the only
parts that move. There are, besides, either one or two pavilions,
smaller, but similar in design to that represented in the woodcut, a
gopura, and other adjuncts, which would be interesting, if we had
the means of comparing and describing them.
Although the temple of Vitoba is certainly one of the most remark-
able ruins in India, and there are other temples of great beauty and
extent in the capital, it is not quite clear that it is there the che/s-
d'ceunre of this dynasty are to be found, but rather at a place called
Tarputry, about one hundred miles a little east of south from the
capital. There are two temples there : the one now in use, dedicated
to Vishnu, is the elder, and in so far as whitewash and paint will
allow one to judge, ranges with the works of the earliest kings of the
Vijayanagar dynasty; but the wonders of the place are two gopnras
belonging to a now deserted temple on the banks of the river, about a
quarter of a mile from the others. One of these was apparently quite
finished, the other never carried higher than the perpendicular part.
In almost all the gopuras of India this part is comparatively plain,
all the figure-sculpture and ornament being reserved for the upper
or pyramidal part. In this instance, however, the whole of the per-
pendicular part is covered with the most elaborate sculpture, cut with
exquisite sharpness and precision, in a fine close-grained hornblende
(?) stone, and produces an effect richer, and on the whole perhaps in
VIJAYAXAGAR.
375
,31
1 \j
210. View of Porch of Temple of Vituba at Vijayanayar. (From a Photograph by Mr. Ntill.)
supports, and other changes have been made, which would inevitably
have led in a short time to the new style of the Nayak dynasty.
The little building on the right is the car of the god, formed of a
single block of granite, with movable wheels, but they are the only
parts that move. There are, besides, either one or two pavilions,
smaller, but similar in design to that represented in the woodcut, a
gopura, and other adjuncts, which would be interesting, if we had
the means of comparing and describing them.
Although the temple of Vitoba is certainly one of the most remark-
able ruins in India, and there are other temples of great beauty and
extent in the capital, it is not quite clear that it is there the che/s-
d'ceunre of this dynasty are to be found, but rather at a place called
Tarputry, about one hundred miles a little east of south from the
capital. There are two temples there : the one now in use, dedicated
to Vishnu, is the elder, and in so far as whitewash and paint will
allow one to judge, ranges with the works of the earliest kings of the
Vijayanagar dynasty; but the wonders of the place are two gopnras
belonging to a now deserted temple on the banks of the river, about a
quarter of a mile from the others. One of these was apparently quite
finished, the other never carried higher than the perpendicular part.
In almost all the gopuras of India this part is comparatively plain,
all the figure-sculpture and ornament being reserved for the upper
or pyramidal part. In this instance, however, the whole of the per-
pendicular part is covered with the most elaborate sculpture, cut with
exquisite sharpness and precision, in a fine close-grained hornblende
(?) stone, and produces an effect richer, and on the whole perhaps in