DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.27191#0314
268
ARCHITECTURE IN THE HIMALAYAS. Book II.
minister, and named Meruvardhana-swamin.1 It now stands
in the water of a
shallow pool that
occupies the former
courtyard. Origin-
ally, it seems to have
had a third storey or
division to its roof,
but that has fallen ;
the lower part of the
building, however, ex-
hibits all the charac-
teristic features of the
style in as much per-
fection as almost any
other known example.
It consists of a shrine
only, 11 ft. 7 in. square
inside, with doors on
all four sides, and
the inside roof covered
with sculpture.
One last example
must conclude our
illustrations of Kash-
miri architecture. The
temple at Payer, though one of the smallest, is among the
most elegant, and also one of the most entire examples of
the style (Woodcut No. 153). Its dimensions are only 8 ft.
square for the superstructure, with a door on each side, and
21 ft. high, including the basement; but with even these
dimensions it acquires a certain dignity from being erected
with only six stones — four for the walls and two for the
roof.2 It stands by itself on a knoll, without any court, or any
of the surroundings of the older temples, and is dedicated to
Niva. It would be interesting if its date could be ascertained,
as it carries with it that of the cave of Bhaumajo or Bumazu, and
of several other temples.3 Vigne, from its perfect preservation
152. Temple at Pandrethan.
(From a Drawing by Gen. Cunningham.)
1 ‘ Rajatarangini,’ bk. v., v. 267;
Moorcroft, ‘ Travels,’ vol. ii. p. 240 ;
Hiigel, ‘ Kaschmir,’ Bd. i., S. 260;
Vigne, ‘Travels,’ vol. ii. p. 38; Cun-
ningham, ‘ Journal of the Asiatic Society
of Bengal,’ vol. xvii., pt. ii. pp. 283 et seqq.,
and plate 21 ; Foucher, ‘ L’Art Greco-
Bouddhique,’ pp. 143-146.
2 Cunningham, loc. cit. p. 256; Growse
says ‘ ten stones,’ adding four for the
tympana over the doors.
3 ‘ Journal of the Asiatic Society of
Bengal,’ vol. xxxv. pp. 100 et seqq. ; and
Stein’s ‘ R&jatarangini,’ bk. vi., vv. 177,
178, note. It is probably the same as
the temple of Bhimakexava built (950-958
a.d.) by Bhima S’ihi, King of Kabul or
Udabhanda.
ARCHITECTURE IN THE HIMALAYAS. Book II.
minister, and named Meruvardhana-swamin.1 It now stands
in the water of a
shallow pool that
occupies the former
courtyard. Origin-
ally, it seems to have
had a third storey or
division to its roof,
but that has fallen ;
the lower part of the
building, however, ex-
hibits all the charac-
teristic features of the
style in as much per-
fection as almost any
other known example.
It consists of a shrine
only, 11 ft. 7 in. square
inside, with doors on
all four sides, and
the inside roof covered
with sculpture.
One last example
must conclude our
illustrations of Kash-
miri architecture. The
temple at Payer, though one of the smallest, is among the
most elegant, and also one of the most entire examples of
the style (Woodcut No. 153). Its dimensions are only 8 ft.
square for the superstructure, with a door on each side, and
21 ft. high, including the basement; but with even these
dimensions it acquires a certain dignity from being erected
with only six stones — four for the walls and two for the
roof.2 It stands by itself on a knoll, without any court, or any
of the surroundings of the older temples, and is dedicated to
Niva. It would be interesting if its date could be ascertained,
as it carries with it that of the cave of Bhaumajo or Bumazu, and
of several other temples.3 Vigne, from its perfect preservation
152. Temple at Pandrethan.
(From a Drawing by Gen. Cunningham.)
1 ‘ Rajatarangini,’ bk. v., v. 267;
Moorcroft, ‘ Travels,’ vol. ii. p. 240 ;
Hiigel, ‘ Kaschmir,’ Bd. i., S. 260;
Vigne, ‘Travels,’ vol. ii. p. 38; Cun-
ningham, ‘ Journal of the Asiatic Society
of Bengal,’ vol. xvii., pt. ii. pp. 283 et seqq.,
and plate 21 ; Foucher, ‘ L’Art Greco-
Bouddhique,’ pp. 143-146.
2 Cunningham, loc. cit. p. 256; Growse
says ‘ ten stones,’ adding four for the
tympana over the doors.
3 ‘ Journal of the Asiatic Society of
Bengal,’ vol. xxxv. pp. 100 et seqq. ; and
Stein’s ‘ R&jatarangini,’ bk. vi., vv. 177,
178, note. It is probably the same as
the temple of Bhimakexava built (950-958
a.d.) by Bhima S’ihi, King of Kabul or
Udabhanda.