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CHAPTER X THE GROUND PLAN OF THE PRADAKSINA PATHA (i) The early examples in Gujarat. Some temples are provided with a pradaksinapatha¹ intended for circumambulation (Pradaksina) around the shrine. Generally it is enclosed by an outerwall running parallel (at least in its general out line if not in detail) to the wall of the garbhagriha which forms the inner wall for the passage. In that case it is covered either by a separate roof (flat or sloping) or by the projections of the superstructure of the shrine. In a few cases it is found left open (uncovered) and unenclosed, The ground plan of the circumambulatory, as discerned in the extant temples of Gujarat may be classified into the following types, according to the plainness or otherwise of its inner and outer sides. (a) Plain on the inner as well as the outerside, the delineation of the inner and the outer wall being plain. (b) Externally plain, but containing specific recesses and projections internally (corresponding to those of the inner wall) (c) Internally plain but containing specific recesses and projections externally (corresponding to those of the outer wall). (d) containing specific recesses and projections on its inner as well as outer side (corresponding to those of the inner and the outer wall ). In a few examples the covered circumamublatory is further surrounded by an open one. attached to the former either on the same level or on a lower level. 1. Also known as Bhrama', 'Bhramani' or Bhamati.

The Ground Plan of the Pradaksina Patha 383 We have two such instances, one at Gop and the other at Suvan. The extant The extant remains of the Gop temple indicate the existence of double circumambulatory. The ground plan of the covered passage, on the inner side was plain, but externally it seems to have had three projections. It projections. It was probably surrounded by another circumambulatory indicated by the lower and projected floor having five projections externally. That it served as another circumambulatory is further implied by the figures on the wall on its internal side at a level lower than the base of the inner circumambulatory. The ground plan of the covered pradaksina patha of the temple of Suvan is plain internally as well as externally. But the surviving open pradaksina gives indications of certain projections on its external side though not so prominently as at Gop. The ground plans of the pradaksinapatha in most of pre-Caulukyrn temples follow the scheme narrated in (a) above i. e. they are plain externally as well as internally. This is illustrated by the pradaksinas in the temples at (1) Bilesvar, (2) Shrinagar (Devi temple) (3) Balej (4) Bhansar (main temple) (5) Khimesvar (6) Ranavav. (7) Pasanavada (Gayatri temple) (8) Kadvar, (9) Sutrapada etc. As for the ratio of the width of the pradaksina patha to that of the extant examples display several varieties. Among the temples mentioned above. No. 1 and 2 have the ratio of 1:2 3 4 1:3 > " " " " " " 5 6 has 2:3 " " 3:4 " = " " 7 3:8 " " " " 8 3:9 " " " " 9 4:9 " " " 2. Vide conjectural plan given by me. Here Fig. 216.

384 The Structural Temples of Gujarat The ground plan of the pradaksina of the sun temple at Visavada is plain externally, but its inner side contains specific recesses and projections corresponding to those of the wall of the garbhagriha. Thus it falls under the category (b) mentioned above. It will be interesting to note here that the ground plan of almost all the pradaksina of the pre-Caulukyan temples fall into the category of (a) and (b) given above. The ground plan of the pradaksinas of the Caulukyan temples fall mostly in the Categories of (c) and (d) except the pradaksina of Magaderu at Dhrasanval which belongs to category (b). The ground plans of the pradaksina of the temples at Siddhpur (restored plan), Bhimanath (Sun temple) and Prabhas (Sun temple on Triveni) are internally plain corresponding to the garbha-wall but externally they take greater projections. The external projections of the circumambulatory of the first two temples, terminating into balconied windows or pavilions are extended so far as to leave an intermediate space just equal to the width of the garbhagriha. These examples belongs to category (c). The ratio of the width of the pradaksina to that of the garbhagrha is 1:2 in the case of the former two temples, while it is 1:4 in the case of the latter one. The ground plans of the pradaksina of the temples at Ghumali ( Navalakha),: Girnar (Neminatha ), Prabhas (Sasibhusana, Rudresvara, Sun temple on Hiranya and Somanatha), Modhera, Taranga and Dwarka (Dwarkadhis temple) internally follow the projections given to the walls of the garbhagriha and correspondingly have projection externally as well. The lateral projections on the external sides in the case of the temples at Ghumali, Girnar, Somnath, Modhera and Taranga are adorned with beautifully carved balconies.

The Ground Plan of the Pradaksina Patha 385 The ratio of the width of the pradaksina in relation to that of the garbhagriha is 1:3 in the case of the temples at Ghumaii, Girnar and Dwarka; 1:2 in the case of Sasibhusana at Prabhas and the sun temple at Bhimanatha; 1:4, in the case of the temples at Modhera, Taranga and the Somanatha ( extinct) at Prabhas; 4:7 in the case of Sun temple on Hiranya and 4:9 in the case of Rudresvara, both at Prablas. The ground plan of the Pradaksina of Magaderu at Dhrasanvel follows internally the lateral projections given by the garbha wall, but externally it is plain, excepting a small projection intended for Kaksasana. The ratio of its width to that of the garbhagriha is 4:5. In Caulukyan temples, the outer sides of the shrine walls, in the pradaksina contain along with the other mouldings deep niches enshrining figures of god and goddesses as for instance at Modhera, Taranga, Prabhas (Sasibhusana, Rudresvra, Sun temple on Hiranya etc.). As the external wall of the pradaksina forms a portion of the mandovara, its vertical treatment follows that of the mandovara.s (ii) Canonical principles discerned. For the circumambulatory the words used in early works are Pradaksina and Bhramana as well. Agni Purana lays down that the shrine may be surrounded by a Pradaksina, the width and the projections to be adopted by the Pradaksina are also specified. Accordingly it must be equal in width to the basic width of Manjari (Sikhara) over garbha wall.5 From the extant temples of Gujarat it may be inferred that the height of the pradaksina should be equal to that of the garbha wall, but in certain cases the height of the pradaksina is also seem determined by the nature of the roof over it. In the case of temples having sloped roof over pradaksina the 3. Vide Ch. 12. here. 4. Agni Purana CIV. 9. 5. Agni Purana XLII, 41, 2 (i).

386 The Structural Temples of Gujarat height of pradaksina on side of the garbha wall will be some what higher than that of the wall enclosing the pradaksina, for instance the Kalikamata temple at Dhrasanvel has sloping roof of this type. Apart from the words pradaksina and bhramana for circumambulatory Samarangana Sutradhara in the case of Chadya prasadas uses the word alinda which may be one, two, three or even more in number enclosing the garbhagriha and in the case of Sikharanvita prasada it adds the word andhakarika, the description of several varieties of Sikharanvita prasadas given in Samarangana Sutradhara, gives the ratio of 1:2 for the width of pradaksina to that of the garbhagriha. It also enjoins for the circumabulatory the lateral projections imparted by garbha walls or the projections prescribed for the lateral sides of the temple. It will be interesting to note that the ratio prescribed by Samarangana Sutradhara is followed by the pre-Caulukyan temples at Bilesvar and Srinagar (Devi temple) and by the Caulukyan temples at Siddhapur (restored plan) and Bhimanatha (Surya temple ). The other ratios found in the extant temples are not given in this work. Most of the Caulukyan temples follow the projections imparted by garbha wall as prescribed by Samarangana Sutradhara Further Samarangana Sutradhara (LVI) has narrated 25 varieties of temples under the head of Sandhara i. e. temples having circumambulatory.8 The same varieties of temples have been narrated by Aparajitapriccha under the head of Kesaradi Sandhara prasada and again by Ksirarnava (MS).10 6. Samarangana Sutradhara XLIX, 40. 7. Samarangana Sutradhara LV. 17. The word is danotative of its covered up feature. 8. Samarangana Sutradhara LVI, 18-44. 9. ARPR. CLIX. 10. KSR (MS) XVII.