Kahjuraho. Kandariya Mahadeo Temple Spire, from west. Dedicated about 1000 A.D.
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Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham
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The northern style of architecture is termed Nagara by the Indians, as distinguished from the Dravida style of the south, and is found in its most characteristic form in the region extending from Bengal and Orissa in the Northeast through North Central India, past the region of Delhi and into the Northwest areas, including the Gurjarat [sic] Peninsula. Because the northern styles cover such a wide area of India, the different types of rock peculiar to each region do have a tremendous effect on the type of sculpture and architecture possible in that medium. The present illustration shows the characteristic cream-to-tan stone found in the region of Kahjuraho
because of its fine grained texture it can be treated like marble and attain a delicate finish. Kahjuraho is the first of two main type-sites in the north of India, the second being Bhuvaneshvara in Orissa. The Temple of Kandariya Mahadeo at Kahjuraho is representative of the elaborate regional style developed on Nagara models. Its porches, visible in our slide, have been multiplied into three units, each increasing in height as they approach the great tower. The base is extremely high, and miniature tower motifs are repeated all over the surface of the shrine, so that the whole has a beautiful sand-castle appearance as if built from above downward by drops of sand-containing water. The sculptures decorating the shrine seem quite varied, but, in fact, they are repetitive of a fair number of the same motifs. Their handling makes them seem more diverse.
because of its fine grained texture it can be treated like marble and attain a delicate finish. Kahjuraho is the first of two main type-sites in the north of India, the second being Bhuvaneshvara in Orissa. The Temple of Kandariya Mahadeo at Kahjuraho is representative of the elaborate regional style developed on Nagara models. Its porches, visible in our slide, have been multiplied into three units, each increasing in height as they approach the great tower. The base is extremely high, and miniature tower motifs are repeated all over the surface of the shrine, so that the whole has a beautiful sand-castle appearance as if built from above downward by drops of sand-containing water. The sculptures decorating the shrine seem quite varied, but, in fact, they are repetitive of a fair number of the same motifs. Their handling makes them seem more diverse.
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Archives Series
Basham Collection
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circa 1970s
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This item is provided for research purposes. Contact the Australian National University Archives at butlin.archives@anu.edu.au for permission to use.
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