CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Varapuzha, Baroque Architecture, Kerala

Varca, Baroque Architecture, Goa

The Vardhamana temple dates back to sixth century. It was enlarged during Chola period. The temple houses an idol of Mahavira. At the heart of this Jain complex are two double shrines, each with part-circular plans. The exteriors have been much renovated. The temples are built in the late Chola style, with small towers capped by hemispherical roofs. They are preceded by a long columned hall (mandapa), the ceiling of which is covered with paintings dating from the seventeenth century. The paintings cover stories of the Jains saviours like Rishbhadeva and Vardhamana in their former lives. References: G. Michell, 1995, p. 232, G. Michell, 1989, p. 439.

Like the temple of Tiruppurambiyam, this is an earlier temple probably from Parantaka I's time (907 - 954 CE) but a large number of sculptures than the usual original five have been crudely inserted into newly improvised niches made by cuttings into the old outer inscribed walls of the sanctum sanctorum (garbagriha) and the half hall (ardhmandapa) causing damage even to the inscriptions. This is likely to have taken place in the period of Uttama Chola (971 - 988 CE) when additional divinity niche divinity niches (devakoshtas) sculptures became fashionable of the temples of Sembiyan style. Reference: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1971, pp. 183-185.

Vasudeva sarovara, Belur, Karnataka

Vav, Bhatund, Rajasthan