Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 1.djvu/379

 CHAP. III. MAMALLAPURAM. 33* The next is known as Arjuna's rath, and is a small copy of Dharmaraja's the last to the southwards the only difference being that Arjuna's is very much smaller than the other, measuring 11 ft. 6 in. by 16 ft. in plan, and 20 ft. in height. A cell has been excavated inside, only 4 ft. 6 in. by 5 ft., but it contains no image ; the figures on the outside walls, however, seem to show that it was dedicated to Siva. It is cracked from top to bottom, and part of the finial has fallen off. The roofs of the lower and first stories are ornamented with those ranges of little simulated cells which became the distinguishing characteristics of Dravidian architecture, and it is surmounted by an octagonal dome which is an equally universal feature of the style. The third Bhima's rath seen partially in the Woodcut No. 185, is very re- markable : it is an oblong building hav- ing a curvilinear shaped roof with a straight ridge. Its dimensions are nearly 48 ft. long, 25 ft. wide,, and 25 ft high. Ex- ternally, it seems to have been completely carved, but internally only partially exca- vated, the works being apparently stopped by some accident. It is cracked completely through, so that daylight can be seen through it, and several masses of the rock have fallen to the ground this has been ascribed to an earthquake and other causes. My impression is, the explana- tion is not far to seek, but arose from unskilfulness on the part of workmen employed in a first attempt. Having completed the exterior, they set to work to excavate the interior so as to make it resemble a structural building of the same class, leaving only such pillars and supports as were sufficient to support a wooden roof of the ordinary construction (Woodcut No. 187). In this instance it was a mass of solid granite which, had the excavation been completed, would certainly have crushed the lower storey to powder. As it was, the builders seem to have taken the hint of the crack and stopped the further progress of the works. 1 The dotted hatching on this plan represents a suggested mode in which the rath might have been completed if finished as intended. 187. Plan of Bhima's Rath. (From a Plan by Mr. R. F. Chisholm.) Scale 20 ft. to i in. 1