Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 1.djvu/428

 DRAVIDIAN STYLE. BOOK III. leading to the foundation of the temple, 1 as well as to the chief idol of the temple Nate^a. In front of the central shrine is one of very unusual architecture, with a tall copper roof, which, I have no doubt, 221. View of Porch of Chidambaram. (From Drawings by the Author.) represents or is the golden or Kanaka-sabha above referred to, and in front of this is a gopuram and pillared porch, making up what seems to have been the original temple. The central 1 The Nathukottai Chettis, who manage (or mismanage) the temples, propose to move this Nritya Sabha to make room for the extension of a new cloister they are now making.