Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 2.djvu/136

 io8 NORTHERN OR INDO-ARYAN STYLE. BOOK VI. PURl. When from the old capital we turn to Puri, we find a state of affairs more altered than might be expected at the date to which the celebrated temple there belongs. The Somavan^a dynasty with their .Saiva worship, had been superseded about 1078 by the Gangavama, who were nominally much devoted to the service of Vishnu ; and they set to work at once to signalise their triumph by erecting thetemple to Jagannath, which has since acquired such a world-wide celebrity. Purt Outef J?ndo*ure JfalL Scale 200 ' to the IncJx 319. Plan of Temple of Jagannath at Purl. (From a Plan by R. P. Mukerji.) holds for the Vaishnava cult, the like rank as Benares or does for the Saiva, or Brindaban (Mathura) for the worship of Krishna. How this great fane came to be raised by the new sovereign Anantavarma-Chodagangadeva in a style so inferior to those of the previous dynasty must be matter of conjecture. As fresh conquerors, the Gangas might not have accumulated wealth ; and, moreover, they would almost certainly employ architects of their own race who were already known to them. These,