Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 2.djvu/194

 NORTHERN OR INDO-ARYAN STYLE. BOOK VI. found, among others, a most apt imitator in the celebrated Man Singh of Amber, afterwards of Jaypur, who reigned A.D. 1592-1615. In 1590 he erected at Brindaban, 5 miles north of Mathura, a temple, of Govind- deva or Krishna, which either he left unfinished at his death ; or, as is related, the jikhara of it was thrown down by Aurangzib, who is said to have erected also an 'Ibadat-gah, or place for Moslim prayer, on the roof. 1 It is one of the most interesting and elegant temples in India, and the only one, perhaps, from which a European architect might borrow a few hints. The temple, as it now stands, consists of a cruciform porch, internally nearly quite perfect, though externally it is not clear how it was intended to be finished (Wood- 350> Br a i n ndl T an mpleat cuts Nos. 3 5o, 35 ^ The antardla or (By Capt. Cole.) inner mandap of the original temple was Scale zoo ft. to i in. a f ter wards apparently converted into a shrine, and is perfect internally and used for worship but the ^ikhara is gone, having been destroyed along with the cella ; after which the antarala was made into a shrine. 3 Though not large, its dimensions are respectable, the porch measuring 117 ft. east and west, by 105 ft. north and south, and is covered by a true vault, built with radiating arches the only instance, except one, known to exist in a Hindu temple in the north of India. On each side of the original shrine are two side chapels. Over the four arms of the cross the vault is plain, and of 23 ft. span, but in the centre it expands to 35 ft., and is quite equal in design to the best Gothic vaulting known. It is the external design of this temple, however, which is most remarkable. The angles are accentuated with singular force and decision, and the openings, which are more than sufficient for that climate, are picturesquely arranged and pleasingly divided. It is, however, the combina- tion of vertical with horizontal lines, covering the whole surface, that forms the great merit of the design. This is, indeed, not 1 It consisted of a wall like an Id-gah,' as seen in Woodcut No. 351 ; this was removed during repairs in 1873. 2 Mr. Growse believed that it was intended to be finished with five spires over the shrine, the antarala, the dome of the mandap, and on each of the attached chapels. 'Mathura,' 2nd ed. pp. 223-224. 3 The original image is said to have been removed to Jaypur. The cella was roughly rebuilt in brick behind this, about 1854, and dedicated to Krishna. Growse's * Mathura,' 2nd ed. pp. 223- 224.