Page:Report of a Tour Through the Bengal Provinces of Patna, Gaya, Mongir and Bhagalpur; The Santal Parganas, Manbhum, Singhbhum and Birbhum; Bankura, Raniganj, Bardwan and Hughli in 1872-73.djvu/225

Rh dimensions of the sanctum inside being only 12 feet square, but the great height and the material, brick, need a greater thickness than stone. The roof of the cell begins to contract by overlapping courses at a height of 18 feet; the overlaps are at first of six courses each, then after four such overlaps there are five overlaps of five courses each, after which the overlaps are of four, and subsequently of three and of two courses each. The entrance is of the usual style of overlapping openings; it is 6 feet 1 inch wide; the overlaps are one of six courses, two of five courses each, seven of four courses each, five of three courses each, and one of two courses, there being altogether sixty-one courses disposed in 16 overlaps on each side to the point where the two sides of the triangle approach to within 4 inches of each other, the overlaps being, therefore, of 2 inches each only almost exactly. The temple stands on a high plinth, now a shapeless mound; it does not appear, from the absence of the dividing sill in the opening, that the temple had any mandapa in front, and the façade is indeed complete as it is, there being no part or line where the walls of any chamber or structure in front could touch the present façade without hiding some ornament, or falling upon some moulding or ornamental sculpture; the long platform, therefore, in front of the temple (now a terrace of earth and rubbish), must have been meant for open-air gatherings, as is common to this day, especially in mêlas or fairs, or for a subordinate temple facing the main one.

Close to the temple, and on the low ground which in floods is under water, are several mounds, which still yield bricks; the mounds, as well as the temple, are ascribed to Salivahan, and the mounds near the river are said to be parts of his garh, the other parts having been washed away by the left hand channel when the main stream first took that direction; the old name of the place is said by some to have been Hamiradángá.

The temple was covered with plaster, and richly and profusely ornamented. The plaster, from its ornamentation corresponding in all parts with the cut-brick ornamentation below, I consider to have formed part of the original design, and not, as is too often the case, added afterwards. The plaster has, however, come off in most parts; the top of the temple has disappeared long ago, and is now a shapeless mass of ruin, on which young trees are allowed to take root and flourish undisturbed. It is a pity that a fine temple, as this must have been, should have been allowed to decay.