Dimensions.
Ft. In. Area, square 49 Veranda below, in front, and each side, having 12 pillars, and two pilasters, breadth 14 0 Ditto roof, height 10 4 Doorway, 4 feet broad X S feet four inches high; gallery above the dour, square 14 0 Length of the temple from the entrance to the oppo site wall behind the altar 79 0 Breadth of ditto from wall to wall 43 5 height of ditto from the centre of the arch to the floor 35 0 N.B. The height between the pillars and wall where the ceiling is flat, is 14 10 Breadth between the pillars and wall 7 8 Circumference of pillars (two square, and 2S octagon ones) S 1 Altar at the end, about 24 feet high.
3. The third kind of temples are those composed of square enclosures; the largest is that of Scringham, situated near Trichinopoli. The pagoda is composed of seven square enclosures, one within another; each side of the outermost is a mile in length, making the whole four miles in circum ference. The walls of each enclosure are 350 feet from those of the others; they arc 25 feet high, and four feet thick. Each enclosure has tour gateways, that is, one in the middle of each side, opposite the cardinal points. In the outward wall, the gateway which fronts the south is ornamented with pillars, several of the single stones 33 feet long, and live feet diameter ; those of which the roof is composed arc still larger. All the gateways are covered with figures emblematical of their divinities. In the innermost enclosures are the chapels. Into the last. which is 1,021 feet square, and contains the sanctuary of Vishnu, no European is willingly admitted ; but during the wars between the English and'Erench, it was alternately occupied by each of the belligerents. The pagoda of Chittambrum, which consists of one square only, 1,332 feet by 396, entered by a pyramid 122 feet high, has alreody been described.
The pagoda Alitned-Abad, in Guzerat, or pagoda of Santidus, consists of three courts surrounded with marble columns, and paved with marble. No person is admitted into the innermost court with sandals on. All the porticos are covered with female figures, of excellent workmanship; the inside of the roof and walls are with and precious stones.—See Tavernier and Therenorx Trueek
This pagoda was converted into a Turkish mosque by A nrungze he.
The Jumna Mesgid is quadrangular, 140 paces by 120; round the inside of the enclosing wall runs a gallery. its roof supported by 34 pillars. The temple itself stand. upon 44 pillars, ranged in couples; the pavement is marble; in the middle of the front are three large gateways. On the sides are two gateways; each gate has a sort of pilasters; the minarets are lahometan.
The pagoda of Baswara, or Bezora, now a fort, on the Vistnu river, is not enclosed by walls, but stands upon lofty columns, with statues of Indian deities standing between them ; it was placed in the midst of an oblong court, and surrounded by a gallery, supported by 66 pillars.—Sce Tavernier.
4. The fourth kind are in the form of a cross. The most noted is that of Benares, in the city ot'Casi, on the banks of the Ganges, down to which there is a flight of steps. This, from the earliest period of histAwy, has been devoted to 11 hill oo religion and science. The form of the temple is that of a great cross, with a cupola in the centre, which, towards the top, takes a pyramidal form. At the extremity of each branch of the cross, which are of eqnal length. there is a tower with balconies, to which the access is on the outside. Within the temple, immediately under the central cupola, there is an altar, eight feet in length, and six in breadth, covered sometimes with tapestry, sometimes with cloth of gold and silver. Tavernier saw several idols, one, in par ticular, six feet high, having its neck decorated with a chain of precious stones; the head and neck only were visible; the body was covered with a robe. On the right of the altar was a golden figure, composed of an elephant, a horse, and a mule ; upon this the deity journeed on his guardian care of' mankind. In this pagoda was also an idol of black stone, or Sammenaeodom. Anningzehe polluted this temple.