Buniyar Temple, Baramulla –
The Temple
The gateway is a
double-chambered structure faced on each open side by a trefoil arch surmounted
by a steep pediment. The lintels of the closed arches are supported on pairs of
columns which were originally fluted, though the weather has now left no trace
of flutes. They have a double capital, the upper one being voluted on all four
sides. The walls are externally surmounted by a cornice of kirtimukhas,
alternating with miniature trefoiled niches. Upon this rests the first course
of the pyramidal roof.
The flights of steps on the
eastern and western sides respectively afford entrance to and exit from the
entrance chamber. The one on the roadside is buried underground, but the inner
stair has been excavated. It consists of seven steps flanked by sloping rails
and upright side walls. Between this stair and the temple is a small stone platform
which formed the lowermost course of the stepped base of a column (most
probably a Garudadhvaja). It has now placed in it a small stele of very crude
workmanship and late date, which was painted with vermilion.
Another similar stele, still
standing in the position in which it was found, is seen in front of the temple
stair. The temple itself stands on a double base, which is in every respect
similar to other structures of its kind in Kashmir. A lofty trefoil arch,
standing upon advanced pilasters and enclosing a rectangular entrance
originally surmounted by an ornamental trefoil and steep pediment, gives access
to the sanctum. The jambs of the entrance are adorned with half-engaged
columns.
The interior is a square of 14
feet. The pedestal of the image is placed on a broad platform. The original
image, which seems to have been of Lord Vishnu, is now replaced by small Shiva
Lingas originally brought from the bed of the river Narbada. The walls are
covered with a coat of modern whitewash. Externally the only decorations are
the trefoils of the recesses, their pediments, and the cornice of Kirtimukhas
and miniature trefoils from which the roof sprang.
The quadrangle measures I45' by
I19½’ and consists of fifty-three cells and the gateway. They are rectangular,
7' long by 4' broad. Each cell has a single trefoiled entrance enclosed in a
high-pitched pediment resting on half-engaged columns. These ranges of cells
are preceded by a noble colonnade which stands on a base similar to that of the
temple. A transverse beam connects the capitals of the columns with the roof of
the cells. Over these beams rises the entablature, only one course of which,
namely the frieze of miniature trefoils, is extant.
In the centre of each range of
cells, except, perhaps, the one in which the gateway stands, is an apartment of
larger dimensions preceded by a pair of taller columns which are advanced about
4' from the rest of the peristyle. The top course of the cells is also
decorated in the same way as the frieze above. On the south side, projecting
from the cornice of the upper base of the temple, is the spout of the channel
which carried off the washings of the image.
It seems to have been shaped
originally into a makara, or crocodile's head. Immediately below it is a huge
water trough carved out of a single block of stone. The rain-water in the
courtyard is carried off by a drain which runs under the south-eastern corner
of the peristyle. In cell No. II of the north range, beginning the reckoning
from the corner nearest the gateway, is the side entrance, which was then, as
now, closed with a wooden door. The monotony of the external face of the western
wall is partially relieved by rows of small square projections.
In its two corners are two cells
opening outwards. Immediately outside the side-door mentioned above is a square
structure built of plain blocks of stone. The middle portion of each of its
four walls has fallen down, and the gaps have been filled in with small chips
of stone built in mud. Although most of the Kashmiri temples are made of lime
stone, this temple is made from granite rocks.
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