Sun Temple, Modhera – Sabha Mandapa

Sun Temple, Modhera – Sabha Mandapa

Sabha Mandapa is also called as Ranga Mandapa / Nritya Mandapa / Natya Mandapa / Assembly Hall / Dancing Hall. The sabha mandapa is situated in front of gudha mandapa between the gudha mandapa and kunda. The sabha mandapa is considered as a later addition based on style and construction. The sabha mandapa is not in continuation with gudha mandapa but is placed little away as a separate structure. The mandapa is rhombus in plan. The sabha mandapa shares the same platform of the gudha mandapa.

There are four entrances to this mandapa on all sides. The eastern entrance is decorated with makara torana. It has 52 intricately carved pillars representing the 52 weeks of the year. The roof was in shape of the stepped pyramid but no longer exists. The extensively carved exterior has a series of recessed corners giving an impression of the star-like plan of it. The plinth is almost similar to the Gudhamandapa but smaller as two courses of fillets are omitted. The padma is carved richly here with floral ornamentation.

The lower portion of the parapet walls are decorated with friezes of rajasenaka, human figures, elephants, floral motifs and geometrical patterns. The upper portion is decorated with large panels of gods, goddesses, and floral designs. It is followed by kakshasana which slopes outwards and forms the back-rests of the bench, asana which runs around the hall. There are erotic figures on it interrupted by rail-patterns. The  walnut shaped ceiling at the centre of the hall rises in tiers has numerous floral girdles.

It is 23 feet high. It is supported by pillars arranged in an octagon. These pillars have stilts that support the lintels. Torana or the decorated cusped arches arise from the lower brackets of the pillars and touch the lintels in middle. There are two types; semicircular and triangular. The semicircular arches have cusped arches with tips while triangular arches have a round apex and wavy sides. Both types have a broad band decorated with figures and tips which are now defaced and damaged.

The lower brackets has Makara which gives the name of Makara-Torana while decoration gives name of chitra-torana. The pillars are of two types; short and tall. The short pillars rest on the walls and support the roof. The tall pillars rise from the floor. The shaft of the short pillars is square in shape to half of its height followed by the vase and then followed by an octagonal shaft. It is surmounted by a capital and a bracket. The square part has a floral design in a circle on each side of the face.

The vase is decorated similarly on its corners. The octagonal part has four bands; the topmost has kirtimukha. The capital has three annulets. The tall pillars arise from square or octagonal base with triangular ornamentation on each face. Above it is kalasha. It is followed by a deep band and the next is kevala decorated with chaitya-windows. the next is kirtimukha. The next is triangular pediment with chaitya-windows.

The next is the beginning of the shaft. It is first decorated with standing figures, mostly dancers, on all eight faces enclosed in ringed pilasters. The next band with scenes of men and beasts is separated from it by the round pillow-like band. It is followed by a still smaller band with sixteen standing human figures separated by small annulet below. The next is a band of leaves.

Then the shaft becomes circular and had three or four bands having a row of male warriors, lozenges, circles and kirtimukha at last. The kirtimukhas are separated by chain and bell ornamentation. It follows capital similar to small pillars crowned with makara brackets if eight stilted pillar and dwarfs in the rests. the eight stilted pillars have one more shaft and similar type of capital which is crowned with brackets of volutes and pendant leaves.