- Author:
- John Murray (Firm)
- Publication Info:
-
London:
J. Murray,
1901,
pg 432
Text on page 432
432
burma
India
found among them ; the bell-shaped pyramid of brickwork in all its varieties ; the same raised over a square or octagonal cell containing an image of Buddha ; the bluff knob-like dome of the Ceylon dagobas ; the fantastic Bopaya, or Pumpkin pagoda, and many variations on these types. But the predominant and characteristic form is that of the cruciform, vaulted temple, certain specimens of which
portions on each face, so that it measures 2S0 ft. across each way. It is seven stories in height ; six of these are square and flat, each diminishing in extent, so as to give the whole a pyramidal form ; the seventh, which is, or simulates, the cell of the temple, takes the form of a Hindu or Jain temple, the whole in this instance rising to the height of 183 ft. Internally the building is extremely solid,
Plan of the Ananda Temple (from Yule). Scale 100 ft. to 1 in.
will be described farther on. Three at least of the great temples, and a few of the smaller ones, have been from time to time repaired, and are still more or less frequented by worshippers ; but by far tbe greater number have been abandoned to the owls and bats, and some have been desecrated into cow-houses by the villagers. The three principal temples are the Ananda, the Thapinyu, and the Gaudapalin. The Ananda, as will be seen from the annexed plan, is a square of nearly 200 ft. on each side, with projecting
being intersected only by two narrow concentric corridors ; but in rear of each projecting transept is a niche, artificially lighted from above, in which stands a statue of Buddha, more than 30 ft. in height. These four great statues represent the four Buddhas who have appeared in the present world period ; the image to the E. is Kankathan, that to the W., Kathaba, that to the N., Gaudama. and that to the S., Ganugun. They are all richly gilt. The Ananda is supposed to have been built in the 11th century, in tliebeing intersected only by two narrow concentric corridors ; but in rear of each projecting transept is a niche, artificially lighted from above, in which stands a statue of Buddha, more than 30 ft. in height. These four great statues represent the four Buddhas who have appeared in the present world period ; the image to the E. is Kankathan, that to the W., Kathaba, that to the N., Gaudama. and that to the S., Ganugun. They are all richly gilt. The Ananda is supposed to have been built in the 11th century, in tlie
