Picturesque Nepal . ch, throbbing in the sunlight, leaps to theeye beyond. At first sight the scene appearsto be a miscellany of art and architecture,tossed into picturesque confusion, but over-coming this illusion, it is possible to analyseit and understand the general ordinary plan of these buildings is a squarecourtyard, around which runs a dharmasalaor resting-place for the devotees. The actualshrine is a pagoda in the centre of the court,around which subsidiary altars, statues, andtemples have been added by devout combination is in all cases picturesque inthe e
Picturesque Nepal . ch, throbbing in the sunlight, leaps to theeye beyond. At first sight the scene appearsto be a miscellany of art and architecture,tossed into picturesque confusion, but over-coming this illusion, it is possible to analyseit and understand the general ordinary plan of these buildings is a squarecourtyard, around which runs a dharmasalaor resting-place for the devotees. The actualshrine is a pagoda in the centre of the court,around which subsidiary altars, statues, andtemples have been added by devout combination is in all cases picturesque inthe extreme, and Changu-Narain is withoutdoubt the richest of all the Nepalese pagodasin carving, colour, and embossed metal. Theentrance to the large central pagoda is onemass of hammered brass, beaten up intoangels and devils, reptiles and fishes, wingedcreatures and floral forms. In front, onpedestals, brazen beasts guard the portals,the baleful effect of one ferocious - lookinggrifhn being humorously intensified by a. ?trKC_Y BROVi 1 DOORWAY TO SHRINE OF THE CHANGU-NARAIN TEMPLE. T/). 9S). AN ARTISTIC MEDLEY 99 garland of marigolds carelessly thrown aroundits neck. On each flank of this side of thebuilding is a stone pillar with a lotus capital;the one, around the base of which is a coiledserpent, supports a great brass chakra —the disc of Vishnu—while the other, risingfrom the back of a monster tortoise, is crownedby a huge metal conch-shell (sankra). Aboveis the usual overhanging pagoda-eave, thedeep shadow of which is cleverly broken bycarved wooden brackets, composed of sprawl-ing demons and deities with many pavement in front is encumbered withbells suspended from stone supports, altarswith embossed tympanums, brass umbrellas,and dragons promiscuously crouching around,while a very precious metal effigy of thefounder, facing the main doorway, is carefullyprotected by an ironwork screen forged likecoarse chain-mail. On the pillar surmountedby the chakra is a long
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbrownper, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookyear1912
