Ah, now this part is difficult to explain. This concept took me hours to understand. I’m going to need you to use your imagination and three dimensional spatial sense a little for this.
In Kalinga temple architecture plans, the vimana is usually square in its basic shape. But some vertical projections (see images below) called paga are added to make the structure richer architecturally. To a layperson like myself, these look like vertical pillars merged into the wall of the vimana. In Odisha temples, each projection is beautifully carved.
But we have been talking three-dimensionally till now. These same vertical projections called paga, during the planning stage of the temple, are drawn in a two-dimensional form. Each vertical offset projection in this two-dimensional form is called ratha (see line diagram below).
Based on the evolutionary stage of temples amongst other factors, temples could be triratha (three vertical projections), pancharatha (five vertical projections), saptaratha (vertical projections) and so on. The early Odisha temples were triratha in structure.
Beautifully described… Looky forward to read more about odisha heritage and culture.
Thank you so much Rutambhara! 🙂
*looking
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