Bhuvaneshwari (Inner Ceiling)

The entire ceiling space of the garbhagriha, antarala and mukhamantapa of the temple are divided into square partitions, ankanas (bays) bordered by beams and walls on four sides. In the case of large sabhamantapas, the central ankana is a large square and the remaining ankanas are smaller. The Bhuvaneshwari (inner ceiling) ceilings of these ankanas have either a flat shape or domical shape lids. In the flat shape ceilings, a single slab containing a single sculpture is placed on the decorated platform as a lid. Sometimes more than one slab is used to depict the ashtadikpalakas with the central one of presiding deity. In some cases a single rectangular or square slab with square, rectangular or circular holes are placed and into these individual images are placed as lids. Domical ceilings are of circular, octagonal, rectangular and square shapes, while the outline of these ceilings is generally square, as the garbhagriha, antarala and mukhamantapa are divided into square partitions. The domical shape is achieved by placing smaller stones over a bigger one and interlocking them. At the center of all domical ceilings we have a budding lotus or banana flower or the presiding deities.