Report On Elura Cave Temples and Bramhanical and Jaina Caves in Western India

SR No.: 011091
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Trubner and Company London
Publication Year: 1883
Total Pages: 209
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 14 MB

Page 54

ELUR.1: KIILISA ROCK TEMPLF.
in the Kailasa this is provided for by the doors in the east wall leading on to the terrace on which are also fire small shrines, with but little carving on their walls beyond the drúrapálas at the doors, which, in the case of the one on the north side, are females, with a pair of figures kissing on each side. In all of them, except that on the south side, there are altars for images; in that one there is a bench round the back and enels, and it was probably devoted to the Matris, which woull be arranged along the back of it as in the Yajna sala on the south side of the court, with Skanda or Siva in the left end, and Gamesa and the skeleton figure on the right. The two at the corners would probably be devoted to Chanda and Rudra or Dhairava—both terrific forms of Siva—the former represented as nude. having Siva's third eye in his forehead, with two or four arms holding the trisula and a joy or damaru, and his hair wound up in the jutá style. To him the refuse of the offerings were thrown. On the east side was the shrine of Parvati, the suikti of Sira." The warmpilus of this shrine are armed with swords. It is doubtful to whom we ought to assign the fifth shrine on the north side opposite to the Sómasútru or outlet for the water from the linya inside the temple,-possibly it was dedicated to Sûrya or Narayaņa. In an advanced recess in the corner of the temple facing this is an image of Ganapati or Vinayaka, the ellest son of Siva; and on the facade above it is a figure in alto rilievo with its face to the wall. The image in the corresponding recess on the south-west of the temple is perhapis meant for Vishnu.
The base of the sikhara itself is carved in panels, six on each side, and five on the back, containing various forms of Siva, such as Chauda, Arlhauâriśvara, &c., Durga and Vishnu, standing on fat dwarf figures (perhaps Asuras), and with other attendants. At the upper corners of the panels are conventionalised figures of peacocks with long tails; and above the panel is usually a Devi seated cross-legged. Two of these compartments are: represented in fiys. 1 and 2 of plate xxxi, the first being the second panel from the door of the mandapa on the south side, and the other the sixth. The slightest examination of these two drawings will serve to convince any one of the exceeding richness and beauty of the foliage orer the panels, and of the great variety of floral ornamentation on the side pilasters. And these are only two out of seventeen, all carved in similar style, and all varying in details.
Fig. 3 represents a similar panel on the south side of the basement of the Nandi porch, just in front of the great temple. It has contained a representation of Narasimha struggling with Hiranyakasipu; but being more exposed, has been much injured. The compartment is surrounded by carved pilasters and a frieze, round which are numerous figures looking on at the struggle.
On the roofs of the Gópuram in front, of the Nandi-mandapa before the temple, and of the great hall itself, figures of lions and fat dwarfs are place. Two of these lions from the roof of the great hall are represented on plate xxvi, figs. 3 and 4. They stand about + feet high, and are executed in the same bold style as the similar figures of lions and elephants round the base of the temple.
1 Marked E' on the plan, Car Temple plate Ixxxi.. 2 See Iul. Int., vol. ix, p. 119 nute, and 119.
3 The temple of Govindesvara at Sinar, twenty miles south from Sisik, is arran 1 thus:-The great central temple dedicated to Siva faces the cast in front of it is the Vandimandaja : in the S.E. corner of the surrounding court is the shrine of Vishnu; in the X.E that of Surva : in the X. W. of Maki-lamantini or Jaydan bâ; and in the S.W. of Garajati.