Indian Antiquary Vol 02

SR No.: 032494
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 428
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 143

MAY, 1873.1
ŚRÅVANA BELLIGOLA.
129
caves are too fall of water and debris to admit of pacing, but I estimate the length of the ve. randa at about fifty feet, and it is five deep. This veranda terminates at each end in a cell, and communicates by three doors ornamented with scrollwork, with as many square caves. These have no inner communication. The roofs are supported by pillars about eight feet high, hewn in the living rock, of a pattern very like what I have seen at Ajanta. About one-third of the pillar is square (the corners terminating in a sort of leaf), surmounted by an octagonal band, as this in its turn is by a circular one; and then the same arrangement is repeated : from the base of the last circle a triangle rises into the capital. The ceiling is crossed by broad joists intersecting at right angles at, and be-
tween, the pillars. I failed to detect any image or inscription, or any sign of plaster or painting, but I had no light and my inspection was necessarily brief. The westernmost cave opens by a hole inches square into a large pit or cistern, which the villagers say was a dungeon; and this hole was used to feed the prisoners through. The pit is about fifty feet long by thirty wide, deep, and open at the top along the whole of one side, but there are no steps down into it. I should think it was originally made to hold water, which is bad and scarce on the rock ; but it may afterwards have been used as related. There is another cave on this southern side of the hill, and three or four on the northern ; but they are all of the same class as those first entered. I know of no other Buddhist cave within sixty miles.
ŚRÅVANA BELLIGOLA.
3Y CAPT. J. S. F. MACKENZIE, MAISUR COMMISSION. Five miles from Chenraipatam, in the Total height to the bottom of the ear ...500 Hassan District, Maisur, is the small town of From the bottom of the ear to the crown Śrá vana Belligola, famous for its co- of the head (not measured), about ... 6 6 lossal statue of the Jaina god Gomatesvara. Length of the foot ........... The town lies between two rock-y hills,' and Breadth across the front of the foot ...... is but a mean collection of houses whose inha- Length of the great toe ............... bitants gain a precarious living by working in Half girth at the instep ..................... brass and copper. The larger of the two hills is
of the thigh ..... crowned by the statue, 561 feet high, and From the hip to the ear .................. cut out of one solid block of gneiss. It is a
coccyx to the ear ............... striking object and can be seen for miles. The Breadth across the pelvis nude figure of the god differs in no way, except
, at the waist ........................ in size, from the other statues of the same god From the waist and elbow to the ear ... which are to be found, now no longer re red,
armpit to the ear ................ here and there throughout the district. High Breadth across the shoulders ............... square shoulders, curly hair, flat nose, thick lips, From the base of the neck to the ear ... and small waist, are here faithfully, but on a Length of the forefinger..................... large scale, represented.
middle finger ............... 5 Onoe in twenty years the great ceremony of
3rd finger....................* washing the god is performed. The last occa- 1 4th finger .................. 2 8 sion was in the early part of June 1871. To The statue is surrounded with buildings, perform the ceremony a platform is erected which prevent the full figure being seen until Mr. Scandon, who happened to be on the spot, one is close up to it. This of course destroys took advantage of this to measure the different the general effect, but the head and shoulders parts. Unfortunately before he could complete as viewed from the opposite hill impresses one the work some of the priests interfered. This with a trange feeling of awe. Calmly gazing is, I believe, the first and only time buch me away into space, the statue fully realises the surements were taken. Those now given may idea of perfect repose which the sculptor aimed be relied on as correct.
at. One of the local legends has it that M&.
SANTOS