Indian Antiquary Vol 03

SR No.: 032495
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 420
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1874.
roof of the mandap itself is beautifully carved of basin to receive the water (at S on the plan I). and well deserving of study. The frieze roundIf this was ever used for the water from the the wall head is sculptured with sitting figures image, the base of it must have been nearly six in compartments (shown in XI); and over this feet above the level of the present floor. But a few mouldings from which rises the deep there is another channel from the middle of the cornice, with two large flowered cavettos, which floor leading out through the north side into a reaches across to the lintels over the central small cistern there, which is connected by a slab columns. The section of this and of the cor- drain with the rivulet on the north-cast. The nice with the plan as seen from below are given present linga is only a rough stone projecting in VIII. (See also the plan and sections I, II, some three or four inches from a depression in and III.)
the middle of the floor, evidently a modern and The area within the four columns is covered very rude contrivance. by a small dome, with a frieze carved with danc- How the shrine came to be in its present state ing figures in the compartments, and above is a puzzle requiring some ingenuity to solve. this, the succeeding tiers of the dome are sculp- The interior of it shows well how carefully the tured with floral patterns (see I, II, and III). long and very compact stones of dark-colourThe roof of the space between the central area ed basalt were jointed and bedded probably and the entrance to the shrine differs from throughout their whole depth. Local tradition that on the other three sides, being a flat says the builder was famous for his skill in this carved slab. In the east wall of the mandap, way, and in none of his works did he require or on each side, is a gokhla or niche for images use any mortar. But, as is well knowr, mortar (seo III), and in that on the south side is
was not in use among the Hindus until the & defaced Ganesa, who also figures on the Muhammadan conquest. Opposite the south finial above it (see XV). In the vestibule to entrance are the remains of a wall with images, the shrine are also small recesses, one on each behind which there has been a tank surrounded hand (see II).
by a wall elaborately carved; but it is now We come now to the doorway leading into almost filled up with débris-much of it from the vimand, the pediment of which is orna- the ruins of its own enclosing wall, and mented above with elephants and lions, and in fragments of sculpture .stick up through the the central band with figures of Siva, yogis, &o., mud. while just over the cornice are other figures in The wall is part of the boundary of an oblong varied postures, but which have suffered at the enclosure round the temple, entered by three hand of violence; the jambs have a neat pilas- gates on the west side, with descents of a few ter and three figures below, the central one
steps inside each. a male, with big mukuta or cap, four-armed, and Like all Hindu temples of the northern style, holding up a skull; the base has & figure, the outside of the building is, as it were, a probably intended for Parvatî; and the front
series of projecting corners, generally about.2} of the step is carved with swans, &c. (see XIV).
feet on each face, with an ultimate front of fully Through the door at the east end of the hall,
double this width on each side of the vimand we descend by some nine steps into the gabhárá or shrine. In the base, on each of the three or shrine, which is also square, measuring 13 faces, is a recess or niche (P and Q on I), -the feet 6 inches each way. It appears to have been south and east ones are now empty,--but in the entirely denuded of ornament; if ever it was north one is the three-headed figure with a sculptured, every indication of it has been strip- female on his knee,-already mentioned. This ped off, and very few fragments of the original
has been called a trimurti, and perhaps not surface of the walls are left. The spire, too, altogether incorrectly, for the figure has three has been ruined, so that the light comes in from heads or rather faces :-there is an old granite above, where the top or roof is wholly open. In trimurti in the India House Museum, in which the south-east corner at a considerable height- Brahma has a long beard, and the other two fully five feet-above the floor there is a pipe chan- faces are otherwise distinguished; and most nel through the wall, and at the outer end a sort visitors to Elephanta have remarked the differ
• Moor'. Hindu Pantheon, p. 396.