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DECEMBER, 1877.]
ROCK-CUT TEMPLES AT BÅDÅMI.
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Over Varaha's shoulders are two pairs of figures crescent moon, beside Vishņu's jewelled muguta like the cherubs in Bauddha shrines, each ap- is a Varaha and two other figures, and below parently with offerings.
on his right Garuda. In front stand three On the pilaster, beside this figure, is the in figures, probably representing Bali the son of scription of the sixth century of our era (A.D. Virochana and king of Mahabalipura, and his 579), to which we shall again refer below. wife with Sukra his counsellor, the first holding
At the west end of the verandah we have an- the pot out of which he had, against Sukra's other of the aratáras, namely the Narasiñha | advice, poured the water on the hands of the or man-lion (Fig. 3), which, like the Varaha, dwarf in confirmation of his promise to grant is represented as having taken place in the Vâmana's request for as much ground as he Satya-yuga. The demon Hiranya kasipu, could compass at three strides. But scarcely the son of Kasyapa and Diti, and brother of was the water poured on his hands when, say Hirao y, ksha, having, in consequence of the legends," he developed all his divine form. severe penance, obtained from Brahmå the boon The earth became his feet, the heaven his that he should be invulnerable to gods, men, head, the sun and moon his eyes, the Piso has snakes, &c., became imperious and troubled
his toes, the Guh ya kas his fingers, the earth and heaven, when, at the desire of Prah- Vis vadovas his knees, the Sad hyas his 1&da the son of Hiranyakaśipu, Narasinha legs, the Yakshas his nails, the Apsarasas bursting out of a column destroyed him, to the
the lines on his face, the lightning his glance, great joy of the devatas. He is here represented the solar rays his locks, the stars the spots on four-armed, one of the left arms resting on his his person, the intermediate points of the horizon huge club or gadha, called Kaumodaki, beside his arms, the cardinal points bis ears, the which stands Garuda in human form. On the
Asvins the interiors of his ears, Vayu his other side is a dwarf attendant, and above nose, Chandramas (moonbeams) the light Narasiñha's shoulders are figures floating with
of his face, duty his sentiment (manas), truth garlands and gifts. Over the lion-head is a his voice, Sarasvat i his tongue, Aditi his lotus, and his jewelled necklaces are elaborately
neck, Mitra and Tvashtri his eyebrows, carved.
Agni his month, Brahmê his heart, the On the other side of the front pilaster of the Vasus his back, the Maruts his joints, the verandah from this last is a large and very
Chhand as his teeth, &c. &c. At the sight of striking sculpture, repeated also on a smaller
this divine form the Asuras, Bali's subjects, scale in the other Vaishnava cave here, in the enraged dashed at him." Among them we find Das Avatara cave and in other places at Elurê such namesas Viprachitti, Hayagriva, Kêtuman, (see Fig. 4). Locally it is called Virátrupa, but, Ugra, Prahlâ d a, Anuhrida, Hari, Hara, from the place it occupies among these sculp
Var å ha, Virûpåksha, Suprabha, Dvichakra, tures, there can be no doubt that it relates to
Váyu, Vikshara, Krodha, Naraka, Puloman, Vishnu in the fifth or Vámana avatdra of Rahu, &c. &c. They were of all animal and the TretA-yaga. He is represented in this case as monstrous shapes, and armed with all sorts of eight-armed (Ashta bhuja), with the chakra, instruments, their heads decked with diadems, the Nandaka, the sword, the gadha or club, and an
earrings, &c. Vishņu's form, however, grew arrow in his right hands, and the bankha, the bow
as he dispersed them, until the sun and moon called Sárnga, and shield in the left, while with
were no higher than his breast, and still he the fourth on that side he points to a round grin
grew. “The Brahmaņs say that the powerful ning face, perhaps Rahu, to which he lifts Vishnu, the conqueror of the Asuras, after also his left foot. Over this face is the subduing the three worlds, gave the earth to
• Vishnu, like Siva, has a thousand names (Mahabh. Anud.sana parvan, vv. 6950-7086) of which the more usual are :
1 Achyuta-the undecayable. 3 Ananta-layana- who sleeps on the serpent Ananta. 3 Daitykri -the enemy of the Daityas. 4 Damodara Krishga, bound with a rope. 5 Govinda-raiser of the earth, or cow keeper.
6 Hari. 7 Janarddans-of whom emancipation is sought.
8 Jalajalochana-lotus-eyed; 9 Pundarik Aksha-whose eyes are like the white lotus.
10 Kaitabhajit-who overcame Kaitabha. 11 Kesava-hairy, or who gave being. 12 Kesinishadana. 13 Kiritin-wearing a tiara. 14 Lakshmipati-lord of Lakshmi. 15 Sridhara-bearer of Sri.
