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CONTRIBUTIONS TO LITERATURE, ETC.
117
To these illustrations from Mysore and the West Coast, we might add another from the Deccan to show that the love of profusion and variety was essentially the same, whether in the North or South, differing only in the details of expression. The temple of Belgaum with its pillars of magnetic black porhyry has already been referred to. Its sculptures are no less interesting. The brackets of the pillars are ornamented with heads of cobras. In each of the eight architraves, which support the dome of the temple, are carved five small cells or mandirs, each containing a sitting Jina, and, between the cells are four attendants or supporters-standing figures each under a small canopy. On one carved slab is a figure on horse-back with a high cap, a canopy or umbrella over his head, and a woman behind him. Another is a fancy alligator or makara, a large-headed gaping and similarly mounted short-legged dragon. In the centre of the dome is a beautiful pendentive boldly designed and well executed, but damaged at one point. The door leading from the hall to the inner temple has been very gracefully carved. On the centre of the lintel is a sitting Jina and above the cornice are four sitting men. On the neat side-pillar colonettes are five bands with human groups in some of which the figures though little more than an inch high are in strong relief. Inside the bands of human figures is a band of rampant lions, their necks adorned with high frills. Outside the colonettes is a band of holy swans, another of lions, and a third of human figures, mostly on bended knees. The pillars of the inner temple or śālā are square and massive, relieved by having all the chief fronts, the triangles on the base and neck, carved with flowers. A richly carved door leads to the small ante-chamber in front of the shrine. On the under-side of the door cornice is carved a dancing figure between two musicians.157
It will be at once noticed that the austere asceticism which symbolised itself in the huge stoic and naked monoliths was also counter-balanced, if not more than counter-balanced by the
157 Belgium, Bom. Gaz. XXI, pp. 540-41.
