ORIENTAL SCENERY.
Fifth Series.
No. I.
SCULPTURED ROCKS AT MAUVELEPORAM, ON THE COAST OF COROMANDEL.
Mauveleporam lies about thirty miles southward of Madras, on the sea coast, and is known to mariners by the name of the Seven Pagodas.
This view is a representation of several Rocks, which have been wrought by the Hindoos into curious architectural forms on the outside, and in the lower part excavated for the purpose of religious worship. These Rocks are of very hard, coarse granite; nevertheless the ornamental parts appear to have been executed with a considerable degree of skill, which is very evident on the western side, being there sheltered from the corroding effect of the sea air. A Lion and an Elephant appear in the centre; the former is much larger than nature, but of inferior art to some others to be met with in the neighbourhood: the latter is about the natural size: it is well designed, and the character of the animal strongly expressed.
No. II.
THE ENTRANCE OF AN EXCAVATED HINDOO TEMPLE, AT MAUVELEPORAM.
This rock, like the former, is of coarse granite; the excavation consists of one large apartment, of an oblong form, leaving a small temple attached to that side opposite the entrance. The roof is supported on the sides and front by a double range of columns, all curiously, and not inelegantly, formed of the natural rock. Those on the outside are composed of a lion sitting on a double plinth, forming the lower part of the shaft, which rising octagonally, and tapering, terminates in a capital consisting of three men on horseback supporting the cornice, above which are small ornamental temples in basso-relievo. To the right of this excavation the rocks are sculptured with a great variety of mythological figures, many of which are extremely well carved. On the high ground to the left are the ruins of a large structure nearly mouldered away.
Mauveleporam, or Mahabalipore, is considered by the natives, now residing in a small village of the same name, as the remains of a city of vast magnificence, and of the highest antiquity; and supposed to have been founded by the great Bali, whose name it bears.
No. III.
AN EXCAVATED TEMPLE ON THE ISLAND OF SALSETTE.
Salsette contains several of these extraordinary works. This View represents the entrance of the largest of the Hindoo Temples, and appears from some of the figures in the portico to have been dedicated to Booda. On each side the area, between the outer steps and the portico attached to the rock, is a large octangular pillar; on that to the right, above the capital, is a group of lions, from the centre of which, a few years since, arose the Chacra, or war disk of Vichnou, though not the least appearance of it at present remains. Above the capital, on the opposite pillar, are mythological figures in basso-relievo. In a small apartment to the left is seen an idol, apparently the Mahadeva, surmounted by an umbrella.
Near the steps on the broken wall, (which is also the original rock) are rows of bulls, preceded and followed by elephants. The Chacra of Vichnou, the Mahadeva, and the bulls, seem not to favour the opinion of its being a Temple of the Bhoods.
