Page:Oriental Scenery — One Hundred and Fifty Views of the Architecture, Antiquities, and Landscape Scenery of Hindoostan.djvu/302

This page has been validated.
ORIENTAL SCENERY.
39

Nos. XVIII. and XIX. Plans E.

ASHES OF RAVANA.

The situation of this excavation is lower in the mountain than the last mentioned, and is marked by No. 10, in the margin of the second general view. The entrance is much decayed, two of the outer and one of the inner pillars of the verandah are fallen down: a, the area; b, steps leading down to a cistern of water. This temple consists of a hall, with a verandah all round it; at the further end there is a recess for the idol, with a passage round that likewise; the pillars are very richly ornamented, and the walls exhibit a great profusion of sculpture. No. 1, Bhawani, with her right foot lifted up, and resting upon a lion. 2, Saraswati, seated on a pedestal composed of the lotus; on each side of her a male figure holding a water-pot, and over her head are two large water-pots supported by the trunks of elephants. 3, Varaha Avatara, with four arms, attended by two mace-bearers, and two flying figures, holding in one of his left hands Lakshmi, in one of his right a Chakra or Discus; below him are three female figures, with the tails of serpents; on one of them he has placed his foot, the other two are in supplicating attitudes. 4, Maha-Deva, with four arms seated, Parvati on his right, Ganga on his left, and four female attendants in the back ground; and on the pedestal are six small figures. 5, Maha-Deva and Parvati, with female attendants; on the pedestal are seven children with musical instruments. 6 and 7, Figures of Lakshmi, with attendants. 8, The figure of Bhawani, who has fallen from her pedestal, and lies on the floor; this statue is nearly the size of life. 9 and 10, Dwara-Pala, with small flying figures and dwarfs. 11, Vira-Badra, his left foot is supported by a couchant elephant; Ganesa is seen behind him; Bhawani is seated on the left. Raja Dutz and child, and the Covera Capella form part of the group. 12, MahaDeva and Parvati in Paradise, supported by Ravana, who is represented with ten arms. 13, Maha-Deva Nastika, with Lakshmi standing on the left. 14, Maha-Deva, with four arms, and Parvati sitting on his left side; Narada Rishi stands behind him; in the upper corner to the left is Ganesa, with an axe in his left hand, two females and two Chubdars; in the lower part is Nandi, with twelve children playing about him and teazing him. 15, Bhawani destroying Daitya.


No. XX. Plans F.

TIN-TALI.

Tin-Tali, or the temple of three stories, marked by 11 in the margin of the second general view.

Ground floor. No. 1, The entrance. 2, A spacious area. The pillars of the Tin-tali are all plain, excepting the two central ones at the entrance of this floor, the upper parts of which are richly ornamented. 3, Dark rooms, in some of which are benches left in the rock for sleeping on. 4, At the further end of the centre aisle is the recess, in which is a gigantic image of Sesh. On each side the Deva's apartment there is a large sitting figure, 5,5, that on the right is Sukra Acharya, and on the left Adinatha. The others, 4,4,4, are figures of the same description as the principal Deva. Height of this story eleven feet six inches. 6, Is a reservoir of fine water.

On the right-hand, passing the first range of pillars, is the stair-case leading to the second floor, of which, No. 1, is the verandah. 2, Yama, a large sitting figure. 3, Twelve small dark rooms. 4, The recess of the idol, in which is a large figure of Lakshman sitting. On each side the door are gigantic figures, 5,5. 6,6, Large masses of unwrought rock, the pillars are all plain and square; the ceiling of the principal apartment twelve feet three inches high, before the idol thirteen feet six.

Near to No. 2, is the staircase, leading to the third floor, which, in its regularity of design and sculptural decorations, is superior to either of the other stories; it is entered from the stairs which communicate with the second floor at No. 1. 2, Sudan. 3, Pinda. 4, Mado. 5, Oodo. 6, Seven sitting figures with curled hair. 7, Three female figures of the Gopi. 8, Like the former. 9, and 11, Dwara Pala. 10, The recess with a gigantic sitting figure of Rama, the proportions of which would make it twenty feet high if standing; he has his usual attendants, which are likewise on a large scale. 12, Three Gopies. 13, Is like the former. 14, Seven sitting figures like those of the opposite side, No. 6. 15, Dharma-Raja. 16, Arjuna. 17, Bhima. 18, Nakula. 19, Saha-Deva; the last five figures are the sons of Pandu. The height of this temple varies from twelve to fourteen feet. In the ceiling are still the remains of painting.


No. XXI. Plans G.

DO-TALI.

Do-tali, or the temple of two stories, is also known by the names of Bharata and Chitragun, brothers of Ramachandra: they are by the Brahmins' account the principal figures in this place, and to whom the temple is dedicated: it is marked by No. 12, at the junction of the second and third plates of the general view. The entrance, No. 1, is spacious. 2, The area. 3, A small recess with an altar but without an idol. 4, The verandah, formerly entered from the stair-case, 5, which leads up from a story still lower, the dimensions of which could not be ascertained, as it is nearly choked up with earth: this originally was a temple of three stories. 6. The stair-case