468 Voyage of the Novara. 



uplifted hands, only the bust being represented. In one of the 

 niches at Swami are two busts, life-size, of Siva, and his wife 

 Paravathi, the latter holding an infant at the breast, his 

 offspring Supramanion. Above this representation, and, like 

 them, only showing from the shoulder upwards, are represented 

 on the right Brahma, on the left Vishnu, each with four arms, 

 symbolical of their power and dominion. 



The superstructure of these rock sculptures is a sort of 

 platform of loose stones accurately fitted to each other without 

 mortar, so as to make an ornamental whole. The interior is 

 adorned with much more highly-finished specimens of art, 

 to view which, a large number of Hindoos, doing penance, 

 annually climb, with great difficulty, into this part of the 

 building, and make their way into the unfinished interior apart- 

 ments. While we were giving free scope to our surprise at all we 

 saw, we were greatly annoyed in our contemplations by the 

 natives, who offered us bouquets of flowers, wreaths, and fruit. 

 Also, a couple of flute-players {Pulanpolen) who were passing, 

 made their appearance to give us a specimen of their musical 

 skill. One old man, of whom we procured a curious figure of 

 Vishnu, neatly carved in wood, as also several manuscripts, re- 

 marked that there was in the neighbourhood, written upon 

 Palmyra leaves, a manuscript, known as the Istdlam-puranam 

 which gave the history of the Seven Pagodas, written in Tamil. 



The late president of the Madras Society, the learned 

 Walter Elliot, who formed an extensive collection of the 

 various valuable Hindoo manuscripts and inscriptions of 



