Dr. B.G. Babincton's Account of Sculptures, 8^c. at Mahdmalaipur. 263 



position of the land, and as the primitive rocks here appear on the surface, 

 this cannot be admitted as a probable occurrence, unless under some violent 

 convulsion of nature. Had the coast been of an alluvial formation at this 

 spot, high tides might have advanced upon it witli greater facility. 



The five monolithic temples, situated about a mile to the southward of 

 the village, have justly attracted the attention of all who have visited 

 Mahamalaipur. They are called on the spot ^Sff: Rat'hds, or sacred 

 vehicles : but it is obvious, that they were never meant as imitations of 

 those enormous wooden structures, which are so conspicuous in certain 

 Hindu processions. They were probably intended to serve the purpose of 

 temples ; but bear evident marks of having been left in an unfinished state ; 

 for though highly ornamented on the outside, they have not been excavated 

 within, being merely solid masses of sculptured granite remaining in their 

 original positions. For the general view of these Rat'has, I would referto 

 Mrs. Graham's plate, which, together with Mr. Goldingham's description , 

 will serve to convey a notion of these curious remains of antiquity. Several 

 of the basso relievo figures with which tliey are ornamented are represented 

 in Plate 15, and will be further noticed when I come to speak of the 

 inscriptions which are placed over them. 



OF THE INSCRIPTIONS. 



Exclusively of a scrap of modern Telugu, very incorrectly designed and 

 rudely sculptured on the floor of the Crishn'a Man'd'apam, and in conse- 

 quence erroneously copied as ancient by Mr. Goldingham (see Asiatic 

 Researches, vol. v. page SO), I noticed three kinds of inscriptions at 

 Mahamalaipur, two of which have hitherto remained undecyphered. It is 

 also highly probable that three other kinds, which I shall have occasion to 

 mention, are to be met with in this neighbourhood. 



First. An ancient Tamul inscription is seen on a face of rock by the side 

 of the inner entrance to the Vardha Swdnii pagoda, which is still in use. 

 This would be legible throughout, were it not that a wall, which projects 

 from the rock, cuts off a considerable portion of each line ; on this 

 account I did not consider it worth while to take a copy. From wliat 

 remains visible, it is certain that the inscription records a grant to the 

 Vardha Swdjiii pagoda of a quantity of land, the boundaries of wliich are 



