Dr. E.G. Babington's Account of Sculptures, 8gc, atMaltarridlatphr. 2G7 



who puts down the pride of his enemies, who is the source (receptacle) 

 of glory, and is earnest in worshipping Siva. 

 10. He (Kasiaraja) who dwells on the heads of kings, caused this temple 

 of Siva, which resembles the temple on Caildsd, to be erected for the 

 happiness of the earth. 



I have lately received from Madras two ancient inscriptions purporting 

 to be from the neighbourhood of Mahdmalaipiir, and two also have been 

 kindly furnished me by Col. De Havilland. Of these four, two appear to 

 be identical, which reduces the number to three. Their precise localities 

 I have not the means of knowing, with the exception of one, entitled by 

 Col. De Havilland, " Sanskrit inscription engraven on the north side of the 

 verandah of a pagoda excavated out of the solid granite, two miles north 

 of Mahabalipuram." All these inscriptions differ in character from each 

 other, but agree precisely in matter ; and it is remarkable that the slocas 

 of which they are composed are, with the exception of the last, contained, 

 though in different order, in the inscription copied by me from the wall of 

 the Gdnesa pagoda and of which a translation has just been furnished. 

 To state this more in detail, my inscription, which, it is to be observed, is 

 in a character differing again from any of the rest, consists of ten slocas 

 decyphered, besides as much as would probably make two slocas more 

 . remaining undecypliered. The other inscriptions consist of five slocas only, 

 with some undecyphered portions, with which I have not thought it worth 

 while to encumber the plate ; the first four being in the metre called 

 anushtiibh, the last in a variety of the metre called vaitdliya. 



The first three slocas in my inscription are not found in the others ; my 

 fourth sloca is the same as theirs. The fifth, sixth, and seventh slocas of 

 ray inscription are wanting in the others. My eighth and ninth slocas are 

 their first and second, and my tenth is their third. Their fifth sloca I have 

 ascertained, after a veiy careful comparison, to be quite diffei'ent from the 

 remaining undecypliered portion of my inscription. Its translation is as 

 follows : " Atiran'achanda (he who in battle is very furious). Lord of Kings, 

 built this place called Atiranachandes~ivara. May Siva, the beloved, accom- 

 panied by the daughter (Parvati) of the snowy mountain, by Carticeya, 

 and their suite of deities, be present in it for ever." 



These inscriptions are peculiarly valuable, as giving us at once four 

 different kinds of Sanscrit writing, whereof two (P/. 14. and Fl. 15, No. i.) 



2 M 2 



