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XVII. Remarks on certain Sculptures in the Cave Temples ofEllora. By 

 Lieut.-Colonel Jamf.s Tod, M.R.A.S. 



Read Dec. G, 1S2S. 



Ir being deemed desirable that some explanation sliould accompany tlie 

 interesting drawings, particularized in tlie preceding article on ancient Hindu 

 sculptures from the Cave Temples of Ellora, made by Captain Grindlay, I 

 hasten to fulfil the wishes of the council. 



There are two modes by which they might receive illustration : one, sup- 

 posing them to contain an astronomical allusion, as suggested by Dr. B. G. 

 Babington ; the other, from an allegory in the Hindu theogonies. A know- 

 ledge of the relative position of these sculptures in the Cave Temple would 

 materially influence my decision on this point, as regards the two plates to 

 which I shall chiefly confine my observations, viz. one, (No. 1) which I 

 designate " The Fable of Dacsha Prajapati, or Mahadeva, Dacsha, and 

 Nanda ;" the other (No. 2) Vira-Biiadra." If these sculptures are con- 

 tiguous to each other in the cave, then I have no doubt tliey represent the 

 fable of the sacrifice of Sati, the consort of Mahadeva, and the formation of 

 the giant Viua-Bhadra, to revenge her death by that of Dacsha : though 

 even this allegory may possibly conceal an astronomical period. 



Let us first pay due attention to Dr. Babington's suggestion, that the 

 central figure with a bird " may represent the planet Mars {Carticeya) with 

 his peacock, or Mercury (^Buddha) with his eagle, or Saturn {Sani) with his 

 raven ; and that the personage placed between the two signs of the Zodiac, 

 Mesha or the Bam and Vrishabha the Bidl, may have allusion to some 

 particular position of the heavens." 



We have a right to assume that the cave-worship of the Hindus had the 

 same origin as among the ancient Persians, the Egyptians, and the Greeks, 

 and that these caves were consecrated to rites whose bases were astronomical; 

 and it is fair to infer that this worship originated amongst the Hindus, 

 not confined to India proper, but from remote Scythia, embracing the caves 



