TEMPLE OF ELEPHANTA. 



Butcher's Island, called by the natives Deva Devi, or holy 

 island, \\e an'ufd at Klephanta, a mountain Me with a double top 

 wooded to the summit: Opposite to the landinir-p'nc" is the co- 

 lossal stone elephant, from which the Portuguese n:im<-d the place. 

 It is now cracked and mutilated, as tradition says, by the Portu- 

 guese. It must have been carved out of tin- rock on whii-h it 

 stands, for it appears too large to have been carried to its pi 

 situation. After passing a village which, as well as whole inland, 

 the natives call Gharipoori, we ascended the hill through romantic 

 passes, sometimes overshadowed with wood, sometimes walled by 

 rocks, till we arrived at the cave. We came upon it unexpectedly, 

 and I confess that I never felt suh a sensation of astonishment as 

 when the cavern opened upon me. At first it appeared all dark- 

 ness, while on the hill above, below, and around, shrubs and 

 flowers of the most brilliant hues were waving in the full sunshine. 

 As I entered, my sight- became gradually more distinct, and I was 

 able to consider the wonderful chamber in which I stood. The 

 entrance is fifty-five feet wide, its height is eighteen, and its length 

 about equal to its width. It is supported by massy pillars, carved 

 in the solid rock; the capital of these resembles a compressed 

 cushion bound with a fillet ; the abacus is like a bunch ot i 

 supporting a beam, six of which run across the whole cave; below 

 the capital the column may be compared to a fluted I ell ri^lm, on 

 a plain octagonal member placed on a die, on each corner of which 

 sits Hanuman, CJanesa, or some of the other inferior gods. 

 sides of the. cavern arc sculptured in compartments, representing 

 persons of the mythology ; but the end of the cavern opposite <o 

 the entrance* is the rr.o'-t remarkable. In the centre is a gigantic 

 triinurti, or three-formed god. Brahma the creator is in tho 

 middle, with a placid countenance; his cap is adorned with jewcU. 

 Vishnu, the preserving deity, is represented as very beautiful; his 

 face is full of benevofcnce, his hand holds a lotus, the saint- acred 

 flower is placed in his cap, with the triveni or triple-plaited lock, 

 f, in^ the rivers Gunga (Ganges), Yamuna (Jumna), and 

 -watt, and other ornaments referring to his attribut 

 frowns ; his nose is aqualine, and his niouih half open ; in his hand 

 destructive emblem, the cobra captlla, and on his cap, among 

 other symbols, a human skull and a new. born infant marks his 

 double character of destroyer anil reproducer. These faces are 

 all beautiful but for the under lips, which are remarkably thick. 



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