1891.] Babu Gr. N. Dutt — Antiquities of Belwa-Sirsea. 155 



the spot, which is a small jungle of about a bigha, circumscribed by cul- 

 tivated fields. There under a Pipal tree (which does not appear to 

 be as old as the antiqiiities themselves) stands a big image of Bud- 

 dha Gautama, which was formerly buried under a mound of earth and is 

 not yet wholly dug out. Although the Put wary in his report had stated 

 this to be a Bhairoji^s Murti, as called by the ignorant villagers, from the 

 description given in it I was at once convinced, even before seeing the 

 the spot, that the antiquities must be of a Buddhistic and not Brahmanical 

 period. The length of the whole image, excluding the pedestal and in- 

 cluding the arched top which much resembles a chalcMtra ('^T^f^^), is 

 6\ 5" and breadth 3', 4". The figure itself measures 3', 10" from the 

 feet to the mutilated head. It is in a standing posture, having its head 

 cut oif down to the chin and both hands mutilated, showing the 

 vandalism of fanatics on the revival of Brahmanism. On both sides 

 of the figure are carved figures of lions and elephants ridden by male 

 human forms measuring 1', 2". Below this are figures of two women 

 about 2 feet in length, having their hands and heads mutilated. The 

 arched top is finely ornamented with decorations. In its middle is 

 the half mutilated face of some form much resembling that of a dragon 

 or Nrisimlia, having on its both sides the forms of two fairies flying with 

 folded hands but with mutilated faces. The pedestal on which the image 

 stands has got in its cornice finely carved male human figures in kneel- 

 ing postures with folded hands. The whole image is carved out of a 

 single block of black marble, and stands on a block reported to have 

 taken root deep in the ground. 



Besides this image of Buddha we found, lying on the ground, door- 

 frames, said to have been excavated by some Sadhu. The two door 

 jambs measure 5^ 2^' x 10' x 7', having eight human figures, all in different 

 postures, and beautifully interlacing cornices. The biggest of these 

 figures is 7 inches and others 5 inches. The two jambs correspond to 

 each other in every particular. The top sill measures 5' V (broken) x 1' 

 2'^ X S\", and shows the figure of Buddha in Fadmdsan under an arcade. 

 The face and right hand of the figure are mutilated, and the left hand 

 is counting mantras. It has very beautifully carved cornices with mould- 

 ings. There are several human figures in the uppermost cornice, which 

 is divided into ten little columns each containing two human figures play- 

 ing musical instruments. On both the extremities are two large figures 

 with mutilated faces. 



The bottom sill measures 6' 10" in length of which 5 feet 1 inch is 

 covered with ornaments, and 10 inches on each side appear to bear traces 

 of some inscriptions. This sill measures 10 by 7J inches. The orna- 

 mental part contains beautifully interlacing foliage. 



