1875.] E. V. Westmacott — On Traces of Buddhism in Dinajpur. 189 



" markable part of the ruin, could not have answered for defence. I am 

 " therefore inclined to believe that it has been a temple, and its great steep- 

 " ness and height induce me to suppose that it has been solid, like many of 

 " the temples of Buddha in Ava and Nepal ; for a hollow temple, of which 

 " the roof had fallen in, would be much flatter. My conjecture is confirmed 

 " by the vicinity of the several places which are said to have belonged 

 " to the Pal family, who were worshippers of Buddha." 



I have no doubt but that Dr. Buchanan is correct, and the rampart 

 round, I think, was probably raised, as usual in this low lying country, as a 

 foundation for buildings, which buildings would be the monastery, sur- 

 rounding the stupa. 



Only five miles W. N. W., at the curious subterranean place of worship, 

 called Jogighopa, I saw stone carvings of undoubted Buddhist origin. On 

 one slab, twenty-one inches long, was carved Maya-Devi, recumbent, with 

 the baby by her side and attendants round her. With it was a slab, 40 inches 

 high, with a relief of Narayana Chaturbhuja, bearing the shank, yada, lotus, 

 and disc, showing that the Buddhist carving had been preserved by the 

 votaries of a later religion. The carvings were singularly perfect. In a 

 field near the thana of Khyetlal, said to have been a residence of the Bord- 

 dhonkuti zamindars, who once owned all Khyetlal, I saw carvings correspond- 

 ing curiously with those at Jogighopa. The carvings at Khyetlal are 

 four. They are set up in a field as objects of worship. One, if not two, are 

 Buddhist, the others are S'aiva sculptures of a later date. 



First, on a slab 32 inches by 14, Maya Devi in high relief ; the head 

 rests on the left hand, the right knee is bent ; the baby, the infant Bud- 

 dha, is on a pillow below, a small figure is at each end of the bed, and on a 

 scroll above are ten little seated figures. This is probably as early as the 

 ninth or tenth century. 



Second, on a slab 12 inches by 9£, a relief of a figure seated on a lotus. 

 He has two arms only. The head has disappeared. Below are two figures, 

 one blowing some instrument, the other holding something like a scarf. I 

 think this may be a Buddha. 



Third, on a slab 23 inches by 14, is a relief of a pair dallying. The 

 male is four-armed, and under him is a bull, under the female a lion. I 

 conclude that they represent S'iva and Parvati. 



Fourth, on a slab 38 inches by 20, a sculptured figure, partly in relief, 

 partly in the round, of a deity erect on a lotus. It is much mutilated, and 

 I am not sure whether there were originally four arms or six. Below are 

 two pairs of small female figures, and above one flying, the corresponding 

 corner being broken off. On each side of the principal figure, facing out- 

 wards, is the well known device of the Lion, rampant on a small crouching 

 Elephant, of which I have long tried to discover the historical significance. 



