1847.] Notice on the Antiquities of Bhopal. 757 



the external walls, and as in front of it there is the dome, the temple re- 

 sembles the ordinary Indian type, except that it is more rectangular and 

 less " crucial" in plan, and that it has one entrance only instead of the 

 three common to many other temples of the same dimensions. 



There are several images of Buddha in this temple, and among the 

 sculptures may be noticed a figure resting on a cornucopia, and a 

 " Merman," or a human head and shoulders, &c. with a fishy extremi- 

 ty. The merman's head is shaded by a serpent's hood. Birds eating 

 clustering fruits are also carved with some spirit. 



There are no inscriptions on this building except such as pilgrims or 

 visitors may have cut; one of these is dated 1551 Sumbut (1494 A. D.) 

 one period of the re-assertion of Hindoo independence, but the temple 

 serves to show the Buddhist love for hilly spots ; and this ornate edifice 

 is situated much as the comparatively rude "Tope" in the Khyber 

 Pass has been placed, or like that of Belur and others near Rawul 

 Pindee. 



Oodehpoor. — The decayed town of Oodehpoor is situated to the 

 eastward of the Betwah river, and to the eastward likewise of the 

 road leading from Bhilsa to Seronj. It stands at the foot of an iso- 

 lated standstone hill, and is said to take its name from Oodehajeet, a 

 lineal descendant of Vicramaditya and of Bhoj, who acquired a great 

 name in Malwa about the middle of the 11th century of our era, and 

 whose rights are declared to be still inherent in a Powar Thakoor, the 

 Zemindar of the Pergunneh. 



The temple of Mahadeo at Oodehpoor, is still a work of great beauty, 

 although it has been much injured by the Mahometans. Its ground, 

 plan forms a Greek, or nearly equal-armed cross, with the outline every 

 where broken by regular projections, and with the corners filled in, 

 much as we are told Sir Christopher Wren wished to do when he built 

 Saint Paul's. It is about 70 feet long by about 60 wide; the walls are 

 thick,— three arms of the cross contain entrances with external porticos, 

 while the fourth, opposite the main entrance, forms the " adytum" or 

 recess in which is placed the Lingam or mark of Siva. The interior 

 forms an irregular or broken rectangle, which again includes right pillars 

 forming an unequal-sided Octagon. Over the Adytum or Lingam 

 rises the usual storied or clustered pyramid, while a dome with side 

 vaults rests upon the other three arms of the cross and upon the eight 



5 F 



