258 Essay on the Avian Order of Architecture. [Sept. 



10. — The lower edge of the dome is ornamented by three straight- 

 edged fillets and by a beaded circle. The spandrils are filled by single 

 naked and winged figures (of rather spirited execution), who with out- 

 stretched arms and legs would appear to be supporting the roof. Vigne 

 calls these three figures jins or genii, which unfortunately are Mahome- 

 dan creations, and have no more right to a place in a Hindu temple, 

 than the angels Gabriel and Raphael. They are probably Yakshas ; 

 the demigod inhabitants of mount Kailasa — which was the favourite re- 

 sidence of Siva. The dome itself rests upon the cornice which is formed 

 of six plain straight lined mouldings, as shown in Plate XI. An enlarg- 

 ed and beautiful specimen of this roof may be' seen in that of the Pan- 

 drethan temple delineated in Plate XXI. 



V. — Temple of Mar tt and. 



1, — Of all the existing remains of Kashmirian grandeur the most 

 striking in size and situation is the noble ruin of Marttand. This ma- 

 jestic temple stands at the northern end of the Karewah (or elevated ta- 

 ble-land) of Matan and between three and four miles to the eastward of 

 Islamabad. This is undoubtedly the finest position in Kashmir. 

 The temple itself is not now more than 40 feet in height ; but its solid 

 walls and bold outlines towering over the beautiful fluted pillars of the 

 surrounding colonnade'give it a most imposing appearance. There are no 

 petty confused details ; but all are distinct and massive and most admi- 

 rably suited to the general character of the building. 



2. — Many vain speculations have been hazarded regarding the date 

 of the erection of this temple, and the worship to which it was appropri- 

 ated. It is usually called Pdndavon-ki-lare or " House of the Pandus" 

 by the Brahmans, and by the people Matan. The first is exactly the 

 same as Moorcroft's Khdna Pdnduwa which is only a Persian rendering, 

 that was most likely derived through his Mahomedan Munshi. The 

 name recorded by Hugel and Vigne of Kaura-Pandu has, I believe, no 

 reference whatever to the Kaurawas as supposed by them, but bears pre- 

 cisely the same meaning as the other terms ; Gharo-Pdndava being ano- 

 ther Kashmirian name for " House of the Pandus." The true appella- 

 tion however is preserved in Matan, which is only a corruption of the 

 Sanskrit Marttand ?rrfe, or "the Sun," to whom the temple was cle" 



