268 Essay on the Avian Order of Architecture. [Sept, 



an eight-sided figure ; the angles of the octagon were next covered by 

 other stones which formed a figure of sixteen sides ; and lastly, an 

 upper course of curved stones completed a circular opening which was 

 covered either by one or by two large blocks, hollowed out so as to 

 form a dome like that in the Payach example. I have been led to 

 conclude that such was the stvle of the Marttand ceiling, from the 

 existence of the two curved stones mentioned above ; which as the tre- 

 foiled arches are still perfect, could only have formed part of the cir- 

 cular portion of the ceiling of one of the principal chambers. 



21. — The interior of the naos or cella called, garhha-griha, or 

 " womb of the edifice" by the Hindus, was quite plain. This want of 

 ornament was perhaps designed to prevent the votary's attention being 

 withdrawn from the contemplation of the chief object to which the 

 temple was dedicated. No vestige of the consecrated image has 

 escaped the destructive zeal of the Musalmans : but there can be little 

 doubt that the chamber once contained a figure of the Sun-god, Mart- 

 tand, in his chariot, drawn either by seven or by four green or yellow 

 steeds. The former is the number usually seen in modern representa- 

 tions : but the latter is found upon a very ancient copper seal which 

 was discovered amongst the ruins of Ayodhya. The green color is 

 that given in the present day ; but the yellow is that assigned by the 

 venerable Vedas. The chamber was lighted during the day by semi- 

 circular openings over the closed doorways on the three sides, but in 

 the evening, as the entrance was to the westward, the image of the glo- 

 rious Sun was illumined by his own setting beams. 



22. — Indeed I can almost fancy that the erection of this Sun-tem- 

 ple was suggested by the magnificent sunny prospect which its position 

 commands. It overlooks the finest view in Kashmir, and perhaps in 

 the known world. Beneath it lies the Paradise of the East, with its 

 sacred streams and cedarn glens, its brown orchards and green fields, 

 surrounded on all sides by vast snowy mountains whose lofty peaks 

 seem to smile upon the beautiful valley below. Such is the daily pros- 

 pect from this happy spot : but there are occasional scenes which for 

 sublime magnificence, can scarcely be equalled, and certainly cannot be 

 surpassed. Thus when the blue sky was completely shrouded by heavy 

 masses of clouds which spanned the valley from side to side, I once 

 saw the evening sun burst suddenly forth through the Barahmula Pass. 



