920 Description of a Colossal Jain figure [Sept. 



held to be decisive of priority of discovery, I had less hesitation in 

 using so ostentatious a term, particularly as it is becoming apparent 

 from the announcements made almost daily, that there yet remain very 

 many records of sacred and architectural antiquity unobserved by us, 

 but matters of notoriety to every native around, and undivulged from no 

 desire of concealment, but either from the apathetical habit of the 

 natives in general, or their excessive reserve in speaking of religious 

 subjects, upon which they are usually unwilling to originate a conversa- 

 tion. 



The value and importance of the figure brought to light, and which 

 may be most aptly termed a rock image, I have no desire to estimate 

 unduly. I dare say those interested in these persuits, will glean 

 from the following description all that is deserving of record and 

 worthy of confidence in an antiquarian sense. I must content myself 

 therefore with stating in this place, that the chief Colossal figure is not 

 a statue, but a naked image cut in high relief out of the side of a 

 hill of amygdaloidal trap, in the same manner and similar to the Bhuts 

 at Bamiyan, and its full height must be ninety feet, at least that portion 

 above ground, viz. about a foot below the knee, measuring seventy-two 

 feet, eight inches ; and I believe it is, with the exception of a few 

 figures, between thirty or forty feet high in the fort of Gwalior and 

 one near Russia,* the only one of the kind as yet known between 

 the Himalayas and Cape Comorin, differing from those at Bamiyan, in 

 being naked, and from those at Beligula, Einur and Kurkal in Canara, 

 in being essentially a rock image cut in relief instead of being sculp- 

 tured as a statue ; other points of comparison will be noticed in detail, 

 my only fear is that in the hurried visit of a few hours which I was 

 enabled to make, many subjects which might have been highly useful 

 both in an historical and theological light have been left unnoticed or 

 touched too lightly upon. 



My notes were taken as far back as 1846, when I was stationed 

 at Mhow with a troop of Horse Artillery, and should have been given 



* In the Journal of the Asiatic Society Bengal, for June 1837, there is a colossal 

 image described under the vulgar appellation of Mata Kooar ; it is situated near 

 Russia in the Gorakpoor district. The height, though referred to in the report, is 

 not stated, nor a sketch of the figure lithographed, but Mr. Prinsep, in a note, 

 regards it is an image of Bhoodha. 



