1849.] discovered on a Spur of the Satpoorah Range. 931 



is applied to an open area surrounded by a wall, but Gomat Iswarra is 

 the only image placed in it, generally colossal, the 24 Tirthankaras being 

 worshipped in the Basti or covered temple, and represented as naked 

 and sitting, exactly of the same form which will be found presently 

 to be the case. This would give a composite character to the edifice 

 embracing both descriptions. The temple itself, save in the admixture 

 or variety of stone used, has the appearance of a modern structure 

 externally, which the repairs and addition necessary to protect the 

 figures inside have effected ; its dome is completely so, but on entering 

 that impression immediately ceases. It consists of an outer verandah 

 in front, an inner square chamber, a vestibule, beyond and in rear of it 

 the sanctuary for the chief object of worship, which here is the Pra- 

 bathee, or impression of feet, 4 in number, two large and two small. 

 The verandah is approached by 8 steps, and is 15 feet long by 9 feet 

 wide ; the pillars supporting it (with the exception of the four immedi- 

 ately in front, which are very old and of the amygdaloidal trap which 

 forms the hills, surrounding wall, and even the figures in the recesses) 

 are of yellow coral limestone, brought from Dedhallee, on the other side 

 of the Nerbuddah.* The roof of the verandah is flat, with the lotus 

 inscribed within the lozenge itself within a square. On the north and 

 east walls are niches containing an elephant upon which is some retinue 

 of figures, 5 in number, the last, on each side near his tail, supported by 

 an erect figure carved on the flanks or thighs of the elephant ; they are 

 all seated, the foremost holding a lotah. This seemed to me a com- 

 plete anomaly in Bhudhistical or Jain sculptures. I have never seen 

 them depicted except in a group or tableaux, while here they are repre- 

 sented more like Krishna's Gopia, save the matter of sex, and do not 

 give the idea of being the Ganadharee or Ganadhipa, or followers of any 

 of the Tirthankaras. The entrance from the verandah into the Mindra 

 or principal chamber of the temple, is by two doors in the same wall, 

 the outer much larger than the inner, being 8 feet high and 5-6 wide, 

 while the latter was 5-4 high and 2-8 only in width. The posts and 



* Of the existence of this bed of yellow limestone I was not aware, and do not 

 yet know its exact locale, but I took pains to hunt out the red variety of similar 

 geological character, and of which the Mahomedan tombs and temples at Dhar and 

 Mandee consist, it is found in situ at Neemkeera on the Maun Nuddee, in the heart 

 of the Vindyan range below the Hydree ghaut. 



