658 Notes on the Ruins at MaMMlipuram. [No. 7. 



are executed in a spirited and masterly style :" and Lieut. Newbold 

 observes that " the best executed figure of the king of the beasts, 

 is that on which the goddess Doorga is seen, mounted in the sculp- 

 tured cave near the summit of the hill." 



Not far off, a large polished slab about ten feet in length, with 

 the figure of a couchant lion at the southern end, is shown as the 

 bed of the Dharma raja : which may probably be understood as the 

 " Sit de justice," or throne, whence some prince of that name was 

 wont to dispense justice to his people. 



Of the other caves some were considerably larger, and had more 

 the appearance of being dedicated to Vishnoo : all facing the East. 

 But the striking point in which the whole series resembles that of 

 Ellora is their unfinished state. Mr. James Fergusson remarks of 

 them in a paper read to the E. A. Society in 1843. 



" One of the most singular characteristics of this series of caves 

 is, that they are all of one age, and probably the work of one prince, 

 who has carried on the works simultaneously : but from some cause 

 or other has been unable to complete even one of them. Had one 

 been finished, or had there been any gradation of style or workman- 

 ship, some chronological arrangement might easily have been effected : 

 but nothing of the kind exists." 



Another still more remarkable point of similarity is the repeti- 

 tion of the sculptured group, representing a skeleton figure in a 

 suppliant attitude before a personage appearing to possess authority. 

 Mr. Groldingham describes the group at Mahabalipoor as follows : 



" Near this structure, the surface of the rock about ninety feet in 

 extent, and thirty in height, is covered with figures in bas relief. A 

 gigantic figure of the god Khrishna is the most conspicuous ; with 

 his favourite Arjoon, in the Hindoo attitude of prayer ; but so devoid 

 of flesh, as to present more the appearance of a skeleton than of 

 a living person ; below is a venerable figure said to be the father of 

 Arjoon; both figures proving the sculptor possessed no inconsider- 

 able skill." 



It does not appear whether Mr. Goldingham had any authority 

 for this interpretation, beyond that of the attendant Brahmins, who 

 are always ready to affix the names of some Hindoo god or hero to 

 every ancient sculpture : but I could not perceive in the standing 



