1850.] 



Sircar of Pt/fun. 



365 



walls right and left have similar figures placed one above the other, 

 in four rows ; some having the legs crossed, others hanging down : 

 each figure has subordinate attendants. The door-way is simple ; 

 sockets are led into the jambs for the doors, which turned on pivots, 

 and bivalved, fastening by a bar across. A plain pillar moulding 

 forms the door frame outside, with a simple lintel surmounted by 

 ornamental carved work of Pagodas, having roofs approaching a bell 

 shape. Each Pagoda contains three niches, the centre one holding 

 Buddha seated, and the two on either side, standing figures of Bud- 

 iswartas: on each side of the door stand gigantic darpals, or doorkeep- 

 ers, nine feet high, each accompanied by a figure canopied under 

 five heads of the hooded snake. These colossal figures are general- 

 ly present in Buddhist caves, either as darpals, or within the sanc- 

 tuary as attendants upon the idol, and invariably represented as 

 most opposite to each other in costume, not so with the equally co- 

 lossal chowree walas, that generally accompany them in the sanctu- 

 ary, who are always habited alike. The doorkeeper on the right 

 is richly ornamented ; he wears a high pointed jewelled cap, the 

 most prominent decoration upon it, being a seated figure of Buddha 

 carved on a round ornament in front : the throat and neck are en- 

 circled by collars and necklaces, and the arms and wrists are adorn- 

 ed by armlets and bracelets richly cut. In the ears which are long 

 lobed, and split, are placed ear-rings, the right is globular, and stud- 

 ded with elaborate representations of jewelry, whilst the left is a 

 disc of some two or three inches diameter ; this custom of wear- 

 ing ear-rings by men is very ancient ; Aaron formed the molten calf 

 at Sinai, from the golden ear-rings of the sons, as well as wives and 

 daughters of Israel. A narrow fillet confines the waist above the 

 navel, falling down in front, in waving cords : around the loins three 

 or four folds of a chain, arranged in square links are passed, whilst 

 the shela or robe, crosses over the upper part of the thigh from right 

 to left, and held in the left hand ; the right supports a long stalk of 

 the lotus, on the calyx of which rests a small cross-legged figure of 

 Buddha. The attendant figure with the snake canopy, wears a dia- 

 dem, jewelled necklace, and armlet, both hands grasp the lower por- 

 tion of the lotus. Over the darpal appears a flying figure, bearing a 

 necklace of flowers. The doorkeeper on the left side, has much the 

 character of the Hindoo penitential ascetics of the present day, he is 

 represented devoid of all ornaments ; in lieu of the jewelled cap, he 



VOL. XYl. >iO, XXXVIII. Z 1 



