THE SEVEN PAGODAS. 



91 



surmounted by a squat quadrangular dome. It also has project- 

 ing canopied panels or niches under the horse-shoe dormers of 

 the prominent cornices. 



20. The Gopis', or Draupadi's Churn. — Going eastwards 

 along the footpath towards the village of Mavalivaram for some 

 500 yards, the north end of the main group of rocks is reached ; 

 ascending this to the top of the slope, No. 20, the " Churn," is 

 seen near the west face of one of the northernmost of the scarped 

 rocks. It is a plain cylindrical vessel 8| feet in diameter and 

 4 feet deep hollowed out of a boulder stone. 



21. Kapalisvara or NandagopalpIlaiyam sculptured 

 fa (jade with three shrine cells and durga trampling 

 Mahishasura. — This is a neat little triple-celled shrine facade, 

 the ornamentation of which is nearly finished and the work in 

 good preservation. It has no verandah or covered portico, but 

 merely a prominent cornice overhanging the three doorways 

 with their flanking dvdrapdl warders. 



The vase-finials of the domical cell ornaments and the erect 

 flat spikes or horns over the horse-shoe facets of the cornice and 

 roofs, and over the gable ends of the oblong cells, are all stand- 

 ing nearly perfect, and lend a highly ornamental finish to the 

 whole. 



The adjoining effigy of Durga eight-handed trampling on the 

 head of a buffalo is carved on the face of the paneled rock. 



21£. Bhima's Hearth, with steps to the summit, lies a few 

 yards to the south of Nos. 20 and 21, through a cleft in the 

 rocks forming a natural cave or chamber, which has been utilized 

 by the stone-masons as a forge for repairing their tools, an old 

 anchor forming the anvil. 



22. Elephants, a peacock and monkey are sculptured in has- 

 relief on the east face of the rock, the west face of which has 

 No. 21. The elephants, as usual here, are well done, but the 

 meaning of the group is not obvious. 



18. Couple of Monkeys with suckling. — This is a small 

 group, about life-size, carved out of a single stone, lying on the 

 plain at the north-north- west near where the footpath from the 

 landing place meets the western road or street of the village. 



