THE SEVEN PAGODAS. 



143 



image of Vishnu lies in the temple with head to the south 

 and feet to the north, and is so represented on the gateway 

 tower over the inner entrance, and the image in the Shore 

 temple is in precisely the same position. I believe that 

 many of the South Indian Hindu caste folk bury (or burn) 

 their dead laid out in this way — head to south and feet to 

 north — especially the lower castes or casteless tribes. The 

 burial customs of the outcaste peoples would seem to be well 

 worthy of collection and record. 



The recumbent images of Vishnu here (and elsewhere) may 

 be a reminiscence of the old Buddhist and Jaina credence 

 about Nirvana, Mukti, the vulgar Moksham or final release 

 obtained by the saints of old ; and the Vaishnava system is 

 said to be the modern descendant and inheritor of the Jaina 

 faith. 



