158 



DESCRIPTIVE REMARKS ON 



pillars with lion bases between a couple of square demi-pillars 

 or pilasters, similarly carved into the representation of the grif- 

 fin or lion so common here in the porticos or verandahs of the 

 principal monolithic shrines, and also in the principal excava- 

 tions. One slight peculiarity may be noted here, viz., that those 

 lion-based pillars of the monolithic shrines have the usual neck 

 and squashed bulging capital, but no abacus, or square tabular 

 slab, between the bulge and the superposed scroll-ended bracket, 

 whereas those in the caves or excavated shrines have a very fine 

 abacus immediately above the bulge and below the bracket. 



The verandah is very plain and narrow, and the entrance into 

 the inner shrine or cell the same. 



The floor behind the centre of the cell has a cubical hole or 

 socket, as if for a lingam of which however there is nothing left ; 

 but in 1797-98 Mr. Goldingham described a lingam as still there. 

 An image of Ganesa or Pillaiyar (the honorable son of &iva) has 

 been recently set up and is now worshipped and the shrine is 

 now called the Ganesa Temple. 



A Sanskrit inscription in the Pallava or ancient Grantha 

 character of the sixth century (or about 700 A.D.) is cut on ths 

 south half of the verandah wall facing west (pi. XIV, and pages 

 57, 58, and 221 of Carr), in which it is stated that Kamaraja, 

 lord of the Pallavas, made this temple in honour of Siva. 4 On 

 the roof of the cell and of the verandah the remains of painted 

 patterns are to be seen, as also in the neighbouring Yaraha- 

 Mandapa excavation (No. 25) and others. From some slight 

 remains of brickwork on each side of the portico opening, it 

 would seem that masonry walls had been run out so as to form 

 an outer enclosure. 



Immediately under the cornice there is a string course or 

 frieze of dwarfs, but without the roll-ornament. The prominent 

 cornice has a single convex curvature and projects boldly beyond 

 the walls below it. It is continuous all round the shrine, but, 



4 Below this inscription is the outline of a building having a ridge roof 

 with kalasam ornaments, and containing something like a lingam in front of 

 an altar ; under a rosette, perhaps intended to represent "this abode of 



Sambhu." 



