160 



DESCRIPTIVE REMARKS ON 



ancient Indian architecture would perhaps have revealed much 

 more of an interesting nature had time permitted. 



Although the ornamental work is far from complete, the good 

 state of preservation and the completeness of the design render 

 this unique specimen well worth a more thorough study and 

 description than I have met with or been able to give. 



The Varahasvami Mandapa is described at page 81 (No. 9) by 

 Braddock ; and in paragraph 7, page 201, by Kavalilakshmayya, 

 and figured in plates V to IX (page 50) of Can's book. 



25. This is a very pretty little excavation facing west at the 

 back of the great bas-relief (No. 17), a little south-west of 

 Kamaraja's shrine, and is nearly finished. It consists of an 

 excavation of three bays between two octagonal pillars of the 

 regular lion-based cave style and two square pilasters, all having 

 the lower half of their shafts carved to represent the usual 

 three-horned lion or griffin prevalent here. 



The interior consists of a single verandah or portico 22 feet 

 long or wide (north and south), 11 feet deep (east and west), and 

 10 feet 6 inches high, having a single shrine cell in the centre 

 projecting into the verandah, with a narrow flight of steps leading 

 up to the doorway, a plain rectangular opening between square 

 half pilasters of the prevailing style. The measures given 

 are extreme. 



The shrine cell is vacant, buL either once had, or was designed 

 to have, a figure or group sculptured on the back wall, but this 

 was never finished or if finished has been " dished "as in the 

 Eamanuja Mandapa (No. 48). 



There are four narrow niches or panels here, one on each side 

 of the doorway in front, and one on each end of the shrine -pro- 

 jection, containing a two-armed human figure apiece ; the two 

 in front in the altitude of dvarapal warders enforcing caution 

 or silence by raising the inner hand breast high and extending 

 the forefinger, pointing towards the shrine. They are unarmed 

 and wear a waist-cloth and a pointed cap faced around with 

 several tiers of pointed plates, a necklace, brahmanical thread, 

 bracelets on arm and wrist, and large earrings. 



Besides the foregoing there are four large panels containing 



