THE SEVEN PAGODAS, 



169 



Eamanuja Mandapa. 



Described at p. 95 of Carres Collection by Braddock, No. 17 of his 

 Map, pi. XX, p. 110; also at p. 207, para. 14, of Kavali ZaJcsh- 

 mayya. 



48. This is an excavation in the rock about 130 yards south- 

 south- west of the large modern Vaishnava temple, high up the 

 rock, and facing eastwards. An open colonnade of six plain 

 squared piers about 12 feet high, and 8 feet apart, joined by archi- 

 traves or stone-cross beams stands in front of the excavation, as if 

 it had been intended to erect a verandah (12 feet in width and 

 height and 48 feet (K.L.) long), as in the Krishna Mandapa, 

 No. 15, but the intention was never carried out, and it does not 

 appear to have been part of the original design, for the excavation 

 seems to have been complete and well finished without it. A fine 

 projecting cornice has been carved out of the rock overhanging 

 the entrance of the excavation, projecting 2' 4" beyond the outer 

 face of the lion-based piers left standing, cut out of the live rock, 

 of which there are two, octagonal, in the centre, between two 

 square pilasters, forming three openings or bays about 7 feet 

 wide each. The style of these piers and pilasters is the same 

 apparently as that of the rest of the lion- based piers so prevalent 

 in the adjacent excavations and monoliths, but wants the tabular 

 abacus of those in Nos. 25, 16, and 34. 



The interior consists of a single chamber about 24 feet long, 

 and originally 7 or 8 feet wide, at the back of which were 

 evidently three cells once, the centre one of which projected 

 forward beyond the two side cells, as in several other similar 

 excavations at the place. But this central cell has been destroyed 

 and cut away so as to blend the three cells into one, thus 

 increasing the depth of the chamber from 8 feet (?) to more 

 than 18 feet. The remains of a sculptured tableau on the back 

 wall or panel of the central cell can be seen, as well as on panels 

 on the north and south end walls of the chamber, all of which 

 have been " dished," so that little or nothing can be made out 

 of the design. All the raised (relief) portions have been cut 

 away roughly to the flat level of the panel ; and only small por- 



22 



