180 



DESCRIPTIVE REMARKS ON 



The narrow hooded projecting niches on each side of the centrt 

 piece contain similar tall-capped warder-like figures, with their 

 outer arms across their breasts and the hand raised on the inner 

 side, as is likewise the case on the other sides of the building. 



The Olakkannesvara Temple was probably, as it is still 

 called on the spot, a Saiva shrine ; but it has been completely 

 demolished inside, and the lingam and any interior carvings it 

 may have possessed, removed. 



In style it much resembles the " Aleva " or shore temple No. 6, 

 but as there is nothing above the first or basement storey, there 

 are no means of knowing whether it ever was or was meant to be 

 provided with cell terraces, &c, or any upper storey above. The 

 signs of a plaster coating, and the rampant lion pillars at the 

 angles, as well as their capitals, connect it in style with the other 

 structural shrines in the locality ; whilst besides these, the shock- 

 headed figure, the horse-shoe dormer ornaments of the cornice 

 containing projecting blocks, and the scroll patterns above the 

 central recesses with sculptured panels, all point to a connection 

 with the monolithic shrines. 



Its peculiarities lie in its corniced, basement below the terrace 

 path (or Pradakshina) and in the brick masonry lining which 

 has been, however, completely removed. 



Of the monoliths it most resembles No. 4 at the Valaiyan 

 Kuttai. 



The Varahasvami (Cave) Temple. 



35. I was not admitted within this temple and merely looked 

 at it in passing by. But I have since examined the plan and 

 sections which were being made by Mr. F. Pope of the Chief 

 Engineer's Office, D. P. W., Madras, at the time of my visit. 

 Prom these and from the notices in Carr's book the following 

 notes have been gleaned. 



The Yarahasvami (Vishnu) Temple (excavation and building), 

 also called "The Cave," is at the extreme south-south-west 

 corner of the main group of the rocks, and consists of an excava- 

 tion about ground level in the west face of a low flat rock, in front 

 of which a small structural mandapa or pillared hall has been 



