190 



DESCRIPTIVE REMARKS ON 



The four corners of the roof are ornamented by elaborate 

 scroll work at the base, extending along the rib or angle of the 

 roof to the top. 



This shrine is more nearly finished than most of the others. 

 There are none of the prevalent simha, or lion-figures carved on 

 it, but the style of the pilasters and the scroll work connect it 

 with the neighbouring monolithic sculptures and with the older 

 structural temples also. The style of the roof recalls the copper 

 tiled pent-roofs of the halls (Sabhd) and shrines at Chidam- 

 baram. 



No. 36, pp. 104 and 214. — There is a carved stone lion 

 " Simha " No. 36, in front of this shrine, a few yards to the west, 

 facing the north, buried in the sand above the belly. 



No. 38, p. 104 and p. 215. — Also behind it (the shrine) to the 

 south-east is a carved colossal stone bull (Nandt, No. 38) facing 

 west between this shrine and the next to it on the south. It is 

 nearly buried in the drift sand from the sea-shore (to the east). 



No. 40, pp. 104 and 215. — A little to the west and a little 

 south of the lion is an elephant facing the south. 



These three sculptured beasts are fully life-size or larger. 



Arjuna' s Ratha. 

 No. 39 of Madras Survey Map. 

 Braddoch } p. 105, and No. 32, p. 215, Nakula's Vimana of K.L. 



The second monolithic shrine from the north is called* after 

 Arjuna, or (by K. L. after) Nakula. But the solitary monolith 

 with the waggon roof (No. 24) at the extreme north end of the 

 rocks, made by Kamaraja, was named also " Arjuna' s Ratha," 

 although it is now called the Ganesa Temple. 



39. This is a small Dravidian Saiva-pattern Vimana (like those 

 of Tanjore and Gangaikondapuram) having two floors or storeys 

 above the lowest or ground floor, with two tiers of cell-terraces, 

 rising in steps pyramidally to the octagonal bell dome which 

 crowns the work. The main block is about 1 1 feet square at 

 base, but with a wide portico projection, as usual here, on the 

 west side. The -openings or doorways of most of the monoliths 

 are to the west, possibly in order to prevent the salt spray of the 

 sea-breeze penetrating into the interior of the shrines. 



