192 



DESCRIPTIVE REMARKS ON 



of domical cells, of which there are three on each face of the 

 shrine besides the three minor ones of similar shape but less size 

 which surmount the portico. 



The cell ornaments are square at the angles with a square bell- 

 dome, and the central cells are oblong and waggon-roofed, the 

 whole being joined by what appears to be a continuous covered 

 passage or corridor. All the roofs are ornamented by horse-shoe 

 dormers, each containing a projecting curved block. 



This projecting hood-like block is peculiar but common 

 throughout this locality, but its use and meaning or origin is not 

 obvious at first sight. It is as if a cube or squared block of tim- 

 ber had been attached to the wall and had then had its upper 

 front corner cut off so as to blend the top and front faces into a 

 single curved surface, leaving two quadrantal vertical sides, and a 

 rectangular horizontal face below, flat. It often surmounts and 

 projects hood-fashion beyond a plain square pier or pilaster, and 

 is often accompanied by wooden -pattern baluster brackets, and 

 some peculiar little blocks or studs, and also some curious holes to 

 match, below an arched niche. 



Within the row of cells, and standing on the same terrace or 

 floor, rises the second storey, somewhat plainly. It is square in 

 plan and plainly ornamented by division into three panels or 

 shallow recesses on each face, by plain square pilasters with 

 capitals supporting brackets and architrave under a sculptured 

 freize. The panels or recesses contain sculptured figures in bas- 

 relief as on the other monoliths ; a couple in each side panel and 

 a single figure in the centre one. This floor has no portico- 

 projection, nor any deep shrine or recess for an image, as the 

 somewhat similar but much larger Ratha No. 48' to the south of 

 this group has. The second or middle storey is surmounted by 

 a cornice all round, and above this the third storey is a repetition 

 of it on a smaller scale, except that from the uppermost floor or 

 terrace, and within the surrounding ornamental row of (8) cells 

 and continuous corridor, the walls rise in an octagon neck capped 

 by an octagonal dome somewhat splayed below, bell-fashion, 

 and ornamented by semi-circular flat-spiked dormers, covering 

 recesses with the peculiar projecting (? canopy) block above 



