THE SEVEN PAGODAS. 



201 



has three waggon-roofed or oblong cells between square domed 

 cells at the angles ; two such oblong cells on the second or middle 

 terrace, and only one oblong cell between the square cells at the 

 angles of the third or uppermost terrace. 



The west side is exceptional on account of the portico projec- 

 tion which is carried up two storeys, and the central cell only is 

 oblong and waggon-roofed. At the west-north- west and west- 

 south-west corners, however, of the first or lowest terrace,the cells 

 at the angles of the portico -projection appear to be half square 

 domed and half oblong or waggon-roofed, which seems anoma- 

 lous, unless they are intended to be models of the half dome, half 

 ridge roof of No. 41. 



On the first and second terraces there is a complete circumam- 

 bulatory path, and on the east side it contains the only specimen 

 of a form of stairs for the ascent to the upper story shrines which 

 I have met with. It is a double flight ascending from the north 

 and south parts of the lower procession terrace on the east side 

 and meeting in the centre, behind the central oblong cell and 

 at the level of its roof ridge. 



The peculiarity is that the steps are concealed from view from 

 without by a screen wall of an arc or bow outline, as seen by a 

 spectator standing to the east of the monolith. 



The means of ascent to the first terrace is not obvious, but it 

 may have been by a wooden ladder or other structural stairs 

 rising from a rock, which has been begun to be sculptured, 

 standing a few feet apart from the base of the temple on the 

 south side, whence but a few steps would complete a convenient 

 w ay of ascent. 



There are two shrines or image niches, on the west face ; the 

 lower and larger one in the portico-projection of the first or lower 

 terrace. It is vacant, but the upper shrine or image niche on 

 the second terrace immediately above has a deep hole or socket for 

 the pedestal of an image or a lingam, and behind it on the back 

 of the niche a sculptured panel representing Siva (four-armed) 

 with Parvati and child seated as usual here, with two attendant 



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