208 



DESCRIPTIVE REMARKS ON 



the back of the main shrine to the (centre of the) back (screen) 

 wall. 



It is evident that these cross walls are an after- addition and 

 not integral with the main building, on which they abut without 

 true incorporation. 



Thirteen rafter-sockets or holes show that the Vishnu cell was 

 once roofed by wooden beams and a temporary roof or a false 

 ceiling. No trace of any beams remains. 



The prostrate image of Mahavishnu (? Narayana) much re- 

 sembles that of the same god in the Mahishamardini Mandapa 

 (excavation) No. 32. 



The outside of the smaller Vimana must have been splendidly 

 sculptured, but it is, with the rest, much dilapidated. The sali- 

 ent angles, like those of the principal shrine, are carved into 

 lions rampant. The bull above the portico looks westward and 

 seems to be about the only one now in its proper place. A great 

 number of sculptured bulls are to be seen lying about, and parti- 

 cularly amongst the pitched blocks that have been made to form 

 a breakwater on the sea face of the temple. This would seem 

 to show that they have been wilfully dethroned if they were ever 

 set up. 



But where could they have stood, if ever set up ? The lowest 

 and highest of the roof terraces are, it is true, mostly vacant, 

 except that sitting-erect lions occupy the angles. 



The kalaSams or urn-finials that crown the domes of this couple 

 of temples are of black stone, in perfect preservation. They are 

 slightly fluted or ribbed, so as to form sixteen sides, the same as 

 the lingams here and at Saluvankuppam. 



The screen wall has a coping of domical cell-ornaments through- 

 out. The lion ornaments seem aboriginal, and perhaps the bulls 

 were only prepared during some short Saiva revival or ascen- 

 dancy, but only one or two of them set up before the return 

 wave of Vaishnava domination swept them ruthlessly into the 

 sea. 



The oldest sculptures would appear to have an origin mainly 

 Saiva- Br ahmanical, but with a considerable admixture of Vaish- 



