THE SEVEN PAGODAS. 



209 



nava forms. Now, the lingam and the bull have been dethroned 

 everywhere, but strangely enough, the tableau of Siva and Par- 

 vat! with Subrahmanya remains in its numerous shrines untouched 

 though unadored. 



Sculptured Bocks South of the Shore Temple. 



No. 28 of Braddock, p. 109, and 46, 47, and 48 of Kdvali Laksk- 

 mayija, p. 219. 



Lion Rocks. 



From 250 to 300 yards to the southward from the shore temple 

 (No. 6) and now washed by the sea at high water, 80 yards or 

 so (south-south-east) from the ruins of the "Chetty's" temple 

 (No. 8), are some scattered rocks, several of which have been 

 sculptured, particularly a group of three close together. The 

 southernmost of the three is carved into the form of a squatting 

 griffin, or a tiger or lion facing the west, and having a small 

 niche or excavated shrine between its paws, reminding one 

 directly of the " Tiger Cave, Cuttack" (Fergusson, iii, p. 143) • 

 only the niche here is excessively small. It contains the figure of 

 a many-armed god cut on the back wall of the niche. A coupla 

 of kneeling figures are cut on the rock below the niche, facing 

 one another. Other figures are carved, perhaps, to represent 

 warders, one on each side, very fat and standing on the paws of 

 the enveloping animal, tiger, lion or griffin. 



Some six or eight other figures are cut on the south-west corner 

 of this rock, but all so weather-worn as to be hardly recognisable . 



The east and south-east face of this rock is carved to represent 

 an elephant's head and forepaws under an arched niche, with a 

 bare backed horse approaching from the south. This carving is 

 almost identical with the similar rock adjoining the Idaiyanpadal 

 Mandapa at Saluvankuppam (see Fergusson, vol. iii, 1876, wood- 

 cut No. 185, p. 333). 



On the north-north-east corner of this rock two nude human 

 figures have been neatly carved, and there is a (? lamp) niche 

 over the horse, 



27 



