THE SEVEN PAGODAS. 



211 



height, and is occupied by the " Tiger Cave " (see woodcut No, 

 185, p. 333 of Fergusson's Indian and Eastern Architecture, 1876),, 



The Idaiyan Papal Mandapa. 



In the centre is a niche or recess rather than a cell or cave, 

 7 feet wide (north- south), 3' 10" deep (east-west), and 5' 9" high 

 between two prominent sculptured pillars and under a prominent 

 convex cornice surrounding the niche -projection on the front and 

 two sides. This niche or shrine is approached by a narrow flight 

 of steps as usual, and is flanked by a smaller niche on either side, 

 cut plainly in the rock and without cornice or pilasters. All three 

 niches are now vacant and are surrounded by an arched border 

 of nine lions or griffins' heads of the same pattern as at Mavaliva- 

 ram, No. 8 J, the three on each side looking inwards and the three 

 above to the front. The lowest on each side shows an extended 

 paw, and all of them have arched necks joining the head to the 

 body of the rock. 



The north-west face of this rock is also carved to represent 

 a griffin's head, so that it only requires the lion and a few figures 

 to complete the likeness with the group on the shore at Mavali- 

 varam, 8^. 



57. A little further to the north stands the bold needle-rock 

 called Idaiyanpadal, " The herdsman 1 s shelter -screen" (Padal is 

 the common Tamil word for a hurdle or screen set up to keep off 

 wind and rain). This rock, standing up aslant to a height of 30 

 or 40 feet so as to afford good shelter on its east side from 

 wind, rain, or sunshine coming from the west, is by no means 

 inaptly called Idaiyan Padal. High upon the west face of the 

 rock several rows of little niches have been cut, very much the 

 same as those to be seen high up on the rocks to the south of the 

 VarSha Mandapa, No. 25, and west of the great bas-relief 

 (Arjuna's Penance). 



Atiranacandesvara Mandapa, Saltjvankuppam. 



58. About 300 yards to the north of the Idaiyan padal is a 

 large solid rock nearly buried in sand, which however had 



