224 A. M. Broadley — The Buddhistic Remains of Bihar. [No. 3, 
colour and of a soft and pliable nature, whereas this one resembled the hard- 
est granite and presented a curious variety of appearance and colour. The 
base of it is plain, and above it is a grotesque kneeling figure with a long 
beard and hands uplifted, supporting a canopy, above which rises a long line 
of geometrical pattern. The third slab is of black basalt and is scarce four 
inches wide. It is taken up entirely by the representation of two enormous 
snakes, one twining round the other. The next stone is of the same 
material, and is of unusually elaborate workmanship. A winding stem of 
flowery pattern work covers its face, and from each side of it springs a lotus- 
like flower, which alternately forms the resting place of a mystic bird or 
elephant rampant. The fifth slab* is plain. The sixth pillar is ornamented 
at the base with a female figure eight inches high, from whose hands spring 
a winding branch of foliage and flowers which stretches to the top of the 
lintel. The seventh slab is a repetition of the third, and the eighth is of the 
same stone as the second, containing three large female figures, one above 
the other, each about one and a half feet high, and in the hands of each is 
seen a musical instrument similar in shape and size to the modern ‘ sitar.’ 
The ninth stone has a simple beading, and is surmounted by a heavy slab 
covered with carving. The two last slabs of the series, together with the 
one which covers them, form the doorway which leads to the inner part of the 
temple. The magnificent gate led to the second hall, twelve feet wide and 
eighteen feet long ; and on each side of this chamber were smaller octagonal 
rooms, from the western end of which a staircase lead to the terraces above. 
These were approached by narrow doors right and left of the great gate- 
way. These rooms were evidently of great height, and were decorated by 
elaborately carved pannels of sandstone let into the brick-work. I have 
added a series of these to my own collection. One of these consists of a 
slab of Mirzapur stone covered with the most elaborate design, the chief 
feature of which is two figures with arms and legs entwined. The colour of 
the stone is peculiarly beautiful. Another is of black basalt, and represents 
a large elephant, richly caparisoned, with a lotus flower in its mouth. Be- 
yond this, one enters by another door an inner chamber twenty-two feet 
square, the walls of which are in their ruined state still fourteen feet high. 
This was doubtless the sanctum sanctorum of the building, and I discovered 
at its western end a headless Buddha four feet high, placed on a handsome 
‘ singhAsan,’ or throne, of black basalt, and was divided into five compart- 
ments ; the first on each side containing single figures, the next lions-couchant, 
and the one in the centre two devotees in the act of making an offering. 
The wall is eighteen feet thick on either side.’ 
* Its baso contains an inscription. Babu Eajendralala Mitra makes tho date 
‘ Sambat 856,’ and Professor Earn Gopal Bhandakar ‘ the eleventh year of the reign 
of King Mahapiila Dcva.’ 
