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reaching nearly from the floor to the roof, a height of fifteen feet: 
it represents the triad deity in the Hindoo mythology, Brahma , 
Vis/moo, and Seem, in the characters of the creator, preserver, and 
destroyer: the middle face displays regular features and a mild 
and serene character; the towering head-dress is much orna- 
mented, as are those on each side, which appear in profile, lofty 
and richly adorned with jewels: the countenance of Vishnoo has 
the same mild aspect as Brahma: the visage of Seeva is very 
different; severity and revenge, characteristic of his destroy- 
ing attribute, are strongly depicted; one of the hands embraces 
a large cobra de capello; while the others contain fruit, flowers, 
and blessings for mankind; the lotos and pomegranate are easily 
distinguished. The lotos, so often introduced into the Hindoo 
mythology, forms a principal object in the sculpture and paintings 
in their temples, is the ornament of their sacred lakes, and the 
most conspicuous beauty in their flowery sacrifices. Whether the 
Bali-putras, or Palibothra kings, mentioned in Alexanders invasion 
of India, were the same with the more ancient dynasty of Bali- 
putra , or Patali-putra, is, perhaps, not yet determined; but the 
Bhagavata mentions one of the titles of Maha-Bali , the founder of 
that dynasty, to have been Maha-padma , Pati-Nanda , the “ Great 
Lord of the Lotos” 
The lotos is often seen in the Egyptian and Grecian sculpture; 
and that a triad deity was an object of worship in the mythology 
of those ancient nations is an hypothesis well supported in Mau- 
rice's Indian Antiquities. 
On either side of the Elephanta triad is a gigantic figure lean- 
ing on a dwarf, an object frequently introduced in these excava- 
