172 H I N D O 
die face is prefented full, and expreffes a dignified com- 
pofure 5 the head and neck fplendidly covered with orna¬ 
ments : this is Brahma. The face on the left is in pro¬ 
file, ar.d the head-drefs rich ; in one of the hands is a lo¬ 
tos ; in the other a fruit; a ring like that worn by the 
Hindoos at prefent is obferved on one of the wriits; the 
expreflion of the countenance is mild and pleafant: this 
is Vifhnu. Different is the head on the right; the face 
is in profile, the forehead projefts, the eye flares; fnakes 
fupply the place of hair, and the reprefentation of a hu¬ 
man fkull is confpicuous on the covering of the head ; 
one hand grafps a monftrous cobra de capello ; the other a 
fmaller; the whole together calculated to flrike terror 
into the beholder : this is Siva. The height of this bull 
is about eighteen feet, and the breadth of the middle face 
about four. Each fide of this niche is fupported by a gi¬ 
gantic figure leaning on a dwarf. 
A niche of confiderable dimenfions, and crowded with 
figures, is excavated on either fide the former. In the 
middle of the niche, on the right, Hands a gigantic figure, 
apparently female, but with one breajl only. This figure 
has four arms, the foremofl right hand is leaning on the 
head of a bull, the other grafps a cobra de capello, while a 
circular fhield is obferved in the inner left hand ; the 
head is richly ornamented. On the right Hands a male, 
bearing a pronged infirument, refembling a trident; on 
the left is a female, holding a mace or fceptre; near the 
principal is a beautiful youth on an elephant; above this 
is a figure with four heads, fupported by fwans or geefe ; 
and oppofite is a male with four arms, mounted on the 
fhouldersof another, having a fceptre in one of the hands. 
At the top of the niche fmall figures in different attitudes 
are obferved, feemingly fupported by clouds. 
The moH confpicuous of the group on the niche to the 
left, is a male near feventeen feet in height, with four 
arms ; on the left Hands a female about fifteen feet high. 
The lame circular rings worn by the prefent Hindoo wo¬ 
men, are obferved on the legs and wriHs of this figure; 
the hair bears a like correfpondence in the mode of put¬ 
ting it up ; the countenance is peculiarly foft, and ex- 
preffive of gentlenefs. In the back ground, a figure with 
four heads, fupported by birds, and one with four arms, 
on the fhoulders of another, are alfo obferved. Several 
fmaller figures in attendance ; one with the right knee 
bent to the ground, in the attitude of addrefling the prin¬ 
cipal, bears a crefe, exaftly refembling that in prefent ufe. 
Oppofite the laH niche, and fifty feet nearer the en¬ 
trance, is another of equal dimenfions, inclofing a figure 
that forcibly arreHs the attention; it is a gigantic half- 
length of a male with eight arms; round one of the left 
arms a belt, compofed of human heads, is feen ; a right 
hand grafps a fword uplifted to fever a figure, feemingly 
kneeling (but too much mutilated to diflinguilh it pro¬ 
perly) on a block, held in the correfpondent left hand ; 
a cobra de capello rifes under one arm; among the Angular 
decorations of the head, a human fkull is obferved; above 
are feveral fmall figures, reprelented in difirefs and paiq. 
Many of the figures mutilated, as is the principal, whofe 
afpecfl poffelfes a great degree of unrelenting fiercenefs. 
Crolling to the other fide of the cave, near one of the 
fmall rooms before-mentioned, a male, fitting as the peo¬ 
ple of India do at prefent, is obferved; a female in the 
fame pofiure on his left, with an attendant on either fide ; 
at the feet of the male is the figure of a bull couchant; 
and in each corner of the niche Hands a gigantic guard. 
Oppofite is a correfpondent niche; the figures being a 
good deal mutilated, and the fituation dark, prevent thefe 
being properly difcriminated ; a fitting male figure, having 
an attendant on either hand, is however perceived. 
On the left fide, and half way up the cave, is an apart¬ 
ment about thirty feet l'quare, enclofing the lingam ; it 
has an entrance on the four fides, and each fide o* either 
entrance is fupported by a figure feventeen feet in height, 
each figure being ornamented in a different Hyle. 
OSTAN. 
This furprifing monument of human fkill and perfeve- 
rance is generally called the great cave-, its length is 135 
feet, and breadth nearly the fame. But there are com¬ 
partments on both fides, feparated from the great cave, 
by large fragments of rock and loofe earth, heretofore 
probably a part of the roof. That on the right is fpa- 
cious, and contains feveral pieces of fculpture ; the moH 
remarkable is a large figure, the body human, but the 
head that of an elephant; it is the god Ganefa, or 
patron of wifdom. The lingam is alfo enclofed here. 
Gigantic as the figures are, the mind is not difiigreeably 
moved on viewing them; a certain indication of the har¬ 
mony of the proportions. “ To prel'erve to future ages, 
(fays Dr. Claudius Buchanan, late vice-provoH of the 
College of Calcutta,) this grand monument of ancient 
fculpture, perhaps the moil ancient in the world, and to 
exhibit it to mankind in fomewhat of its prifiine beauty, 
is a noble undertaking, and worthy of the countenance 
of every man who loves to embellifh fcience and human 
life ; for the temple, or Elephanta is perhaps a grander ef¬ 
fort of the ingenuity of man than the pyramids of Egypt.” 
See a reprefentation of the Elephanta Cave, in the an¬ 
nexed Engraving. 
We Htall notice one more infiance, and that perhaps 
the mofi extenfive and fublime, of all thefe unparalleled 
architectural works in India; it is, the grand Key/as, or 
Temple of Paradife, fituated about a mile ealtward from 
the town of Ellore, in the northern circar of that name. 
And, although this temple is of itfelf of prodigious ex¬ 
tent, yet it has, excavated from the fame rock, no lefs 
than ten or twelve pagodas fubordinate to it; in each of 
which, in the reign of Aurungzebe, a different idol was 
worlhipped, according to Hated fefiivals, under the direc¬ 
tion of the Brahmins of the grand Keylas. 
This wonderful place is majeflically approached, and 
exhibits a noble front, in a vafi area, cut perpendicularly 
through the rock. On the right-hand fide of the entrance 
is a tank of fine water. On each fide of the gateway,there 
is a projection, reaching to the firfi Itory, with much 
fculpture and handfome battlements; all which, however, 
have fuffered greatly from the corroding hand of time. 
The gateway is very fpacious, furnilhed with apartments 
on each fide, fimiiar to what are now ufually added to the 
dowries of the eafiem palaces. Over the gate is a fpacious 
balcony. On the outfide of the upper ilory of the gate¬ 
way are pillars, in a very liandfome Hyle of workmanfhip. 
The paflage through the gateway below is richly adorned 
with mythological fculpture. From the gateway you enter 
a vail area, cut down through the folid rock, to make room 
for an immenfe temple, of the complex pyramidal form, 
whole wonderful Hrufture, variety, profufion, and richnefs, 
of ornament, beggar all delcription. This temple, which is 
hewn from the upper region of the rock, and exhibits a 
mofi majefiic building, is connected with the gateway by- 
a bridge of the folid rock, which was left Handing when 
the mafs of the mountain was excavated. Beneath this 
bridge, at the end oppofite the entrance, there is a figure 
of Bouanne fitting on a lotos, with two elephants with 
their trunks joined; as though fighting, over her head. 
On each fide of the paflage, under the bridge. Hands an 
elephant. There are hkewife ranges of apartments on 
each fide behind the elephants, of which thofe on the left 
are much the finefi, being handfomely decorated with 
figures. Advanced in the area, beyond the elephants, are 
two obelilks, of a l’quare form, graduated to the com¬ 
mencement of the capitals, which leem to have been, 
crowned with liandfome ornaments. Thefe obelilks are 
marked (1) in the annexed copper-plate Plan of this 
celebrated temple. 
Palling through the gateway below, you enter the area 
(2), and, proceeding under a fmall bridge, pals a folid 
fquare mafs (3), which fupports the bull Nundee Hationed 
above; the fides of this recefs are profufely fculptured 
with pillars and figures of various forms. Having palled 
it. 
3 
