Page:Footfalls of Indian History.djvu/213

THE SYNTHESIS OF HINDUISM 165 top. Kenheri was a university : Elephanta was a cathedral : and both were appanages of some royal seat.

How splendid is the approach through pillars to the great reredos in three panels that takes up the whole back wall of the vast cell! And in the porch, as we enter this central chamber, how impressive are the carvings to right and left! On the left, in low relief, is a picture representing Shiva seated in meditation. The posture is that of Buddha, and it requires a few minutes of close examination to make sure of the distinction. The leopard-skin, the serpents, and the jata, however, are clear enough. There is no real ground for confusion. On our right is another low relief of Durga, throwing herself into the universe, in God-intoxication. Behind her the very air is vocal with saints and angels chanting her praises. The whole is like a verse from Chandi. And we hold our breath in astonishment as we look and listen, for here is a freedom of treatment never surpassed in art, combined with a message like that of mediaeval Catholicism. The artist here uttered himself as securely as the Greek. It was only in the thing said that he was so different. And for a translation of that into terms European, it needs that we should grope our way back to Giotto and Fra Angelico and the early painters of missals.

Our astonishment is with us still as we penetrate the shadows and find our way amongst the grey stone pillars to that point from which we can