Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 1.djvu/391

 CHAP. III. KAILAS, ELURA. 343 culty has been escaped by the fact that the boulders of granite out of which they are hewn were found lying free on the shore ; but at Elura,no insulated rock being available, a pit was dug around the temple in the sloping side of the hill, about 1 06 ft deep at its in- most side, and half that height at the entrance or gopuram, the floor of the pit being 160 ft. wide and 280 ft. in length. In the centre of this rect- angular court stands the temple, as shown in the accompanying plan (Woodcut No. 199), con- sisting of a vimana, 96 ft. in height, preceded by a large square porch, supported by sixteen columns (owing prob- ably to the immense weight to be borne) ; before this stands a detached porch for the Bull Nandi, reached by a bridge ; and in front of all stands the gate- way, which is in like manner connected with the last porch by a bridge, the whole being cut out of the native rock. Besides these there are two pillars, or dhwajastambhas (literally banner staves) left standing on each side of the detached porch, and two elephants about the size of life. Round the court there is a peristylar cloister with cells, and above are some halls (not shown in the plan), which give to the whole a complexity, and at the same time a complete- ness, which never fail to strike the beholder with astonishment and awe. . As will be seen from the view (Woodcut No. 200), the out- line of the vimana or .rikhara is at first sight very similar to that 199. Kailas at Eldra. (From ' Cave Temples ot India.') Scale 100 ft. to i in. 1 1 This plan represents the temple and surrounding shrines at the level of their upper floors, but the surrounding court at the lower level of the entrance. At the upper level on the north side is the Lanke^ara temple, the hall 01 which is about 75 ft. long by 50 ft. wide, exclusive of the shrine.