Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 1.djvu/394

 346 DRAVIDIAN STYLE. BOOK III. lotus flower, with foliage and birds behind her ; the central one on a makara or conventionalised alligator ; and the third on a tortoise, with water plants represented behind them, and richly- carved torans above. All three are in almost entire relief. These figures are scarcely found in later sculptures, whilst they are frequent in cave temples of the 5th and later centuries. The apartment is about 23^ ft. long by 9 deep, and n ft. high, and has two free - standing pillars and two in antis, of a pattern differing entirely from those of the temple, but of a much earlier type than those in the Lanke^wara. They have low bases and shafts of sixteen sides, with cushion capitals and bracket abaci. The frieze above has been divided into small compartments, with seven small groups of figures in them. The excavation above has only the front of its balcony completed. Though much damaged by Moslim violence, the lower part of the entrance to the court shows a considerable advance on any- thing found at Mamallapuram, and an approach to what the gopurams afterwards became, in so far at least, as the perpendicular parts are concerned ; instead, however, of the tall pyramids which were so universal in later times, the entrance to the Kailas exhibits only what may be called the gen of such an arrangement. It is the upper member of a gopuram Scale 10 ft. to i in. way, and so small as not to visible except from above. 1 On each side of the Nandi Mandap stands a square pillar or dhwajastambha, bearing the trisula or ensign of Siva, now much 1 In Daniell's 'Oriental Scenery' it. Being cut in the rock, no addition or (1816), pt. iv. plate 12, the gateway is alteration could afterwards have been shown, and in plate 1 5 the upper part of intended.