Page:Oriental Scenery — One Hundred and Fifty Views of the Architecture, Antiquities, and Landscape Scenery of Hindoostan.djvu/241

28 No. IV.

THE PORTICO OF AN EXCAVATED TEMPLE ON THE ISLAND OF SALSETTE.

Temple is about one hundred and thirty-seven feet in length, thirty-nine feet in width, and thirty-six feet in height, the whole cut out of the natural rock. The large figure at the end of the portico is twenty-two feet in height, and evidently represents the idol Boodha. A figure nearly of the same design and dimensions is sculptured on the opposite wall.

There are several female figures in basso-relievo in the portico, a circumstance very unusual in the Bhood temples.

 No. V.

AN HINDOO TEMPLE AT DEO, IN BAHAR.

is a small village in the neighbourhood of Gya, in the province of Bahar. The Temple is dedicated to Seeva, and reported to be of considerable antiquity, although from the nature of the material of which it is built, (being of hard grey granite) it is but little impaired by time: a coping, however, projecting from above the pilasters, had evidently, at some former period, sheltered the entrance; the ornamental parts in some places have likewise given way. It appears to have had formerly a covering of stucco, the remaining part of which is become of a much darker colour than the stone.

 No. VI.

AN INSIDE VIEW OF THE PRECEDING TEMPLE (No. V.) AT DEO, IN BAHAR.

inside of this building, like the outside, is altogether formed of grey granite; but does not appear to have been incrusted with stucco. In the centre of the ceiling is a sculptured Lotus, supporting an iron chain, to which several bells are attached: it being customary for the Hindoos to give notice of their approach to the sacred apartment by ringing of bells.

 No. VII.

THE ENTRANCE TO THE ELEPHANTA CAVE.

Elephanta Cave, generally so called by Europeans, is an excavated Temple of the Hindoos in a small island about six miles from Bombay. This view represents the principal entrance facing the north; it has also other openings to the east and west. According to the measurement of Mr. Wm. Daniell, the author's nephew, who accompanied him on all his excursions in India, its dimensions are one hundred and thirty feet in length, one hundred and ten feet in breadth, and sixteen feet in height. The ceiling appears originally to have been supported by thirty-two detached pillars, forming nine iles in length, and five in breadth, exclusive of the verandah, or portico, at the entrance, and of the recess on the side opposite, containing the Trimourte, or triple-headed idol; several of the pillars however are now destroyed.

 No. VIII.

PART OF THE INTERIOR OF THE ELEPHANTA.

view is taken near the centre of the Temple, looking westward. The space between four of the pillars is formed into a small temple sacred to Mahadeva, and has an entrance on each side guarded by colossal figures. On the walls are several groups of figures in basso-relievo, evidently relative to the Hindoo mythology, and principally to Mahadeva: many of the figures are of colossal dimensions, and well executed. To the east and west are small apartments, decorated also in the same manner. This excavation is considerably elevated above the sea; the floor, nevertheless, is generally covered with water during the monsoon season; the rain being then driven in by the wind; a circumstance to which, possibly, its present state of decay is chiefly owing, although some have supposed it to have been produced by the violence of hostile superstition. 