Page:Picturesque Nepal.djvu/169

 garland of marigolds carelessly thrown around its neck. On each flank of this side of the building is a stone pillar with a lotus capital; the one, around the base of which is a coiled serpent, supports a great brass chakra—the disc of Vishnu—while the other, rising from the back of a monster tortoise, is crowned by a huge metal conch-shell (sankra). Above is the usual overhanging pagoda-eave, the deep shadow of which is cleverly broken by carved wooden brackets, composed of sprawling demons and deities with many arms. The pavement in front is encumbered with bells suspended from stone supports, altars with embossed tympanums, brass umbrellas, and dragons promiscuously crouching around, while a very precious metal effigy of the founder, facing the main doorway, is carefully protected by an ironwork screen forged like coarse chainmail. On the pillar surmounted by the chakra is a long inscription cleanly cut in Sanskrit, which is considered to be the oldest and most interesting in Nepal. It records a donation to the god of Changu-Narain made by the queen Rajyavati on the