DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0177
GREAT BAS-RELIEF, MAHAVALLI0UR. 155
Deva (p. 140), which is believed to coincide with a.d. 1116, or
thereabouts.
The other cave is more accessible than that mentioned above. It
is only a small cell cut out of a rock, with nine simlia or Yali heads
round the front of it (woodcut No. 40), and small snmhas rampant
in front of each jamb.
It is a curious development of the idea Of the Tiger cave at
Katak (woodcut No. 12). There can be no doubt that the same
fantasy governed both, but the steps that connect the two have
been lost during the seven or eight centuries that elapsed between
their excavation.
To the left of it are two miniature cells over elephants' heads.
Great Bas-relief.
There still remains to be described one of the most remarkable
antiquities of the place, which, though rock-cut, can neither be
classed among the temples nor the caves. It is, in fact, a great
bas-relief carved in two great masses of rock, and extending nearly
90 feet north and south, with an average height of about 30 feet. It
is popularly known as Arjuna's penance from the figure of Sanyasi
standing on one leg, and holding his arms over his head, which is
generally assumed to represent that hero of the Mahabharata, but
without more authority than that which applies his name with
that of his brothers and sister to the Rathas above described.1
The most prominent figure in the southern half of the rock is
that of a god four-armed, probably Siva, but his emblems are so
defaced that it is difficult to feel sure which god is represented;
but the attendant gana and generally the accompaniments make
this nearly certain. On his left is the emaciated figure of a man
doing penance, just referred to. Below him is a small one-storeyed
temple, not unlike Draupadi's Eatha, but further removed from the
original utilitarian type, and of a more architectural design. In
the cell is seen an image apparently of Vishnu, to which an old
' The bas-relief is very fairly represented in the Trans. R.A.S. vol. ii. in Plates I.
in J.I., iig, i( that accompany Dr. Babington's paper. Tiiey are reproduced in Can's
<ompi!ation under the same numbers. I possess besides numerous photographs of it
y or. Hunter, Capt. Lyon, Mr. Nicholas, and others, which enables me to bear testi-
mony to the general correctness of Dr. Babington's drawings.
Deva (p. 140), which is believed to coincide with a.d. 1116, or
thereabouts.
The other cave is more accessible than that mentioned above. It
is only a small cell cut out of a rock, with nine simlia or Yali heads
round the front of it (woodcut No. 40), and small snmhas rampant
in front of each jamb.
It is a curious development of the idea Of the Tiger cave at
Katak (woodcut No. 12). There can be no doubt that the same
fantasy governed both, but the steps that connect the two have
been lost during the seven or eight centuries that elapsed between
their excavation.
To the left of it are two miniature cells over elephants' heads.
Great Bas-relief.
There still remains to be described one of the most remarkable
antiquities of the place, which, though rock-cut, can neither be
classed among the temples nor the caves. It is, in fact, a great
bas-relief carved in two great masses of rock, and extending nearly
90 feet north and south, with an average height of about 30 feet. It
is popularly known as Arjuna's penance from the figure of Sanyasi
standing on one leg, and holding his arms over his head, which is
generally assumed to represent that hero of the Mahabharata, but
without more authority than that which applies his name with
that of his brothers and sister to the Rathas above described.1
The most prominent figure in the southern half of the rock is
that of a god four-armed, probably Siva, but his emblems are so
defaced that it is difficult to feel sure which god is represented;
but the attendant gana and generally the accompaniments make
this nearly certain. On his left is the emaciated figure of a man
doing penance, just referred to. Below him is a small one-storeyed
temple, not unlike Draupadi's Eatha, but further removed from the
original utilitarian type, and of a more architectural design. In
the cell is seen an image apparently of Vishnu, to which an old
' The bas-relief is very fairly represented in the Trans. R.A.S. vol. ii. in Plates I.
in J.I., iig, i( that accompany Dr. Babington's paper. Tiiey are reproduced in Can's
<ompi!ation under the same numbers. I possess besides numerous photographs of it
y or. Hunter, Capt. Lyon, Mr. Nicholas, and others, which enables me to bear testi-
mony to the general correctness of Dr. Babington's drawings.