DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0178
150 EJSTERX CAVES.
devotee on the left hand, said to represent Dronacharya, is offering
worship, with another a little lower on the right. Besides these
there aro some 13 or 14 human beings, men and women, life size,
represented in this southern half, some six or seven gana or dwarfs,
usually attendant on Siva, as many gandharvas or harpies, flying
figures, the upper part of whose bodies are human, the lower
extremities those of birds with claws.1 In addition to these there
are lions, deer, hares, monkeys, and birds; and if the lower part of
the rock had been complete—like everything here, it is left unfinished
—it would havo contained a whole menagerie of animals.
The upper part of the right half bas-relief contains some 20
figures of men and women with the same admixture of animals,
gandharvas, and gana, like those on the southern half, all hurrying
towards the centre, where the principal object of worship was
evidently placed. The lower part of this half is occupied by two
elephants, a male and female, life size, with four young ones, which
are as perfect representations of those animals as were probably
ever executed in stone.
In the centre on a projecting ledge, between these two great masses
of rock, once stood the statue of the great Naga Eaja, who was the
principal personage for whose honour this great bas-relief was de-
signed. The upper part of the figure, above 5 feet in height, was
that of a man overshadowed by a great seven-headed serpent hood
(woodcut No. 41), below the figure was that of a serpent. The upper
part has fallen, but still remains on the ground,2 the lower part is
still attached to the rock. Below him is his wife, about 7 feet in
1 These occur frequently at Sanchi {Tree and Serpent Worship, Plates XXv.,
XXVI., XXVII., XXVIII., and passim XXIV., Figs. 1 and 2. and in all Buddhist
sculptures, though generally in a different form from those here represented. Also iu
the wall paintings in the Ajanta Caves; they are called Kinnaras.
2 It was evident that the head of the Naga Raja had fallen from the accident of its
position, the artists having placed it in the centre, where it could have a shadow beta
it, but where it had no support. I consequently wrote to my friend Dr. Hunter to try
and find it. With the assistance of the then Madras Government he removed the san ,
and found it lying where it fell. I afterwards made application to the Government to
have it replaced, which could easily be done, and so give meaning to the whole bas-
relief. This, I understood from my friend Mr. Campbell Johnstone, who took out my
application, was also sanctioned and ordered to bo carried out, but from photograp
recently received it appears not only that this has not been done, but that the bust
been removed from where it originally stood after its recovery.
devotee on the left hand, said to represent Dronacharya, is offering
worship, with another a little lower on the right. Besides these
there aro some 13 or 14 human beings, men and women, life size,
represented in this southern half, some six or seven gana or dwarfs,
usually attendant on Siva, as many gandharvas or harpies, flying
figures, the upper part of whose bodies are human, the lower
extremities those of birds with claws.1 In addition to these there
are lions, deer, hares, monkeys, and birds; and if the lower part of
the rock had been complete—like everything here, it is left unfinished
—it would havo contained a whole menagerie of animals.
The upper part of the right half bas-relief contains some 20
figures of men and women with the same admixture of animals,
gandharvas, and gana, like those on the southern half, all hurrying
towards the centre, where the principal object of worship was
evidently placed. The lower part of this half is occupied by two
elephants, a male and female, life size, with four young ones, which
are as perfect representations of those animals as were probably
ever executed in stone.
In the centre on a projecting ledge, between these two great masses
of rock, once stood the statue of the great Naga Eaja, who was the
principal personage for whose honour this great bas-relief was de-
signed. The upper part of the figure, above 5 feet in height, was
that of a man overshadowed by a great seven-headed serpent hood
(woodcut No. 41), below the figure was that of a serpent. The upper
part has fallen, but still remains on the ground,2 the lower part is
still attached to the rock. Below him is his wife, about 7 feet in
1 These occur frequently at Sanchi {Tree and Serpent Worship, Plates XXv.,
XXVI., XXVII., XXVIII., and passim XXIV., Figs. 1 and 2. and in all Buddhist
sculptures, though generally in a different form from those here represented. Also iu
the wall paintings in the Ajanta Caves; they are called Kinnaras.
2 It was evident that the head of the Naga Raja had fallen from the accident of its
position, the artists having placed it in the centre, where it could have a shadow beta
it, but where it had no support. I consequently wrote to my friend Dr. Hunter to try
and find it. With the assistance of the then Madras Government he removed the san ,
and found it lying where it fell. I afterwards made application to the Government to
have it replaced, which could easily be done, and so give meaning to the whole bas-
relief. This, I understood from my friend Mr. Campbell Johnstone, who took out my
application, was also sanctioned and ordered to bo carried out, but from photograp
recently received it appears not only that this has not been done, but that the bust
been removed from where it originally stood after its recovery.