DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0181
KULUMTTLTT. 159
bo little altered that there is no difficulty in tracing all their forms
back to the Eaths from which they were derived.
Ktjlumulu.
At a place called Kulumulu, half way between Tinnevelly and
Strivelliputtar, about 30 miles distant from each, there exist a
number of rock-cut sculptures and temples, which if properly
examined and described might prove of considerable interest. At
present they are only known from Capt. Lyons' photographs,1 and as
no dimensions are given and the inscriptions are still untranslated,
it is difficult to say much about them.
On one side of the hill they all belong to the Jaina religion, and
consist (photos. 337,338, and 339) of a great number of Jaina figures
of various sizes, and differently accompanied which were originally
intended to be protected by a wooden roof, which has now dis-
appeared. They are not of great beauty or antiquity, probably
the 11th or 12th century. Indeed they are of so little interest,
that the place would hardly be worth mention, were it not that on
the other side of the hill there is a little rock-cut temple dedicated
to Siva which is a gem of its class. It is almost a counterpart of the
upper part of the Sikhara of the Kailas at Elura, and consequently
probably of the same age. It is, however, even more elaborately
sculptured than even that famous temple, and taken altogether it is
perhaps, as far as it goes, as fine a specimen of its style as is to be
found in India. It is, however, like most things in the south,
unfinished, and its cell untenanted. Still it is so beautiful that it is
to be regretted that more is not known about it, especially as it
probably is not unique, but other specimens of the class may be
found in that neighbourhood when looked for.
Conclusion.
Although it is evident from the preceding investigation that these
astern caves cannot compete—as previously hinted—either in
extent or in magnificence, with the rock-cut temples found on the
' esteru side of India, still it results from an examination of their
peculiarities, that they are far from being devoid of interest in
1 Photographs of Ancient Arch, in Southern India, Nos. 337 to 342.
bo little altered that there is no difficulty in tracing all their forms
back to the Eaths from which they were derived.
Ktjlumulu.
At a place called Kulumulu, half way between Tinnevelly and
Strivelliputtar, about 30 miles distant from each, there exist a
number of rock-cut sculptures and temples, which if properly
examined and described might prove of considerable interest. At
present they are only known from Capt. Lyons' photographs,1 and as
no dimensions are given and the inscriptions are still untranslated,
it is difficult to say much about them.
On one side of the hill they all belong to the Jaina religion, and
consist (photos. 337,338, and 339) of a great number of Jaina figures
of various sizes, and differently accompanied which were originally
intended to be protected by a wooden roof, which has now dis-
appeared. They are not of great beauty or antiquity, probably
the 11th or 12th century. Indeed they are of so little interest,
that the place would hardly be worth mention, were it not that on
the other side of the hill there is a little rock-cut temple dedicated
to Siva which is a gem of its class. It is almost a counterpart of the
upper part of the Sikhara of the Kailas at Elura, and consequently
probably of the same age. It is, however, even more elaborately
sculptured than even that famous temple, and taken altogether it is
perhaps, as far as it goes, as fine a specimen of its style as is to be
found in India. It is, however, like most things in the south,
unfinished, and its cell untenanted. Still it is so beautiful that it is
to be regretted that more is not known about it, especially as it
probably is not unique, but other specimens of the class may be
found in that neighbourhood when looked for.
Conclusion.
Although it is evident from the preceding investigation that these
astern caves cannot compete—as previously hinted—either in
extent or in magnificence, with the rock-cut temples found on the
' esteru side of India, still it results from an examination of their
peculiarities, that they are far from being devoid of interest in
1 Photographs of Ancient Arch, in Southern India, Nos. 337 to 342.