DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0432
410 BEAHMANICAL CAVE-TEMPLES.
Viratrupa, but there can be no doubt that it relates to Vishnu in the
fifth or Vamana avatdra. He is represented in this case as eight-
armed (Ashtabhuja), with chahra, sword, gadha or club, and arrow
in his right hands, and smilcha, bow, and shield in the left, while
with the fourth on that side he points to a round grinning face,
perhaps Bahu, to which he lifts also his left foot. Over this face is
the crescent moon; beside Vishnu's jewelled mukuta, is a Varaha
and two other figures, and below on his right is his attendant
Garuda.1 In front stand three figures, probably representing Bali
and his wife, with Sukra his councillor, the first holding the pot
out of which he had, against Sukra's advice, poured the water on
the hands of the dwarf in confirmation of his promise to grant
Vamana's request for as nrach as he could compass at three strides.
But scarcely was the water poured on his hands when, say the
legends, " he developed all his divine form. The earth became his
feet, the heaven his head, the sun and moon his eyes, the Pisaeha3
his toes, &c, &c. At the sight of this divine form, the Asuras,
Bali's subjects, enraged dashed at him." They were of all animal
and monstamrs shapes, and armed with all sorts of instruments,
their heads decked with diadems, earrings, &c. Vishnu's form,
however, grew as he dispersed them, until the sun and moon were
no higher than his breast, and still he grew.2
Holding by his thigh is Garuda, and above the heads of the three
figures before him is one with sword and shield falling down, and a
half-figure behind.
Facing this at the other end of the verandah, just outside the
pilaster that separates it from the first described of the sculptures,
is another large one representing Vishnu eight-armed, with chah-'h
arrow, gadha, and sword in his right hands, and in the left the
saiiUta, shield, and bow (sarnga), the fourth hand placed against his
loin. Behind the head a portion of the headdress is formed into
circular frill, somewhat resembling an aureole: this may be obsenet
also both in the last described figure and in the next. He wear-
i»
1 Garuda corresponds to the eagle of Jove; he is the vdhana or conveyance
Vishnu, and is usually placed before Vaishnava temples, as Nandi is in fr°nt of °'
ones.
2 See HarivaMa, cc. 254-257. The account of the contest bears a strong M^
to that of the onset of Mara's emissaries upon Buddha, as given in Speuce Bar J
Manual of Budhism,
Viratrupa, but there can be no doubt that it relates to Vishnu in the
fifth or Vamana avatdra. He is represented in this case as eight-
armed (Ashtabhuja), with chahra, sword, gadha or club, and arrow
in his right hands, and smilcha, bow, and shield in the left, while
with the fourth on that side he points to a round grinning face,
perhaps Bahu, to which he lifts also his left foot. Over this face is
the crescent moon; beside Vishnu's jewelled mukuta, is a Varaha
and two other figures, and below on his right is his attendant
Garuda.1 In front stand three figures, probably representing Bali
and his wife, with Sukra his councillor, the first holding the pot
out of which he had, against Sukra's advice, poured the water on
the hands of the dwarf in confirmation of his promise to grant
Vamana's request for as nrach as he could compass at three strides.
But scarcely was the water poured on his hands when, say the
legends, " he developed all his divine form. The earth became his
feet, the heaven his head, the sun and moon his eyes, the Pisaeha3
his toes, &c, &c. At the sight of this divine form, the Asuras,
Bali's subjects, enraged dashed at him." They were of all animal
and monstamrs shapes, and armed with all sorts of instruments,
their heads decked with diadems, earrings, &c. Vishnu's form,
however, grew as he dispersed them, until the sun and moon were
no higher than his breast, and still he grew.2
Holding by his thigh is Garuda, and above the heads of the three
figures before him is one with sword and shield falling down, and a
half-figure behind.
Facing this at the other end of the verandah, just outside the
pilaster that separates it from the first described of the sculptures,
is another large one representing Vishnu eight-armed, with chah-'h
arrow, gadha, and sword in his right hands, and in the left the
saiiUta, shield, and bow (sarnga), the fourth hand placed against his
loin. Behind the head a portion of the headdress is formed into
circular frill, somewhat resembling an aureole: this may be obsenet
also both in the last described figure and in the next. He wear-
i»
1 Garuda corresponds to the eagle of Jove; he is the vdhana or conveyance
Vishnu, and is usually placed before Vaishnava temples, as Nandi is in fr°nt of °'
ones.
2 See HarivaMa, cc. 254-257. The account of the contest bears a strong M^
to that of the onset of Mara's emissaries upon Buddha, as given in Speuce Bar J
Manual of Budhism,