DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0433
BAD AMI CAVES. 411
long pendant links hanging down from the ears, similar to what is
found in many Buddhist images, and in the lower portion of the
link is hung a heavy ear-drop that rests against the collar. Prom
the top of his high mulcuta or cap springs a figure of Narasinha,
four-armed and with chalcra and sanlcha. "Whom this is intended
to represent is somewhat difficult to say; as it occupies a position
beside the entrance, it may be intended merely as a figure of
Vishnu in his more active and terrible form, while the next, inside,
represents him in repose seated on Sesha, or it may be for Balarama,
the seventh avatdra. It is, like the others, well cut in a close-
grained rock, and the only damage it has suffered is a piece out of
the long sword, and some slight injury near the ankle. The dress
is knotted behind the thighs, and round his body and thighs he
Tears a belt.1
The last large sculpture to be noticed in this cave is a figure on
the back wall of the verandah, adjoining that of Narasiiiha, and
locally known as Harihara. This name is applied to the Ayinar
of Southern India, the alleged son of Siva by Mohini, and who is
the only male Grramadevata worshipped by the Tamils. There
is, however, another legend of Harihara as a form of Siva assumed
to contend with the Asura, called Guha.2 Here the left side of the
figure represents Hari or Vishnu with the saiikha in his uplifted
hand, the other resting against his haunch, while the earring and
cap are of a different pattern from that of Hara or Siva, on which
is the crescent and a withering skull, while a cobra hangs from
his ear, another from his belt, a third is on the front of his muhuta,
and a fourth twines round the parasu or axe he holds in one hand,
hi the other hand he has some oval object.
The roof of the verandah is divided by cross beams into seven
^cessed panels, each filled with sculptures. In the central circular
compartment in. each of these panels is one of the favourite gods,
*"1Ta> Vishnu, Indra, Brahma, Kama, &c, surrounded in most cases
y smaller sculptures of the eight Dikpalas, or regents of the points
ft© compass, the corners being filled up with arabesques.3
erhaps tie same as the Bdhupaddai of Southern India, represented as worn by
*s and other holy beings when they sit.
I8f\ee ^es's Legends of the Shrine of Harihara, pp. 37-41; Harivamsa, cc.
.181; Ward's Hindus (ed. 1817), vol. i. p. 242.
01 a full description of these, see Ind. Ant., vol. vi. p. 361.
long pendant links hanging down from the ears, similar to what is
found in many Buddhist images, and in the lower portion of the
link is hung a heavy ear-drop that rests against the collar. Prom
the top of his high mulcuta or cap springs a figure of Narasinha,
four-armed and with chalcra and sanlcha. "Whom this is intended
to represent is somewhat difficult to say; as it occupies a position
beside the entrance, it may be intended merely as a figure of
Vishnu in his more active and terrible form, while the next, inside,
represents him in repose seated on Sesha, or it may be for Balarama,
the seventh avatdra. It is, like the others, well cut in a close-
grained rock, and the only damage it has suffered is a piece out of
the long sword, and some slight injury near the ankle. The dress
is knotted behind the thighs, and round his body and thighs he
Tears a belt.1
The last large sculpture to be noticed in this cave is a figure on
the back wall of the verandah, adjoining that of Narasiiiha, and
locally known as Harihara. This name is applied to the Ayinar
of Southern India, the alleged son of Siva by Mohini, and who is
the only male Grramadevata worshipped by the Tamils. There
is, however, another legend of Harihara as a form of Siva assumed
to contend with the Asura, called Guha.2 Here the left side of the
figure represents Hari or Vishnu with the saiikha in his uplifted
hand, the other resting against his haunch, while the earring and
cap are of a different pattern from that of Hara or Siva, on which
is the crescent and a withering skull, while a cobra hangs from
his ear, another from his belt, a third is on the front of his muhuta,
and a fourth twines round the parasu or axe he holds in one hand,
hi the other hand he has some oval object.
The roof of the verandah is divided by cross beams into seven
^cessed panels, each filled with sculptures. In the central circular
compartment in. each of these panels is one of the favourite gods,
*"1Ta> Vishnu, Indra, Brahma, Kama, &c, surrounded in most cases
y smaller sculptures of the eight Dikpalas, or regents of the points
ft© compass, the corners being filled up with arabesques.3
erhaps tie same as the Bdhupaddai of Southern India, represented as worn by
*s and other holy beings when they sit.
I8f\ee ^es's Legends of the Shrine of Harihara, pp. 37-41; Harivamsa, cc.
.181; Ward's Hindus (ed. 1817), vol. i. p. 242.
01 a full description of these, see Ind. Ant., vol. vi. p. 361.