Right-hand Side, first Story.
A large room, formerly connected with the grand temple by a bridge, now broken down . • • Ditto, depth Ditto. height Another room within the foregoing, entered by a door from it, having a bench ‘111 round. This inner room is very dark, having no light but from the doorway; length Ditto, depth Ditto, height Right-hand Side, second Story.
Entered by a staircase from the right side of the foregoing, of 24 steps. A large room, of the same dimensions as a correspondent one below, except two feet less in the height.
Another room within the foregoing, depth . .
Ditto, length Ditto, height The rock seems to have given way in the centre of this room, and the rubbish has fidlen in.
Centre.
Balcony over the gateway, 14 feet by S, and S high. A room within it 9 feet square, and about 9 feet high. Another within it, same dimensions. One on each side from the centre, 22 X 15 each. Bridge 20 feet X 18, with a parapet 3 feet 6 inches high. Ascent by nine steps from the bridge into a distinct room, in which is the bull Nundee, 16 feet 3 inches square. Another bridge, 21 feet X 23 broad, leading to the upper portico of the temple. This portico, with the parapet wall, is 18 feet X 15 feet 2 inches. and 17 high; within a bench that is rounded, of 4 feet high, by 3 feet 7 inches broad. This portico may be entered from the gateway, by a passage that the filling up of the rubbish has afliirded; but the proper passage is by flights of stepi, on each side, of 36 steps each, lead ing up on each side the body of the temple.
Grand Temple.
Door of the portico 12 feet high x 6 feet broad ; length from the door of the portico entering the temple to the back wall of the temple . . .
Length from the same, place to the end of the raised platform behind the temple Greatest breadth of the inner part of the temple of the ceiling Two porches on each side, measured without, 34 feet 10 inches X 15 feet 4- inches.
The particulars of the intricate measurement of this fine temple will be best understood from the plan formed on the spot.
Height of the grand steeple or pyramid computed about, 90 feet from the floor of the court, and of the smaller ones about 50; height of the obelisks about 38 feet ; base 11 feet square, 11 feet distant from each side of the room in which is the bull Nundee. The shaft above the pedestal is 7 feet square. The two elephants on each side the court or entry are larger than life." Ilisharma or Viswakarma bra Joompree.—The Cayenter's Hovel. (Front \V. 5 S.)—
According to the legend. Bislni•ma (creator of the world, but allegorically artificer of Ram) was the artist who fabricated the whole of these wonderffil works in a night of six months; hut the cock crowing before they were finished, they remained imperfect, and he retired, having wounded his finger, to this hovel, in which state, the figure in front (1) of the entrance of this beautiful excavation, is said to be a representation of him holding the wounded finger; but it is more probable, that the figure is in the act of devout meditation, as many figures, with similar positions of the hands, occur. But, quitting the fable for the filet, this excavation is. in beauty, inferior to none. In form it is unique, and in design elegant. The portico is light, and striking to the beholder. On the right hand of the entrance is a fine cistern of water Above the gateway, », which is richly sculptured on the outside, is a balcony, which seems well suited, if not intended, fbr music-gallery to the interior temple, T, which has the appear ance of an elegant chapel, with an arched roof, and is exactly in the sty le of a similar excavation at Camara, on the island of Salsette, a»d another at Ekvera, near the top of Bhure Ghaut, first explored by Mr. Wales the painter. At the upper end is the figure (1) above mentioned. From the ceiling are pro. jeeted stone ribs, following the curvature of the arch to the capitals of the pillars on each side, through the whole length of the excavation. Beside the grand aisle, or body of the excavation, there is a small passage formed by the row of pillars on each side round the altar ; but it is dark and narrow. This singular form of a cave, wherever it has been met with, has conveyed the same impression of its being a place of congregation and adoration, rather than of residence or habitation, and has given rise to au idea, from the orbicuhi• and the name and attitude of its inhabitant, that it may be meant to represent the Almighty, meditating the creation of ulna world, under the arch or canopy of unlimited space. It is necessary, however, to accompany this idea with MI acknowledgment, that the similar eaves of Ekvera and Carrara are not inhabited by Bishurnia, they having only a very high altar, the top of which is circular, and situated, as represented in the annexed drawing, at the back of Bishu•ma.