Mattra, the Mcthora of Pliny, eighteen miles from Agra, on the road to Delhi, is the birth-place of the beneficent god, Chreeshna. The pagoda is constructed of the same stone as Delhi, and stands upon a very extensive octagonal plattbrm of hewn stone. This platform is ascended by two flights Of stone steps, which lead to the grand portal, composed of pillars with the u•,tial sculptures. The pagoda is in the 11 n ut of a cross with a lofty cupola in the centre, and two otlt-rs nearly similar on each side. The sanctuary is separated by a balustrade, behind which only priests are admitted. In the sanctuary is a square altar. 16 feet in height, covered %% b h gold and silver brocade, and here stands the god IZam Bam; the head only is visible, and appears of black marble. with two large rnbies for eyes; the body is covered with a robe of purple velvet.
5. Of those which are of a circular form, Sonnerat thinks that Juggernaut is the most ancient in India, and says that the bralunins attribute it to the first king on the coast of Orissa, 4,800 years. Its plan is a perfect circle, of size. Juggernaut is said to be only another name tiur the god Mahadeo, who is represented by the figure of a huge which projects out of the eastern side of the edifice; the image. ofJ uggernaut stands in the centre of the building, upon an elevated altar. surrounded by an iron railing. Mr. I I amiltun describes the idol as being an irregular pyramidal black stone, and the temple deriving light only from one hundred lamps. He the edifice to a great butt set on end. This place is the residence of the arch-1 rahmin of all India, and. the sacred dominions are said to yield pasturage for 20.000 cows.—See Buchanan's Christian Researches.
Besides these, which are offered as specimens of the differ ent forms of Hindu° temples, there is one more which our general views of the matter require to be noticed. The Ayeen ii berg relates, that near to J uggernant is the temple of the sun, in constructing which, the w hole revenue of the Orissa was. for twelve years, wholly expended ; that the wall which surrounds the whole is 150 cubits high. and 19 cubits tide!: ; that there are three entrances : at the eastern gate are two elephants, each with a man on his trunk ; on the west, are two figures of horsemen, completely armed ; and over the northern gate, are two tigers sitting upon two dead elephants. In front of the gate is a pillar of black stone, of an octagonal form, 50 cubits high. After ascending nine flights of steps, there is an extensive enclosure with a large cupola, constructed of stone, and decorated with sculptures of the sun and stars, surrounded by a border, composed of a variety of human figures, some kneeling, some prostrate with their faces on the earth, and some representing minstrels, also a number of imaginary animals. But of this splendid temple,
so minutely described in the .-Iyeeit Akbery, not a vestige is now to be found.
It may be observed generally, that these temples, for the sake of ablution, are usually placed on the banks of the Ganges, Vistun, or some sacred river ; or where that is not the case, artificial tanks or reservoirs are constructed, generally of a quadrangular tbrtn, lined with free-stone or marble. and havitg steps to descend into them. Crawford mentions several tanks from 300 to 400 feet in breadth.— C-rawfrd's Sketches, vol. i. p. 100. Some of these tanks cover eight or tell acres, have steps of masonry 50 or (10 feet long, are faced with brickwork, and plastered substantially and neatly. The corners of the tank are generally ornamented with round or octagonal pavilions.—Oriental Sports, vol. ii. page 'Ili.
In the Dirty= empire. which, for situation and various circumstances connected with its history, is one of the most interesting districts of the East, the temples of Godama are of a pyramidal form, of solid brick-work, placed upon au elevated terrace ; and the base of the great pyramid is fre quently encompassed by a double row of small ones, having its summit terminated by an umbrella made of iron bars into a sort of filligree work, and adorned with bells; many of these pyramids are from 300 to 500 feet high. In the larger temples. the umbrella, with at least the upper part, sometimes the whole, of the pyramid, is entirely gilt. Other temples, of similar shape, are hollow, and have images of Godama within than ; but the images are more frequently placed in chapels, which encompass the pyramid. Dr. Buchanan saw at Ava an image made of one block of pure alabaster, ofso large a size, that one of its fingers appeared about the length and thick ness of a large man's thigh and leg. The whole statue must therefore have been about fifty feet high.
At one village, Colonel Symes saw 30 or 40 yards full of slat uaries, all employed in maid lug images of the god God am a, and all in the same position, that is, sitting crossed-legged upon a pedestal : the smallest exceeded the human stature. The price of this size was 100 tackals, or 12 or 13 pounds 'sterling. They work the marble with a chisel and mallet, and polish with three stones of different fineness ; and, lastly, by rubbing with the hand, which gives a great degree of brightness and smoothness.