ELEPNANTA is situated near Bombay, in an island so named from the figure of an elephant being cut upon the rocks on the south shore: The grand temple is 120 feet square, and supported by four rows of pillars ; along the side of the cavern are from 40 to 50 colossal statues, from 12 to 15 feet high,of good symmetry, and, though not quite detached from the rock, boldly relieved ; some have a helmet of pyramidal form, others a crown deco rated with jewels and devices, and others have only bushy ringlets of flowing hair ; many of them have four hands, some six, holding sceptres, shields, symbols of justice and religion, warlike weapons and trophies of peace ; some inspire horror, others have aspects of be nignity. The face of the great bust is 5 feet long, and the breadth across the shoulders 20 feet.
At the west end of this great pagoda is a dark recess 20 feet square, totally destitute of ornament ; the altar is in the centre,and there are two gigantic statues at each of the four doors by which it is entered. Niebuhr represents these statues as naked, 131 feet high, and the sculpture good; their heads are dressed like the other statues, and they have each rich collars round their necks, and jew els in their ears. Hunter states, that, on entering Ele phanta, there is a feerandah or piazza, which extends from east to west 60 feet, that its breadth is 16 feet, and that the body of the cavern is on every side surrounded by similar feerandahs. (Archreol. vol. vii. p. 287.) Canara, in the island of SALSETTE, which is situated also near to Bombay, is represented' by Linschotten, who visited it in 1759, as being like a town. He describes the front as hewn out of the rock into four stories or galleries, in which there are 300 apartments ; these apartments have generally an interior recess or sanctu ary, and a small tank for ablution. In these recesses, as at Elephanta, are representations of the Lingam deity. The grand pagoda is 40 feet high to the soffit of the arch or dome ; it is 84 feet long, and 46 broad. The portico has fine columns, decorated with bases and capitals: im mediately before the entrance into the grand temple are two colossal statues 27 feet high, which have mitre caps and ear-rings. Thirty-five pillars of an octagonal form, about 5 feet diameter, support the arched roof of the temple ; their bases and capitals are composed of ele phants, horses, and tygers, carved with great exactness. Round the walls two rows of cavities are placed with great regularity for receiving lamps. At the further
end is an altar of a convex shape, 27 feet high, and 20 in diameter ; round this are also recesses for lamps, and directly over it is a large concave dome cut out of the rock. Immediately about this grand pagoda, there are said to be 90 figures of idols, and not less than 600 within the precincts of the excavations.
Mr Grose, who visited India in 1750, seems to be of opinion, that the labour required to construct Elephan ta and Salsette, must have been equal to that of erecting the pyramids of Egypt ; and though it is not mentioned which of the many pyramids he refers to, the remark suf ficiently expresses his admiration of the greatness of these Indian works. He observes, (p. 92.) that the roof of Ele phanta was flat ; that of Salsette of an arch form, sup ported by rows of pillars of great thickness, arranged with much regularity ; that the walls arc crowded with figures of men and women, engaged in various actions in different attitudes ; that along the cornice there arc figures of elephants, horses, and lions, in bold relief ; and above, as in a sky, Genii and Dewtah are seen float ing in multitudes.
But magnificent as the excavations at Elephanta and Salsette must appear, they are still surpassed by those near Vellore, Ellore, or Ellora, which is situated 18 miles from Aurungabad, capital of the province of Balagate, N. Lat. 19° 20', E. Lon. 30'.
Sir C. Mallet, in a paper he transmitted to the presi dent of the Asiatic Society, and published in the sixth volume of their Researches, gives a detailed account of 16 of them.
1. Jugnath Subba. 10. Ramish wur.
2. Adnaut Subba. 11. Kvlas, or Paradise.
3. Indur Subba. 12. Dus Outar.
4. Pursuram Subba. 13. Tee Tal.
5. Doomar Lyna. 14. Bhurt Chutturghun.
6. Jun \Vassa. 15. Biskurma, or carpenter's 7. Comar Wana. hovel.
8. Chana, or oil shop. 16. Dehr \Vanar, or }Tallith 9. Neclkunt Mah dew. core's quarters. _ Of these we must, of course, confine ourselves to such parts as are calculated to convey generally an idea of their architecture : with this view, we have selected for engravings (See Plates CLI. and CLII.) the ground plan of Kylas, the entrance and section of Biskurma, the elegant entrance to the cave of Jugnath Subba, the temple of Indur Subba, and a singularly beautiful piece of sculpture at the door of Jun WTassa. We shall also give the description and dimensions of the Kylas and the Biskurma.