A handbook for travellers in India, Burma, and Ceylon . . D., we cannot be farwrong in attributing them all to the6th century. The importance of thisdate can scarcely be overestimated, asit is the first of the kind yet discoveredin a Brahmanical cave. In theverandah of the First Cave, excavatedabout 50 ft. up in the face of therock, and consecrated to Shiva, arefour pillars and two pilasters. Thetwo pillars to the S. have been brokenby lightning, and are now supportedby wooden blocks. The pillars areslightly carved in relief, to about half-way from the top. The whole restson a stylobate, along
A handbook for travellers in India, Burma, and Ceylon . . D., we cannot be farwrong in attributing them all to the6th century. The importance of thisdate can scarcely be overestimated, asit is the first of the kind yet discoveredin a Brahmanical cave. In theverandah of the First Cave, excavatedabout 50 ft. up in the face of therock, and consecrated to Shiva, arefour pillars and two pilasters. Thetwo pillars to the S. have been brokenby lightning, and are now supportedby wooden blocks. The pillars areslightly carved in relief, to about half-way from the top. The whole restson a stylobate, along the front ofwhich are Ganas (dwarf attendants ofShiva) in all sorts of attitudes. Onthe left of the verandah is a dwarpalwith a Nandi over him. Oppositethis dwarpal is a figure of Shiva, 5 , with eighteen arms, dancing thetandava.^ Between it and the caveis a chapel, and beyond an ante-chamber leading to the hall. In iton the left is Vishnu or Harihara,with four hands, holding the usual1 See descriptions on pp. 19-20. .=jn. Temple at Cave at Badami, from a plan by Dr Burgess. {To/ace />. 371. i ROUTE 27. BADAMI CAVES 371 symbols, and on the right theArddhanarishwar, or combined maleand female figure, attended by aNandi bull and the skeleton figure of Maheshasuri or Durgadestroying the buffalo-demon Mahe-shasur is on the back wall, on the rightwall Ganpati, and on the left the antechamber and thehall are two pillars only. The hall haseight columns of the Elephanta typeand measures 42 ft. by 24^ ft. Theceiling and that of the antechamber aredivided into compartments by carvedbeams. In the centre compartmentof the former is a relief of the GreatSnakes head. At the back of thehall is a small chapel with alingam. The Second Cave Temple is ratherhigher up the cliff and has a fine the ends of the platform in front ofit are two dwarpals with a femaleattendant. Four square columns,finely carved, separate the platformfrom the verand
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