and the hair, as in the former figures, is in small spiral curls. The figure measures about 12′′ 50 in height, and is of highly polished black stone, so that the colour is not that of the tenth Jina.

Babu Pratapa Chandra Ghosha who has also kindly examined the inscription on this figure, states that he has been able to read the following: "In the Samvat year 1908, this figure of Santinatha is placed by **** * * * * on a jewel seat," but he has some doubt regarding the first numeral in the date.

1

The year 1908 Samvat corresponds to 1851 A.D. Only one figure of Santinātha was in the Museum, prior to 22nd August 1879, as far as I have been able to make out, and it was presented by G. Wellesley, Esq., 15th July 1826, as ascertained by me from the letter that accompanied the donation, and which I found among the records of the Society, in 1879. This letter, however, could not be found, in 1883, when I again applied to the Society for it, in order once more to verify the date, and description of the figure.

J.Ms. 4.—A small fragment, l′ 3′′ high, of an erect figure of a Jina, but wanting the head and a considerable part of the legs and arms. It has been part probably of a larger sculpture, as there are to the right two small figures of Jinas in the bhumisparsa mudra. No history.

As. Res., Vol. XV, App., p. XIII.

BRAHMANICAL SCULPTURES.

Bhuvaneswar.

This ruined temple city is situated in Orissa, a little more than half-way between Cuttack and the town of Puri, of Jagganath. It is devoted to the worship of Siva, and is a great place of pilgrimage. The great Sivaite Temple at Bhuvaneswar was commenced in 500 A.D. by Yayāti Kesārī, the founder of the Lion dynasty of Orissa, and was completed by one of his successors, in 657 A.D. The beautiful vestibule to this temple was built between 1099 and 1104 A.D., not long after the Lion dynasty had been extinct. More than 500 temples exist, in a more or less ruined condition, ranging from 50 to 150 feet in height. Fergusson describes each as consisting "of a great tower or rimana, in the centre of which, as in those of Southern India, is the cell, a cubical apartment containing the image. No light is admitted to this except by the door, and this is, in all great temples at least, preceded by a square porch or mantapa, with a door on each face; three opening towards the court, one to the cell." The porches externally are covered with rich carvings, but in some cases the subjects are of the most obscene character.

The temples of Bhuvaneswar have been described in detail, and profusely illustrated by Dr. Rājendrā Lala Mitra, in his large work, entitled "The Antiquities of Orissa."

Br. 1.-A sculpture, 36" 50 high, very elaborately and finely carved. It represents a human female figure, 26" 50 high, standing under a kind of bower or arch overhead, consisting of arboreal devices, chiefly intertwining stems and

1 Fergusson's Hist. Arch., Vol. II, p. 592.

2 Op. cit., Vol. 2, 1880. Conf. Stirling, As. Res., Vol. XV, p. 187; Hunter's Orissa, Vol. 2.

The

flowers, a large closed convolvulus-like flower hanging down. directly over the head of the figure. The figure is sculptured in that curious and unnatural double curve, which seems to have been considered by Indian artists of that time as the most graceful attitude for a female figure. The right hip is thrown so much to that side, and the left shoulder is inclined so much to the left, that the nates form a marked concavity, the left limb being relaxed and thrown backwards. The back of the figure is directed outwards and to the left, but the face is full on to the right side, and the head is bent down looking at a small human figure, a child with an old face, and which is held up in the hands, on a level with the face of the statuette. figure is clothed from the waist downwards with a thin garment reaching down to near the ankles, and thrown over the left shoulder and round the right arm. The expression of the face is pleasing, but the features are peculiar, as the nose is long, sharp and straight. The hair is simply brushed back from the forehead over the ears, and is tied behind the neck and gathered into a large loop or bow, into which a bunch of the flowers of Saraca indica is introduced. There are a few short spiral curls over each temple, and a single flower on each side of the head with a central hair ornament. The ears are pierced for two kinds of ear-rings, and round the neck is a torque and long-beaded chain, and on the arms are armlets-one a knobbed bracelet, and a long one consisting of a number of united rings, both being worn by Orissa women of the present day. There are rings on the fingers and toes, and two kinds of bangles. To the left is a small erect bearded human figure, with some object thrown across the right shoulder, and the left hand held upwards. The hair in this figure is dressed much in the way that the men of Orissa now wear their hair. To the right there is a small erect human female figure, 4"

high, and dressed much in the same way as the principal figure.

In Dr. Mitra's catalogue this sculpture and the following three others, are numbered 805-8, and designated "Ornamented figures in alto relievo, standing under trees; brought from Cuttack. Donor, Captain Kittoe," and the Journal of the Asiatic Society is referred to; but the volume and page in which these sculptures were supposed by Dr. Mitra to be mentioned are not given, and I have in vain endeavoured to find any reference to them in the Journal of the Asiatic Society. In his work on Orissa,1 after he had visited Bhuvaneswar, Dr. Mitra speaks of Br. 3 of this series as a sculpture from Bhuvaneswar, but he does not give his authority for so doing, so that some doubt still attaches to the history of these sculptures which are placed only tentatively under Bhuvaneswar. Br. 1 bears a short inscription which Babu Pratapa Chandra Ghosha has been so good as to examine for me, and informs me that it means "Kartikeya, nursed by Ganga, to whose care the hero was consigned by Agni. Although Kartikeya was born of Siva (Durga), Ganga is said to have nursed him. The bearded figure standing behind the large female figure, I would think represents Agni, who is redbearded. The reading in Roman letters, therefore, is-Gangata = belonging to Ganga=Kartikeya.”

=

Presented to the Asiatic Society of Bengal by Captain M. Kittoe.

Br. 2.-Another erect human female figure, probably a dancing girl, represented in the curved attitude of the previous statue, and standing under a tree on which there are large fruits, among which two common monkeys-Macacus rhesus, are enjoying themselves. The front of this figure

1 Op. cit., Vol. I, p. 101.

is directed towards the spectator, and it is represented nude, with the exception of a very flimsy garment which is being pulled up and adjusted with both hands over the person. The hair is dressed much as in the previous sculpture, and the figure is decorated with ornaments of much the same character. There are two small attendant female figures, one of which, as in the large figure, has a Siva mark on the forehead. The front of the pedestal, which is a simple flat slab, as in the previous sculpture, bears a short inscription, which Babu Pratapa Chandra Ghosha considers to be a mason's mark, thus-"Radhuta = finished = completed accomplished."

=

Br. 3.-A sculpture similar to the last, but somewhat larger. The principal figure is 27′′ high, and represents a woman standing erect under a bower formed by a fig tree in which are seen squirrels, and a bird. She is engaged at her toilet, and holds in front of her face, in her left hand, a convex, somewhat square mirror, with a handle behind. Her right hand is raised over her head arranging her hair, which is done up much in the same way as in Br. 1 of this series, and similarly ornamented. Her dress and ornaments are nearly alike those of Br. 1. She is attended by two human figures, one a female figure measuring 19" high, and the other a small male figure, 11" 50 high. The attendant woman has a satchel over her right shoulder, and her left hand is thrown backwards taking out some object for the use of her mistress whom she resembles in her attire. The features of this figure are distinguished by a prominently hooked nose. The man has a bag resembling a courier's bag over his left shoulder, and his right hand is raised as if he had been handing some object to the lady. Presented to the Asiatic Society of Bengal by Captain M. Kittoe.

Br. 4.-A sculpture like Br. 1, but with a flat slab held