History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v1.c19.s5.8

v1.c19.s5.8

¹ These shrines are now empty, but their purposes are thus explained: North and south of the shrine are doorways leading out upon the platform, on which they stand, and which forms a pradakshina round the Linga shrine; and passing out by the south door the first shrine on the south was appropriated to the Mâtris or seven mothers, arranged along the back wall with Kârtikaswâmin or Siva at the left end, and Ganesa with Bhringi at the right; the next—at the south-east corner—was dedicated to the disgusting Chanda, to whom the refuse of the offerings are thrown; on the east is the shrine of Pârvatî, whose place is just behind her lord's; that on the northeast belongs to Bhairava or Rudra, "the terrible"; and the fifth, on the north side, opposite to the *Somasûtra*, or outlet for the washings of the Linga—which it is unlawful to pass in performing the pradakshina ritual—is the shrine of Gaṇesa. The Mâtris are often represented in Saiva sculpture. They occur at Elûrâ again in cave temples 14, 21, and 22, as also under the bridge leading to the Nandi shrine here; and are found at Elephanta, Gulwâdâ, and elsewhere.—'Cave Temples of India,' pp. 428, 434, 453, and plate 72; 'Archæological Survey of Western India,' vol. v. pp. 39, 40, and plate 34.