South Indian Bronzes: A Historical Survey of South Indian Sculpture with Iconographical Notes Based on Original Sources c9.5

c9.5

The caves at Badami appear from epigraphical evidence to have been excavated about 578 A.D. The image, in question which has sixteen arms, occurs on the West wall of the entrance to Cave I (*vide* Figure 8). It is a fine piece of bas-relief consummately executed. The ‘Kati-hastha’ attitude (*vide* Figure 9) which has become a mannerism with the later Chola sculptors is first seen in the Badami caves.² Next to the Badami caves, the image of *Natarāja* is met with in the bas-reliefs in the Kailāshnāth temple at Conjivaram. This group of temples is one of the earliest examples of the architecture of the Pallavas and was probably constructed about 675 A.D., being later by about a century to the rock-cut temples at Mammallapuram where the Pallava sculpture of the period attained its perfection. The stone panels in the Kailāshnāth temple and the group of temples associated with it contain a very interesting series of representations from the principal legends of the Saivaite mythology many of which have furnished types for the later school of sculpture under the Cholas. As Mr. Rea has justly observed the Pallava art merged into the Chola style in the 8th and 9th centuries; the period of transition is well indicated in the beautiful examples of Pallava sculpture at Trichinopoly (*vide* Fig. 158, Vincent Smith, *History of Fine Art in India and Ceylon*, p. 222). The relief, so beautiful in its dignity and restraint approaches in its spirit and treatment very nearly, the splendid figures of Siva which we find amongst Chola sculptures executed the Roman world, and the most important events of the reign of Antoninus Pius, are related by his biographer, and the reader will not be sorry to find them here in a more concise form. The reign of Antoninus Pius is marked by the rare advantage of furnishing very few materials for history; which is only another mode of saying that its happiness was complete. During the twenty-three years of his administration, the Roman empire was governed by the same invariable maxims of justice and peace. The natives of a vast extent of country were protected by the same laws, and enjoyed the same privileges. The frontiers were defended by the same legions, and the same spirit of moderation and equity prevailed in the councils of the emperor. The death of Antoninus was lamented as a public calamity; and the memory of his virtues was preserved by the gratitude of his subjects, and the imitation of his successor.