The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c18.13

c18.13

Entering at the northern entrance, and passing up the central aisle, attention is first arrested by the wonderful Brahmâ shrine on the right (Pl. LIV), placed near the entrance, so that the glow of light from the western court falls upon it. It is a cubical cell—a symbol of the universe—pierced by four doors, the ends of the four arms of the cosmic cross, each guarded by two colossal regents of the quarters, like gods of Olympus, which are among the most striking of the Elephanta sculptures. The shrine now contains only the modern lingam of Siva, placed there probably to placate the iconoclasts in early Muhammadan times, or perhaps after it had been desecrated by