The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c16.s2.52

v2.c16.s2.52

**Sarpa Gumpha:—Retracing** our steps now to the west of the Hāthi Gumphā, the first cave worthy of notice occurs on the most protruding ledge of the fracture between the Udayagiri and the Khaṇḍagiri hills (Plate XXI). It is remarkable for having in front, on the top of the entrance, a rude carving of the hood of a three-headed cobra. (Plate XX. E.1), whence its name Ajāgara Gumphā—*ajāgara*, a serpent that is able ‘to swallow’ (*gara*) ‘a goat’ (*ajā*) Under the hood of the serpent, the cave is cut in the form of a cube of 4 feet with a door just large enough to admit a man crawling in, and framed in the usual style. By the side of the door occurs a short inscription, in two parts of which the following are transcript and translation by James Prinsep:—[31]