Intercourse between India and the Western World from the Earliest Times to the Fall of Rome c12.57

c12.57

There is little doubt that we have in this passage a description of one of the great Hindu rock-temples of the Deccan—Elephanta, Ajantā, or Kāṇheri¹. Sandanes, the informant of Bardesanes, probably came from the Deccan. In the *Periplus*², a certain Sandares or Sandanes is mentioned, probably Sundara Śātakarṇi. This Sandanes was therefore probably Sundara, a Śaka from the Deccan too. The androgynous image was no doubt Arddhanārīshvara, Śiva in his double aspect, and the god (or goddess) seated upon his head, the Ganges nestling in his matted locks. From this arose, perhaps, the legend of the “streams of sweat” flowing down the statue. The curious passage about the Door reminds us of a similar test said to be applied to candidates in the cave-temple at the Eleusinian mysteries and refers, no doubt, to some forgotten esoteric rite.