A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c21.52

c21.52

Both the Rāvaṇa-kā-khai and the Rāmeśvara of the second type are simple in their plan. On each side of the entrance to the monolithic cella in the Rāvaṇa-kā-khai are carved a number of figures, including two dvārapālas; and within is a broken image of Durgā. On the walls of the pillared hall are recesses between pilasters carrying bold sculptures in high relief, Śaiva subjects on the south and Vaishnava on the north. The Rāmeśvara contains a lingam in the cella guarded by giant dvārapālas and is remarkable for the wealth of carving which adorns it in all its parts. The handling of the female figures in particular shows ‘a feeling for grace of pose and voluptuous beauty which is instinctive’.