EXTERIOR VISWAKARMA.—ELLORA.
OF the Buddhist group, the principal Cave is the so-called Viswakarma, the only Chaitya Cave of the series. It is neither so large as those of Karli or Salsette, being only 43 ft. wide internally, and 83 ft. 1 in. in length; nor is it so rich in its details as the two later Chaityas at Ajunta.
Internally the design of the Temple is marked with considerable elegance and simplicity. The two pillars that support the gallery over the entrance are rich and handsome; the twenty-eight others are simple octagons, changing for a short portion of their height into a figure of sixteen sides.
In front of the daghopa is Buddha seated with his feet down, and surrounded by flying figures and Genii, savouring much more of Brahmanism than the purer religion of the Ascetic, and throughout the whole of the interior the sculptures are much more secular than in any other Buddhist excavation. The alteration in style, in fact, is so obvious, as to prove that the religion of Buddha had lost all its primitive force and originality before this Cave was excavated, and was fast merging into these religions that superseded it.
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