THE ROCK TEMPLES OF ELEPHANTA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1329, 5 January 1912, Page 6

THE ROCK TEMPLES OF ELEPHANTA.

Tho latest tale of official vandalism comes from India (says the "New York Post"), where tho Department of Public Works Ims undertaken • to renovate the famous Eock Temples of Elephants, which ace to bo visited by King George. The chief glory of this relic is—or was—a central hall of many columns opening east and west on courts with lateral shriue3; Every part of this—roof, columns, mural .sculptures, and ilnor—,iyas, cut,.: from tho livo rock in the hillside-lit least.-a thouj stind years aero. Tinitf.'secrihdeii'ljy Portuguese vandalism and the. action'of the Jiritish Government in using the hill above as an emplacement 'for a"'Heavy gun, had impaired the temple as to make it insecure. Eight columns had fallen, and othors were greatly injured. These ■were simply, and properly, replaced or repaired. Now, however, the experts of the Works •Department have'- conceived the notion' uf making th'e , whole tetuplo as good as now. Broken cornices and mouldings and worn or broken steps have been coneciontiously filled in with •'Portland cement, and the beautiful stonework of the original colunins has disappeared beneath a khaki-coloured wash of cement, cowdung, and water. It is difficult now to distinguish old from he<\-; Only one. column in the side chapel remains untouched 'to .(•how the delicitte dark siirfaco of the original stono. Hideous now yellow steps now rise from four sides to 'the central shrino. Thus far tho splendid, thrcehcadrrV image of Shivn, which has been described as one of tho finest examples of. Indian sculpture, andother great mural reliefs havo been left, untouched.