The principal statue is a squatted figure of the ascetic Buddha under the holy Pipal tree, or Bodhi-drum. Overhead there is a representation of the Nirvána, or death of Buddha, and on the pedestal there is an inscription in three lines, which is incomplete owing to the loss of a projecting corner of the base. To the right and left there are smaller figures of Máyá standing under the Sâl tree at the birth of Buddha, and of Buddha himself teaching the law at Banâras after his first attainment of Buddhahood. On the mound to the east there is a standing figure of Buddha, with a small attendant figure holding an umbrella over him. As this attendant has three heads, I believe that it represents the Hindu Triad in the humble position of a servitor of Buddha. At the north-east corner of the village there is a small rude Hindu temple of brick, in and about which a large number of statues have been collected. The temple is dedicated to Bâgheswari Devi (Vyâghreswari), but the principal figure inside is a life-size statue of the eight-armed Durgá conquering the Maheshâsur or Buffalo demon. The figure pointed out to me as that of Bâgheswari was a four-armed female seated on a lion with a child in her lap; but I believe that this figure represents either Indráni with her son the infant Jayanta, or Shasti, the goddess of fecundity, a form of Durga. The principal figure outside the temple is a lifesize statue of Akshobya, who is represented squatted under the Bodhi tree, in the same manner as the ascetic Buddha, with the left hand in the lap, and the right hand hanging over the knee. There is a halo round the head inscribed with the usual Buddhist formula, "Ye Dhurmma," &c.; and near the head there is a short inscription giving the name of the figure "Tún Akshobya-vajra, hún." I procured several short but interesting inscriptions at Kurkihâr. The name of Sakala is mentioned in several of them, and also Kerala in Dakshinades.* The age of these inscriptions, judging from the shapes of the letters, must be about A. D. 800 to 1000. The true name of Kurkihár is said to be Kurak-vihâr, which I believe to be only a contracted form of Kukkutapáda Vihara or temple of the cock's foot," which must have been connected with the Kukkuta-páda-giri 66 *See Plate XIII. Cock's-foot hill, which is described by both Fa-Hian and Hwen Thsang* The Sanskrit Kukkuta is the same word as the Hindi Kukkar or Kurak, a cock, so that Kurak-vihár is clearly the same appellation as Kukkuta-páda Vihára. There was a monastery also of the same name, but this was close to Pátaliputra or Patna. The Kukkuta-páda-giri was a three-peaked hill, which was celebrated as the abode of the great Kasyapa, as well as the scene of his death. On this account it was also called Guru-páda-parvata, or "Teacher'sfoot hill. The situation of Kurkihár corresponds exactly with Fa-Hian's account, excepting that there is no threepeaked hill in its neighbourhood. There are, however, three bare and rugged hills which rise boldly out of the plain about half a mile to the north of the village. As these three hills touch one another at their bases, I think that they may fairly be identified with the three-peaked hill of Hwen Thsang. VI. GIRYEK. From the neighbourhood of Gaya two parallel ranges of hills stretch towards the north-east for about 36 miles to the bank of the Panchâna River, just opposite the village of Giryek. The eastern end of the southern range is much depressed, but the northern range maintains its height, and ends abruptly in two lofty peaks overhanging the Panchâna River. The lower peak on the east is crowned with a solid tower of brick-work, well known as Jarasandha-ka-baithak, or "Jarasandha's throne," while the higher peak on the west, to which the name of Giryek peculiarly belongs, bears an oblong terrace covered with the ruins of several buildings. The principal ruin would appear to have been a vihar, or temple, on the highest point of the terrace, which was approached by a steep flight of steps leading through pillared rooms. The two peaks are connected by a steep pavement, which was formerly continued down to the foot of the hill opposite the village of Giryek. At all the commanding points and bends of this road are still to be seen the stone foundations of small brick stupas from 5 and 6 feet to upwards of 12 feet in diameter. At the foot of the upper * Beal's Fa-Hian, c. XXIII.; and Julien's Hwen Thsang, III., 6. + See Plates III. and XIV. for the position of Giryek, |