Hi Friends, I started with the part III, detailing about the rathas of this site. I will try to complete this asap. Recently got Epigraphia Indica volumes from ASI so once finished with Mahabalipuram, I will come back to Pallava genealogy topic which I left in between.
Saubrah, I also doubt if the lion had anything to do with Draupathi Ratha. Lion, Bull and the elphant are placed at different places. The lion does not look at the temple or the god in the sanctum as it is typically done.
Hi Arvind, yes you are correct that the lion does not look towards the temple cell, however there was a constraint of the rock and its position, that's why I wrote the comment 'utilization at the maximum'. They knew that the lion cannot be carved with facing the ratha however may be done if different manner. What should they do, leave the boulder as it is or beautify it by carving something. If something then what? Would it be good if they carve a lion and hence make the association with ratha which would be in near vicinity of this boulder. This is my idea of thinking the carving. There can be other theories about it and we should find all such theories and put it to discussion, lets see if we can reach a consensus and hence we will accept that in forgoing articles. What you say?