DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0133
MAHAVALLIPUR. Ill
nearly that at which the granite rocks at Mahavallipur were carved
into the wondrous forms which still excite our admiration there.
If this date can be established,—and there seems no reason for
doubting its practical correctness,—the first and most interesting
inference we derive from it, is that as all the rock-cut structures at
Mahavallipur are in what is known as the Dravidian style of archi-
tecture of the south of India, they are the earliest known examples
of that style. The proofs of this proposition are of course mainly
of a negative character, and may, consequently, be upset by any new
discovery, but this at least is certain, that up to the present moment
no more ancient buildings in that style of architecture have yet been
brought to light. No one has in writing described any one that
can lay claim to an earlier date, and no photograph or drawing has
exhibited any more Archaic form of architecture in the south of India,
and so far at least as my researches extend, none such exist. The
conclusion from this seems inevitable that all the buildings anterior
to the year 700 or thereabouts, were erected in wood or with some
perishable materials, and have perished either from fire or from
causes which in that climate so soon obliterate any but the most sub-
stantial erections constructed with the most imperishable materials.
This conclusion is, it must be confessed somewhat unexpected and
startling, inasmuch as it has just been shown from Asoka's lats,
and from the rails at Buddha Gava, and Bharhut, that stone was used
for architectural and ornamental purposes in the north of India
for nearly 1,000 years before the date just quoted, and though we
might naturally expect a more recent development in the south the
interval seems unexpectedly great. "What makes this contrast of age
even more striking is, the fact that in the neighbouring island of
Ceylon stone architecture was practised in considerable perfection
even before the Christian era. The great Ruanwelli Dagoba was
erected by King Duttugaimani between the year 161 and 137 B.C.,
and the Thuparamya even earlier by King Devananpiatissa, the
contemporary of Asoka—and both these exhibit a considerable
amount of skill and richness in stone ornamentation.1 Still facts
are stubborn things, and until some monuments are discovered in
■Gravida Desa, whose dates can be ascertained to be earlier than
the end of the seventh century, we must be content to accept the
1 lliUory of Indian Architecture, p. 188, ct seq.
nearly that at which the granite rocks at Mahavallipur were carved
into the wondrous forms which still excite our admiration there.
If this date can be established,—and there seems no reason for
doubting its practical correctness,—the first and most interesting
inference we derive from it, is that as all the rock-cut structures at
Mahavallipur are in what is known as the Dravidian style of archi-
tecture of the south of India, they are the earliest known examples
of that style. The proofs of this proposition are of course mainly
of a negative character, and may, consequently, be upset by any new
discovery, but this at least is certain, that up to the present moment
no more ancient buildings in that style of architecture have yet been
brought to light. No one has in writing described any one that
can lay claim to an earlier date, and no photograph or drawing has
exhibited any more Archaic form of architecture in the south of India,
and so far at least as my researches extend, none such exist. The
conclusion from this seems inevitable that all the buildings anterior
to the year 700 or thereabouts, were erected in wood or with some
perishable materials, and have perished either from fire or from
causes which in that climate so soon obliterate any but the most sub-
stantial erections constructed with the most imperishable materials.
This conclusion is, it must be confessed somewhat unexpected and
startling, inasmuch as it has just been shown from Asoka's lats,
and from the rails at Buddha Gava, and Bharhut, that stone was used
for architectural and ornamental purposes in the north of India
for nearly 1,000 years before the date just quoted, and though we
might naturally expect a more recent development in the south the
interval seems unexpectedly great. "What makes this contrast of age
even more striking is, the fact that in the neighbouring island of
Ceylon stone architecture was practised in considerable perfection
even before the Christian era. The great Ruanwelli Dagoba was
erected by King Duttugaimani between the year 161 and 137 B.C.,
and the Thuparamya even earlier by King Devananpiatissa, the
contemporary of Asoka—and both these exhibit a considerable
amount of skill and richness in stone ornamentation.1 Still facts
are stubborn things, and until some monuments are discovered in
■Gravida Desa, whose dates can be ascertained to be earlier than
the end of the seventh century, we must be content to accept the
1 lliUory of Indian Architecture, p. 188, ct seq.