DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0054
ARCHITECTURE.
33
which architectural decorations are carved in stone 150 years B.C.
has hardly been surpassed in India at any time, and whatever we may
think of the drawing of the figure sculptures, there can be no hesita-
tion as to the mechanical skill with which they are executed. The
same is true of what we find at Buddha Gaya, and of the gateways at
Sanchi. Though the forms are all essentially borrowed from wooden
constructions, the execution shows a proficiency in cutting and carving
stone materials that could only be derived from long experience.
As hinted above, the only stone building yet found in India that
has any pretension to be dated before Asoka's reign is one having the
popular name of Jarasandha-ka-Baithak,1 at Rajgir. It is partially
described by General Cunningham in the third volume of his Archae-
ological Beporfe, but not with such detail, as he no doubt would have
bestowed upon it, had he been aware of its importance. As will be
seen from the annexed woodcut, it is a tower about 85 feet square
at base and sloping upwards for 20 or 28 feet2 to a platform mea-
suring 74 feet by 78. It is built wholly of unhewn stones, neatly
fitted together without mortar; and its most remarkable peculiarity
is that it contains 15 cells,
one of which is shown in the
woodcut. They are from
6 to 7 feet in length, with
about half that in breadth.
Their position in height is
not clearly marked in Gene-
ral Cunningham's drawing,
but Mr. Broadley describes
them as on the level of the
ground, and adds that they
are inhabited up to this day,
at times, by Nagas or Sad-
bus, Jogis whose bodies are
constantly smeared with
No. 2. View and Plan of Jarasandha-ka-Baithak, from
Cunningham.
1 There is another erection bearing the same name at Giryek, about 7 or 8 miles
eastward of Rajgir; that however is a brick stupa of comparatively modern date, and
probably as General Cunningham suggests, the Hansa Stupa or goose tower, and derives
its name from a very famous Buddhist Jataka which he quotes. Reports, vol. i. p. 18,
Plate XV.
2 Broadley in Indian Antiquary, vol. i. p. 72.
Y 132. C
33
which architectural decorations are carved in stone 150 years B.C.
has hardly been surpassed in India at any time, and whatever we may
think of the drawing of the figure sculptures, there can be no hesita-
tion as to the mechanical skill with which they are executed. The
same is true of what we find at Buddha Gaya, and of the gateways at
Sanchi. Though the forms are all essentially borrowed from wooden
constructions, the execution shows a proficiency in cutting and carving
stone materials that could only be derived from long experience.
As hinted above, the only stone building yet found in India that
has any pretension to be dated before Asoka's reign is one having the
popular name of Jarasandha-ka-Baithak,1 at Rajgir. It is partially
described by General Cunningham in the third volume of his Archae-
ological Beporfe, but not with such detail, as he no doubt would have
bestowed upon it, had he been aware of its importance. As will be
seen from the annexed woodcut, it is a tower about 85 feet square
at base and sloping upwards for 20 or 28 feet2 to a platform mea-
suring 74 feet by 78. It is built wholly of unhewn stones, neatly
fitted together without mortar; and its most remarkable peculiarity
is that it contains 15 cells,
one of which is shown in the
woodcut. They are from
6 to 7 feet in length, with
about half that in breadth.
Their position in height is
not clearly marked in Gene-
ral Cunningham's drawing,
but Mr. Broadley describes
them as on the level of the
ground, and adds that they
are inhabited up to this day,
at times, by Nagas or Sad-
bus, Jogis whose bodies are
constantly smeared with
No. 2. View and Plan of Jarasandha-ka-Baithak, from
Cunningham.
1 There is another erection bearing the same name at Giryek, about 7 or 8 miles
eastward of Rajgir; that however is a brick stupa of comparatively modern date, and
probably as General Cunningham suggests, the Hansa Stupa or goose tower, and derives
its name from a very famous Buddhist Jataka which he quotes. Reports, vol. i. p. 18,
Plate XV.
2 Broadley in Indian Antiquary, vol. i. p. 72.
Y 132. C