DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0094
Chap. ITT.
AMTiAVATT.
71
tliis noble tower less exceptional than it now appears to be; but
perhaps its anomalous features may be due to the fact that it was
erected by Brahmans for Buddhist purposes in an age of extremest
toleration,1 when it was doubtful whether the balance would incline
towards Buddhist or Brahmanical supremacy. In less than a century
and a half after its erection the storm burst ( \.n. G4S) which eventu-
ally sealed the fate of Buddhism in Central India, with only a fitful
flickering of the lamp afterwards during lulls in the tempest.
At Keseriah, in Tirhoot, about 20 miles north of Bakra, where one
of the pillars of Asoka mentioned above is found, are the ruins of
what appears to have been a very large tope. It is, however, entirely
ruined externally, and has never been explored, so that we cannot
tell what was its original shape or purpose.8 All along this line of
country numerous Buddhist remains are found, all more or less ruined,
and they have not yet been examined with the care necessary to
ascertain their forms. This is the more to be regretted as this was
the native country <>f the founder of the religion,-and the place where
his doctrines appear to have been originally promulgated. If any-
thing older than the age of Asoka is preserved in India, it is probably
in this district that it must be looked for.
Amhavati.
Although not a vestige remains in situ of the central dagoba at
Aniravati, there is no great difficulty, by piecing together the frag-
ments of it in the India Museum—as is done in Plate 93 of 'Tree and
Serpent Worship'—in ascertaining what its dimensions and general
appearance were. It was small, only 30 ft. to 35 ft. in diameter, or
about 100 ft. in circumference, and 50 ft. high. The perpendicular
part, 34 ft. high, was covered with sculptures in low relief, representing
scenes from the life of Buddha. The domical part was covered with
stucco, and with wreaths and medallions either executed in relief
or painted. No fragment of them remains by which it can be ascer-
tained which mode of decoration was the one adopted.
Altogether, there seems no doubt that the representation of a tope
on the following page (Woodcut No. 17), copied from the inner rail at
Aniravati, fairly represents the central building there. There were
probably forty-eight such representations of dagobas on this rail. In
each the subject of the sculpture is varied, but the general design is
the same throughout; and, on the whole, the woodcut may be token as
representing the mode in which a Buddhist dagoba was ornamented in
1 'Hiouen Thsang, Festival of the - A view of it is given, 'Journal of
three Religions at Allahabad in 643." . the Asiatic Soeiety of Eengal,' vol. iv. p.
vol. i. p, 2.r.4. 122.
AMTiAVATT.
71
tliis noble tower less exceptional than it now appears to be; but
perhaps its anomalous features may be due to the fact that it was
erected by Brahmans for Buddhist purposes in an age of extremest
toleration,1 when it was doubtful whether the balance would incline
towards Buddhist or Brahmanical supremacy. In less than a century
and a half after its erection the storm burst ( \.n. G4S) which eventu-
ally sealed the fate of Buddhism in Central India, with only a fitful
flickering of the lamp afterwards during lulls in the tempest.
At Keseriah, in Tirhoot, about 20 miles north of Bakra, where one
of the pillars of Asoka mentioned above is found, are the ruins of
what appears to have been a very large tope. It is, however, entirely
ruined externally, and has never been explored, so that we cannot
tell what was its original shape or purpose.8 All along this line of
country numerous Buddhist remains are found, all more or less ruined,
and they have not yet been examined with the care necessary to
ascertain their forms. This is the more to be regretted as this was
the native country <>f the founder of the religion,-and the place where
his doctrines appear to have been originally promulgated. If any-
thing older than the age of Asoka is preserved in India, it is probably
in this district that it must be looked for.
Amhavati.
Although not a vestige remains in situ of the central dagoba at
Aniravati, there is no great difficulty, by piecing together the frag-
ments of it in the India Museum—as is done in Plate 93 of 'Tree and
Serpent Worship'—in ascertaining what its dimensions and general
appearance were. It was small, only 30 ft. to 35 ft. in diameter, or
about 100 ft. in circumference, and 50 ft. high. The perpendicular
part, 34 ft. high, was covered with sculptures in low relief, representing
scenes from the life of Buddha. The domical part was covered with
stucco, and with wreaths and medallions either executed in relief
or painted. No fragment of them remains by which it can be ascer-
tained which mode of decoration was the one adopted.
Altogether, there seems no doubt that the representation of a tope
on the following page (Woodcut No. 17), copied from the inner rail at
Aniravati, fairly represents the central building there. There were
probably forty-eight such representations of dagobas on this rail. In
each the subject of the sculpture is varied, but the general design is
the same throughout; and, on the whole, the woodcut may be token as
representing the mode in which a Buddhist dagoba was ornamented in
1 'Hiouen Thsang, Festival of the - A view of it is given, 'Journal of
three Religions at Allahabad in 643." . the Asiatic Soeiety of Eengal,' vol. iv. p.
vol. i. p, 2.r.4. 122.