DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0183
160
BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE.
Book I.
shaded lighter - wore introduced. It is not clear from Dr. linpey's
description how the central octagon was originally roofed. He seems
to have helieved that a dagoba originally stood in the centre, and
having been destroyed brought down the roof with it. As, however,
there is a dagoba in the sanctuary, this is hardly probable, and it
seems much more likely that it was a copy of a structural octagonal
dome, such as we find the Jains invariably employing a few centuries
afterwards. If this is so, it would be highly interesting that it should
be examined by .some architect capable of restoring it constructively
from such indications as remain. We have hundreds, almost thousands,
of these domes supported on eight pillars after the revival in the
10th century, but not one before. If this is one, it might help to
restore a missing link in our chain of evidence.
The shala connected with this vihara measures 04 ft. by -14 ft., and
the two are joined together by a verandah measuring 220 ft. in length,
adorned by twenty free-standing pillars. At one time the whole of
the back wall of this gallery was adorned with a series of frescoes,
equalling in beauty and in interest those of Ajunta. As in those at
Ajunta, the uninitiated would fail to trace among them any symptoms
of Buddhism as generally understood. The principal subjects are
processions on horseback, or on elephants. In the latter the number
of women exceeds that of the men. Dancing and love-making are as
usual prominently introduced, and only one small picture, containing
two men, can be said to be appropriated to worship.
With one exception, no man or woman has any covering on their
heads, and the men generally have the hair cropped short, and with
only very small moustaches on the face. Some half-dozen are as
BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE.
Book I.
shaded lighter - wore introduced. It is not clear from Dr. linpey's
description how the central octagon was originally roofed. He seems
to have helieved that a dagoba originally stood in the centre, and
having been destroyed brought down the roof with it. As, however,
there is a dagoba in the sanctuary, this is hardly probable, and it
seems much more likely that it was a copy of a structural octagonal
dome, such as we find the Jains invariably employing a few centuries
afterwards. If this is so, it would be highly interesting that it should
be examined by .some architect capable of restoring it constructively
from such indications as remain. We have hundreds, almost thousands,
of these domes supported on eight pillars after the revival in the
10th century, but not one before. If this is one, it might help to
restore a missing link in our chain of evidence.
The shala connected with this vihara measures 04 ft. by -14 ft., and
the two are joined together by a verandah measuring 220 ft. in length,
adorned by twenty free-standing pillars. At one time the whole of
the back wall of this gallery was adorned with a series of frescoes,
equalling in beauty and in interest those of Ajunta. As in those at
Ajunta, the uninitiated would fail to trace among them any symptoms
of Buddhism as generally understood. The principal subjects are
processions on horseback, or on elephants. In the latter the number
of women exceeds that of the men. Dancing and love-making are as
usual prominently introduced, and only one small picture, containing
two men, can be said to be appropriated to worship.
With one exception, no man or woman has any covering on their
heads, and the men generally have the hair cropped short, and with
only very small moustaches on the face. Some half-dozen are as