DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0412
388
CIIALUKYAX STYLE
Book V.
must liave been passed over as a style less known, from an artistic
point of view, than that of almost any civilized country in the world.
The rulers of the Hydrabad territory being bigoted Mahomedans, it is
to be feared that great destruction of native temples may have taken
place; but the real cause of our ignorance on the subject is the in-
difference and apathy to such matters in those who rule the rulers,
and who, if they chose, could clear up the whole mystery in a few
months or years, and with little expense to themselves, beyond
expressing a wish that it should be done.
It may be, however, that the remains have perished. The line of
Mahomedan capitals—Bijapur, Kalburgah, Bidar, and Hydrabad—
which have long occupied the native country of the Chalukyas, is
painfully suggestive of the destruction of Hindu temples; but still
the wealth of remains that exists in Dharwar on the south and west,
and the Berars on the north of the Nizam's territories, is so great that
all certainly cannot have perished, and many will probably be found
to solve the historical enigmas, though they may not be sufficient to
restore the style in its integrity.
Whether Kalyani itself has escaped is by no means clear. In a
list of remains in the Bombay Presidency, prepared by Mr. Burgess,
dated 1873, there are the following entries:—"Three miles to the
south-east of town, some fine temples and other ruins;" and further
on, on the authority of the late Bhau Daji, it is stated, "has extensive
ruins for miles around. There are caves in the hills, called Hazar
Khotri, or Thousand Chambers. Pir Padshah Musjid is probably
part of a Hindu temple." If this is so, the history of the style is
probably all there, and only awaits the advent of some one capable of
reading it.
The simplest and most typical example of the style that I know,
and the one, consequently, which will serve best to explain its pecu-
liarities, is at a place called Buchropully, not far from Hydrabad.
It probably is also one of the oldest, and may even date before the
cataclysm; but this is only a guess. I have no such real knowledge
of the early form of the style as would enable me to feel sure on such
a subject. As will be observed, the temple itself is polygonal, or
star-shaped, of twenty-four sides (Woodcut No. 210). These, however,
are not obtained, as in the northern style, by increments added flatly
to a square, as will be explained hereafter, but are points touching a
circle, in this instance apparently right angles, but afterwards were
either more acute or flatter than a right angle. There are four
principal faces, however, larger than the others : three occupied by
niches, the fourth by the entrance. The roof is in steps, and with a
Hat band on each face in continuation of the larger face below. The
summit ornament is a flower or vase, in this instance apparently
incomplete. The porch is simple, consisting only of sixteen pillars,
CIIALUKYAX STYLE
Book V.
must liave been passed over as a style less known, from an artistic
point of view, than that of almost any civilized country in the world.
The rulers of the Hydrabad territory being bigoted Mahomedans, it is
to be feared that great destruction of native temples may have taken
place; but the real cause of our ignorance on the subject is the in-
difference and apathy to such matters in those who rule the rulers,
and who, if they chose, could clear up the whole mystery in a few
months or years, and with little expense to themselves, beyond
expressing a wish that it should be done.
It may be, however, that the remains have perished. The line of
Mahomedan capitals—Bijapur, Kalburgah, Bidar, and Hydrabad—
which have long occupied the native country of the Chalukyas, is
painfully suggestive of the destruction of Hindu temples; but still
the wealth of remains that exists in Dharwar on the south and west,
and the Berars on the north of the Nizam's territories, is so great that
all certainly cannot have perished, and many will probably be found
to solve the historical enigmas, though they may not be sufficient to
restore the style in its integrity.
Whether Kalyani itself has escaped is by no means clear. In a
list of remains in the Bombay Presidency, prepared by Mr. Burgess,
dated 1873, there are the following entries:—"Three miles to the
south-east of town, some fine temples and other ruins;" and further
on, on the authority of the late Bhau Daji, it is stated, "has extensive
ruins for miles around. There are caves in the hills, called Hazar
Khotri, or Thousand Chambers. Pir Padshah Musjid is probably
part of a Hindu temple." If this is so, the history of the style is
probably all there, and only awaits the advent of some one capable of
reading it.
The simplest and most typical example of the style that I know,
and the one, consequently, which will serve best to explain its pecu-
liarities, is at a place called Buchropully, not far from Hydrabad.
It probably is also one of the oldest, and may even date before the
cataclysm; but this is only a guess. I have no such real knowledge
of the early form of the style as would enable me to feel sure on such
a subject. As will be observed, the temple itself is polygonal, or
star-shaped, of twenty-four sides (Woodcut No. 210). These, however,
are not obtained, as in the northern style, by increments added flatly
to a square, as will be explained hereafter, but are points touching a
circle, in this instance apparently right angles, but afterwards were
either more acute or flatter than a right angle. There are four
principal faces, however, larger than the others : three occupied by
niches, the fourth by the entrance. The roof is in steps, and with a
Hat band on each face in continuation of the larger face below. The
summit ornament is a flower or vase, in this instance apparently
incomplete. The porch is simple, consisting only of sixteen pillars,