DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0472
448
NORTHERN OR INDO-ARYAN STYLE.
Book VI.
CHAPTER IV.
central and northern india.
contents.
Temples at Gualior. Khajui&ho, Udaipnr, Benares, Bindrabun, Kaiitonuggur
Amritsur.
There are certainly more than one hundred temples in Central
and Northern India which are well worthy of being described in
detail, and, if described and illustrated, would convey a wonderful
impression of the fertility in invention of the Hindu mind and of
the elegance with which it was capable of expressing itself. None of
these temples can make the smallest pretension to rival the great
southern examples in scale ; they are all, indeed, smaller even than the
greater of Orissan examples; and while some of them surpass the
Orissan temples in elegance of form, many rival them in the profuse
elaboration of minute ornamental details.
None of these temples—none, at least, that are now complete—
seem to be of any'great antiquity. At Erun, in the Saugor territory,
are some fragments of columns, and several sculptures that seem to
belong to the nourishing age of the Guptas, say about a.d. 450; and
in the Mokundra Pass there are the remains of a choultrie that may
be as old, or older, but it is a mere fragment,1 and lias no inscription
upon it.
Among the more complete examples, the oldest I know of, and
consequently the most beautiful, is the porch or temple at Chandra-
vati, near Jahra Puttun, in Rajputana. In its neighbourhood Colonel
Tod found an inscription, dated a.d. 691,2 which at one time I thought
might have been taken from this temple, and consequently might
give its date, which would fairly agree with the style,3 judged from
that of some of the caves at Ellora, which it very much resembles.
1 A view of this was published in description. Gen. Cunningham ('Archoeo-
my 'Picturesque Illustrations of Indian logical Reports,' vol. ii. p. 264)agreeswith
Architecture,' pi. 5. me as to the date, but inadvertently adds
2 Tod's 'Annals of Rajastan,' vol. ii. a scale to his plan which makes the build-
p. 734. ing ten times larger than I made it, or
3 ' Picturesque Illustrations of Ancient than it really is.
Architecture in Hindostan,' pi. 6. with
NORTHERN OR INDO-ARYAN STYLE.
Book VI.
CHAPTER IV.
central and northern india.
contents.
Temples at Gualior. Khajui&ho, Udaipnr, Benares, Bindrabun, Kaiitonuggur
Amritsur.
There are certainly more than one hundred temples in Central
and Northern India which are well worthy of being described in
detail, and, if described and illustrated, would convey a wonderful
impression of the fertility in invention of the Hindu mind and of
the elegance with which it was capable of expressing itself. None of
these temples can make the smallest pretension to rival the great
southern examples in scale ; they are all, indeed, smaller even than the
greater of Orissan examples; and while some of them surpass the
Orissan temples in elegance of form, many rival them in the profuse
elaboration of minute ornamental details.
None of these temples—none, at least, that are now complete—
seem to be of any'great antiquity. At Erun, in the Saugor territory,
are some fragments of columns, and several sculptures that seem to
belong to the nourishing age of the Guptas, say about a.d. 450; and
in the Mokundra Pass there are the remains of a choultrie that may
be as old, or older, but it is a mere fragment,1 and lias no inscription
upon it.
Among the more complete examples, the oldest I know of, and
consequently the most beautiful, is the porch or temple at Chandra-
vati, near Jahra Puttun, in Rajputana. In its neighbourhood Colonel
Tod found an inscription, dated a.d. 691,2 which at one time I thought
might have been taken from this temple, and consequently might
give its date, which would fairly agree with the style,3 judged from
that of some of the caves at Ellora, which it very much resembles.
1 A view of this was published in description. Gen. Cunningham ('Archoeo-
my 'Picturesque Illustrations of Indian logical Reports,' vol. ii. p. 264)agreeswith
Architecture,' pi. 5. me as to the date, but inadvertently adds
2 Tod's 'Annals of Rajastan,' vol. ii. a scale to his plan which makes the build-
p. 734. ing ten times larger than I made it, or
3 ' Picturesque Illustrations of Ancient than it really is.
Architecture in Hindostan,' pi. 6. with