DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.27191#0136
TOO
BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE.
Book I.
consequently, are entitled to a longer notice in a work wholly
devoted to architecture.
Over all India there must have been large numbers of stupas
in Buddhist times, though now so very few remain above
ground. There is, however, near Daulatpur in the Haidarabad
district of Sind, a large tope, known as Thal Rukhan, fully
50 ft. in diameter, and about the same in height. The inner
core is of sun-dried brick cased outside with good burnt bricks—
moulded for the cornices and capitals of pilasters. It has been
surrounded by a platform about 6 yards wide, now ruined and
covered with debris.1 The lower portion of the stupa is much
peeled and injured ; but above are two belts of pilasters—about
twenty in each — with moulded bases and quasi-Corinthian
capitals. Over the lower belt a cornice ran, above which the
diameter of the tower is contracted by perhaps 5 ft. In the
upper section the pilasters are better preserved, and though
the top is much ruined, the dome probably began at about
8 ft. above this.2 The bricks are very large, measuring 16 in.
in length by 11 in breadth and 3 in. thick. The stupa
probably belongs to an early age, and, as M. Foucher remarks,
in style, it appears to have descended directly from those of
the Swat valleys and Kabul.
In 1877 a stone box containing a crystal reliquary was
found embedded in brick when excavating a small mound at
Kolhapur; the casket was broken, but the lid of the box bore
a short inscription in early letters, of the maker’s name and of
the person for whom it was made.3
In 1882 Mr J. M. Campbell of the Civil Service excavated
the remains of a stupa at Sopara, 5 miles north of Basein.
The dimensions of it, given by Pandit Bhagwanlal Indraji are
unfortunately not consistent.4 If the diameter of the stupa was,
as stated, 67 ft., and the circular platform on which it stood
was 268 ft. in circumference and 18 ft. high, the ramp round
the dome would be just 9 ft. wide (not 18 ft). But possibly the
1 Among the debris were found some
27 bricks, about 7 inches square, each
bearing a small figure of Buddha, seated
with the legs down: these may have
formed part of a string course. Others
bore representations of the birth of
Buddha and of the bedroom scene before
his leaving home.
2 Burgess, ‘ Ancient Monts. of India,’
plate 62. Other stupas, more ruined,
have been noted in Sindh. At ICahu near
Mirpur Khas, one was excavated for
bricks when making the Haidarabtd
Umarkot railway, and figures of Buddhas
moulded in brick and other ornamental
forms were found and appropriated by
officials. At Depar, 4 miles from
Brahmanabad, and at Tando near Tando-
Muhannnad - Khan, are brick mounds
which are remains of stupas. — ‘ Jour.
Bornbay B. R. Asiatic Soc.’ vol. xix.
P- 45-
3 ‘Jour. Bombay B. R. Asiat. Soc.’
vol. xiv. pp. 147-151,
4 ‘Jour. BombayB. R. Asiat. Soc.’vol.
xv. pp. 292-311. It is twice stated (pp.
293 and 295) that the terrace was ‘ 18 ft.
wide.’ The plan and section on plate
3 are evidently not drawn to any scale,
and afford no help.
BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE.
Book I.
consequently, are entitled to a longer notice in a work wholly
devoted to architecture.
Over all India there must have been large numbers of stupas
in Buddhist times, though now so very few remain above
ground. There is, however, near Daulatpur in the Haidarabad
district of Sind, a large tope, known as Thal Rukhan, fully
50 ft. in diameter, and about the same in height. The inner
core is of sun-dried brick cased outside with good burnt bricks—
moulded for the cornices and capitals of pilasters. It has been
surrounded by a platform about 6 yards wide, now ruined and
covered with debris.1 The lower portion of the stupa is much
peeled and injured ; but above are two belts of pilasters—about
twenty in each — with moulded bases and quasi-Corinthian
capitals. Over the lower belt a cornice ran, above which the
diameter of the tower is contracted by perhaps 5 ft. In the
upper section the pilasters are better preserved, and though
the top is much ruined, the dome probably began at about
8 ft. above this.2 The bricks are very large, measuring 16 in.
in length by 11 in breadth and 3 in. thick. The stupa
probably belongs to an early age, and, as M. Foucher remarks,
in style, it appears to have descended directly from those of
the Swat valleys and Kabul.
In 1877 a stone box containing a crystal reliquary was
found embedded in brick when excavating a small mound at
Kolhapur; the casket was broken, but the lid of the box bore
a short inscription in early letters, of the maker’s name and of
the person for whom it was made.3
In 1882 Mr J. M. Campbell of the Civil Service excavated
the remains of a stupa at Sopara, 5 miles north of Basein.
The dimensions of it, given by Pandit Bhagwanlal Indraji are
unfortunately not consistent.4 If the diameter of the stupa was,
as stated, 67 ft., and the circular platform on which it stood
was 268 ft. in circumference and 18 ft. high, the ramp round
the dome would be just 9 ft. wide (not 18 ft). But possibly the
1 Among the debris were found some
27 bricks, about 7 inches square, each
bearing a small figure of Buddha, seated
with the legs down: these may have
formed part of a string course. Others
bore representations of the birth of
Buddha and of the bedroom scene before
his leaving home.
2 Burgess, ‘ Ancient Monts. of India,’
plate 62. Other stupas, more ruined,
have been noted in Sindh. At ICahu near
Mirpur Khas, one was excavated for
bricks when making the Haidarabtd
Umarkot railway, and figures of Buddhas
moulded in brick and other ornamental
forms were found and appropriated by
officials. At Depar, 4 miles from
Brahmanabad, and at Tando near Tando-
Muhannnad - Khan, are brick mounds
which are remains of stupas. — ‘ Jour.
Bornbay B. R. Asiatic Soc.’ vol. xix.
P- 45-
3 ‘Jour. Bombay B. R. Asiat. Soc.’
vol. xiv. pp. 147-151,
4 ‘Jour. BombayB. R. Asiat. Soc.’vol.
xv. pp. 292-311. It is twice stated (pp.
293 and 295) that the terrace was ‘ 18 ft.
wide.’ The plan and section on plate
3 are evidently not drawn to any scale,
and afford no help.