History of Indian and Eastern ArchitectureFergusson, James
History
History of Indian and Eastern Architecture
Fergusson, James
Architecture -- India; Architecture, Asian
Internally the roof was ornamented with timber rafters, and though these
have fallen away, the wooden pins by which they were fastened to the
rock still remain; and the screen in front has all the mortices and
other indications, as at Karli, proving that it was intended to be
covered with wooden galleries and framework. What is still more curious,
the figures of chiefs with their wives, which adorn the front of the
screen at Karli, are here repeated literally, but copied so badly as not
at first sight to be easily recognisable. This is the more strange as it
occurred at an age when their place was reserved for figures of Buddha,
and when, at Karli itself, they were cutting away the old sculptures and
old inscriptions, to introduce figures of Buddha, either seated
cross-legged, or borne on the lotus, supported by Naga figures at its
base.[154]
In front of this cave is a dwarf rail which, with the knowledge we now
have, would in itself be almost sufficient to settle the age, in spite
of these anomalies (Woodcut No. 64). Unfortunately it is so weather-worn
that it is difficult to make out all its details; but comparing it with
the Gautamiputra rail (Woodcut No. 32) and the Amravati rail (Woodcut
No. 36), it will be seen that it contains all those complications that
were introduced in the 3rd and 4th centuries, but which were
discontinued in the 5th and 6th, when the rail in any shape fell into
disuse as an architectural ornament.[155]
[Illustration: 64. Rail in front of Great Cave, Kenheri. (From a Drawing
by Mr. West.)]
The evidence in fact seems complete that this cave was excavated in the
early years of the 5th century; but, admitting this, it remains an
anomaly, the like of which only occurs once again so far as I know in
the history of Indian architecture, and that in a vihara at Nassick of
the same age, to be described hereafter.
DHUMNAR.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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