History of Indian and Eastern ArchitectureFergusson, James
History
History of Indian and Eastern Architecture
Fergusson, James
Architecture -- India; Architecture, Asian
Meanwhile there is one monument in India which--_mutatis
mutandis_--reproduces them with considerable exactness. The small
detached rath at Mahavellipore is both in plan and dimensions, as well
as in design, an almost exact reproduction of these Jamalgiri cells. Its
lower front is entirely open, flanked by two detached pillars. Above
this are two roofs, with a narrow waist between them--somewhat
differently arranged it must be confessed, but still extremely similar.
In the Jamalgiri representations of these cells everything is simplified
to admit of the display of sculpture. At Mahavellipore all the
architectural features are retained, but they are still marvellously
alike, so much so, that there seems no doubt this little rath (Woodcut
No. 181, p. 328), with its circular termination, is as exact a copy of
what a Buddhist chaitya hall was at the time it was carved, as that the
great rath (Woodcut No. 66) is a correct reproduction of a Buddhist
vihara at the same period.
If this is so, these Gandhara sculptures and these raths represent the
chaitya hall of the Buddhists in a much more complicated and elaborate
form than we find it in the simple but majestic examples at Karli,
Nassick, or Ajunta. The Jamalgiri cells need not be so modern as the
rath at Mahavellipore, but they are certainly approaching to it[214] as
nearly in date as they are in form.
Quite recently, General Cunningham has dug out a small vihara at Shah
Dehri, the ancient Taxila, which seems more ancient than these Peshawur
monasteries. As will be seen from the plan (Woodcut No. 96), it is not
only small in dimensions, but simple in its arrangements--as simple,
indeed, as any of those at Cuttack or in the western Ghâts. Like them it
has a raised bench, not however divided into beds as there, but more
like a continuous seat. It no doubt, however, was used for both
purposes. Its most remarkable peculiarity, however, is its Ionic order.
As will be seen, the bases of the pillars are of the usual form, and as
correct as any that could be found in Greece or Rome, from before the
Christian Era to the age of Constantine, and, though the capital is not
fully made out, there can be little doubt what was intended (Woodcut No.
97); twelve coins of Azes were found close by, from which it may be
inferred the building was of his age, or belonging to the first century
B.C.,[215] and there is nothing in the architecture to militate against
this idea. It seems the oldest thing yet found in this province.
[Illustration: 96. Plan of Ionic Monastery, Shah Dehri. (From a Plan by
General Cunningham.) Scale 50 ft. to 1 inch.]
[Illustration: 97. Ionic Pillar, Shah Dehri. (From a Drawing by General
Cunningham.)]
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