History of Indian and Eastern ArchitectureFergusson, James
History
History of Indian and Eastern Architecture
Fergusson, James
Architecture -- India; Architecture, Asian
The rock at Gualior is, and must always have been, one of the most
remarkable high places in Central India, and seems, as such, early to
have been appropriated by the Jains. Its position and its scarps,
however, led to its being fortified, and, as one of the strongest places
in India, it was attacked and taken by storm by Altumsh, the first
Moslem emperor of Delhi, in A.D. 1232; and from that time till the fall
of the Mogul empire it was held by the Mahomedans, or by Hindu kings
subject to their suzerainty. Under these circumstances, we should hardly
expect to find any extensive ancient Hindu remains in the place. There
are, however, two very remarkable temples: one, known as the Sas Bahu,
is generally understood to be a Jaina erection, and seems to be so
designated and dedicated to Padmanatha, the sixth Tirthankar. General
Cunningham doubts this adscription,[273] in consequence of the walls
being adorned with bas-reliefs, belonging certainly to the Vaishnava and
Saiva sects. As in the case of the Aiwulli temple, it is extremely
difficult sometimes to say for what sect a temple was originally
erected. In the times of which we are now speaking the sects had not
become distinct and antagonistic as they afterwards were. The different
deities were, like those of the Greeks and Romans, parts of one
religion, which all shared in, and the temples were frequently of a most
pantheistic character. Be this as it may, this temple was finished
apparently in A.D. 1093, and, though dreadfully ruined, is still a most
picturesque fragment. What remains is the cruciform porch of a temple
which, when complete, measured 100 ft. from front to rear, and 63 ft.
across the arms of the porch. Of the sanctuary, with its sikra, nothing
is left but the foundation; but the porch which is three storeys in
height, is constructively entire, though its details--and principally
those of its roof--are very much shattered (Woodcut No. 136, next page).
An older Jaina temple is described by General Cunningham, but as it was
used as a mosque it is more likely that it is a Mahomedan building
entirely, though made up of Jaina details.[274] The most striking part
of the Jaina remains at Gualior are a series of caves or rock-cut
sculptures that are excavated in the rock on all sides, and amount, when
taken together, to hardly less than a hundred, great and small. They
are, however, very unlike the chaityas or viharas of the Buddhists,
still less do they resemble the Brahmanical caves, to be mentioned
hereafter. Most of them are mere niches to contain statues, though some
are cells that may have been originally intended
[Illustration: 136. Jaina Temple at Gualior. (From a Photograph.)]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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