History of Indian and Eastern ArchitectureFergusson, James
History
History of Indian and Eastern Architecture
Fergusson, James
Architecture -- India; Architecture, Asian
and like them deprived of their walls (Woodcut No. 140). In the Mokundra
pass there is a third example.[278] Was it that their walls were of
sun-burnt bricks? or merely of small square stones which, being easily
removed, were utilised? My impression is, the latter was the case; but
be this as it may, these Gyraspore pillars are undoubtedly the remains
of a Jaina edifice, but of an age considerably more modern than the
Ganthai. They can hardly under any circumstances be ascribed to an age
anterior to the great civil war which commenced A.D. 650; but they are
almost certainly anterior to the great revival in the 10th century. In
the same town of Gyraspore is a very grand old temple apparently of
about the same age as these pillars. Its details at least are old, but
it has been so ruined and repaired, and almost rebuilt, that it is
extremely difficult to say what the form or purpose of the original
erection may have been. There is also a toran of great beauty in the
village, probably of the 11th century, and in fact throughout this
region there are numberless remains partially made known to us by
photography, but which if scientifically examined would probably suffice
to fill up some of the largest gaps in our history, and especially in
that of Jaina architecture.
At Bhanghur for instance, in the Alwar territory, there are some very
beautiful Jaina temples. One in that neighbourhood, photographed by
Captain Impey, belongs to the 10th or 11th century, and is as beautiful
as any of its class, either at Khajurâho or elsewhere, and near it again
is a colossal Jaina image, called Nan Gûngi, some 20 ft. in height,
which is apparently of the same age as the temples, and consequently
superior to any of the colossi at Gualior or in the south of India.[279]
The Jains as a sect are hardly now known in Rajputana, and their temples
are consequently neglected and falling into decay; though some of them,
being of the best age and unrestored, are of extreme interest to the
investigator of Indian art.
Among these, few are more pleasing than the little temple at Amwah, near
Ajunta (Woodcut No. 141). It is only a fragment. The sanctuary with its
spire are gone, only the portico remaining; and its roof externally is
so ruined, that its design can with difficulty be made out. Yet it
stands so well on its stylobate, and the thirty-two small columns that
support the roof externally are so well proportioned and so artistically
arranged, as to leave little to be desired.
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