Photo 1002/9(438)

Genre: Architectural Photography

'Bengal List', pp. 360, 362: 'The square elevated space on the east side of an old watercourse contains a vast variety of figures, better executed than those at Darauti. There are in particular a great many square obelisks of a different form from those at Darauti, which represent in several tiers domestic scenes. There are also numerous columns, pedestals, cornices, capitals, &c.' Garrick gives the following description in H.B.W. Garrick, 'Report of a tour through Behar, Central India, Peshawar, and Yusufzai 1881-82' (A.S.I. vol. XIX, Calcutta, 1885), p. 33: 'The small obeliscal pillars, of which twenty-two are now above ground, are somewhat similar to the four I found on the ruined temple at Darowli. They are solid square pillars, tapering towards the top and mostly crowned with a circular ornament, probably meant for the Amaranth. They are generally about five feet high, and divided into several compartments or storeys, each of which forms the frame of some design in bas-relief - generally human figures. Having seen these objects in some other places, I was much puzzled to find out their use, or what purpose they could have served about these temples (as they are wholly unadapted to architectural purposes), and partly by the almost putrified matter with which their crevices were filled, and partly from information I received from Brahmans, I discovered that these objects were worshipped, independently of the principal temple, as votive chapels, being daily anointed with red lead &c. (which had to be dug out of the crevices,as I photographed a selection of these interesting objects). I infer that they were also placed on given spots surrounding, or in front of, the temple. Probably, being gifts of the more affluent of its congregation, they were not unlike small models of temples themselves.'

Subjects = Indian architecture; Indian architecture (Hindu); Indian sculpture; Indian sculpture (Hindu); temples

Location = Baijnath; Bihar; India