Photo 1002/26(1315)

Genre: Architectural Photography

Described in A. Cunningham, Report of tours in Bundelkhand and Malwa in 1874-75 and 1876-77' (A.S.I. vol. X, Calcutta, 1880), p. 33: 'The building called Hindola is an ornamental entrance, or toran, leading to a Brahmanical temple. Hindola means simply a 'swing', and the toran with its two upright pillars and cross-beams has sufficient resemblance to the common Indian swing to justify the people in calling it by this name. The pillars of the toran are carved on all four faces. In the lower panels are represented the ten incarnations of Vishnu, the tortoise and fish being placed together on one pillar, and Buddha, standing with the right shoulder bare, with a small Kalki Avatar on his horse beside him, on the other pillar. The ends of the bracket capitals are fashioned as lions' and elephants' heads, the former facing outwards and the latter inwards. All the figures which once stood on the brackets are now gone; but there are two projecting stones on each face of the architrave with round holes on the under side, showing how far the figures must have leaned inwards. On the south face of the central pinnacle, which represents a small temple, there is a figure of the boar incarnation of Vishnu in the lower panel.'

Subjects = Archaeological Survey of India Collections; Archaeological Survey of India Collections (Indian Museum Series); gateways; Indian architecture; Indian architecture (Hindu); toranas