Page:History of India Vol 2.djvu/300



''The Iron Pillar is a solid mass of malleable iron weighing over six tons. It was not cast, but was constructed by a welding process and was originally surmounted by a statue, which was probably removed by the Mohammedans. The pillar was set up by Chandragupta II, at the close of his reign, and was dedicated in honour of Vishnu, his favourite divinity, but was not inscribed by the king. An inscription was added by Kumaragupta I, his son and successor, about 415 A. D. The column appears to have stood originally on a mound known as Vishnupada in the town of Mathura, but was removed to Delhi about 1050 A. D. by a prince named Ananga Pala, who founded or refounded the city where it now stands.''