Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 2.djvu/124

 9 6 NORTHERN OR INDO-ARYAN STYLE. BOOK VI. group is nearly as extensive and magnificent, but they were all erected within the limits of about a century, 950 to IO5O, 1 so that little sequence can be traced among them. There are also temples in the Kanarese districts more magnificent than any in Orissa, and extending through a long series of years ; but they are scattered over a wide extent of country, and are consequently 312. Temple of Parajuramejvvar. (From a Photograph.) varied by local peculiarities of style. It therefore requires more knowledge and experience to classify them than it does those in this province. Altogether there is not, perhaps, any group which, if properly investigated, would add more to our know- ledge of Indian architecture, and give it more precision, than the Bhuvane^war temples. 2 1 Cunningham, 'Archaeological Survey Reports,' vol. ii. p. 416; infra, p. 141. 2 The late Rajendralal Mitra, who was sent with the expedition organised by the Bengal Government in 1 868 to survey the antiquities of Orissa, most unfortunately had no knowledge whatever of archi- tectural surveying or draughtsmanship ; nor had he any acquaintance with Indian styles to guide him in determining the periods to which different buildings belonged. Even his vaunted acquaint- ance with epigraphy was superficial and inexact ; and the two folio volumes he prepared at public expense, added little, if anything, to our knowledge. 'Indian Antiquary,' vol. ix. pp. 113?. and I42f. ; Fergusson's 'Archaeology in India,' pp. 48ff.