Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 2.djvu/193

 CHAP. IV. BRINDABAN. 155 native style. It is equally evident, however, in a temple which Chait Singh, the Raja of Benares, erected at R^mnagar in the end of the i8th or beginning of the igth century. Since that time the tendency has been more and more in that direction, and if not checked, the probability is that the curve will very soon be entirely lost. To a European eye, accustomed only to our straight-lined spires, that may seem hardly a matter for regret ; but to any one educated in Eastern forms it can scarcely appear doubtful that these spires will lose half their charm if deprived of the graceful curved outline they have so long retained. In order not to interrupt the story of the gradual develop- ment of the style, the history has been brought down to the present day in as nearly a consecutive manner as possible, thus anticipating the dates of several temples. It seems expedient, however, in any history that this should be done, for few things of its class are more interesting than to trace the progressive changes by which the robust form of the Para.rurame.ywar temple at Bhuvane^war, or of the great temple there, became changed into the feeble elegance of the Vi.yve.nvar or Gwaliar temples. The few examples that can be adduced in such a work as this may not suffice to make this so clear to others as it is to myself. With twenty or thirty examples it could be made self-evident, and that may one day be done, and this curious chapter in architectural history be thus added to the established sequences which every true style of art affords. Meanwhile, however, it is necessary to go back a little to mention one or two aberrant types which still are not without interest. BRINDABAN. Whether the Moslims wantonly threw down most of the temples of the Hindus or not, it is evident that the first three centuries of Muhammadan rule in India were singularly unfavour- able for the development of Hindu art in any part of the country where their rule was firmly established. With the tolerant reign of Akbar, however, a new state of affairs was inaugurated. Not only was he himself entirely devoid of religious bigotry, but most or at least the most eminent of his ministers and friends were Hindus, and he lent an attentive ear to the Roman Catholic missionaries who frequented his court. But, besides its tolerance, his reign was marked by a degree of prosperity and magnificence till then unknown during that of any other Indian sovereign of his religion. Not only are his own buildings unrivalled in their extent and magnificence, but he encouraged all those around him to follow his example, and