Page:The Architecture of Ancient Delhi Especially the Buildings Around the Kutb Minar 1872 by Henry Hardy Cole.djvu/81

 M asjid-i-Kutb-ul-I slam. 5 5 time the north and east sides exist us formerly. In conformity with the usage of the Vislmi religion, an iron -pillar' was erected in the temple and, since the sculptures on the doors and walls represent the Avatar or incarnation of Krishna, (this probablj refers to the carving just described, page 52, ^ 2) figures of Mahadeo, Ganesh and Banuman, it follows thai the temple w;ts dedicated to the religious service of the Vislmi sect of Hinduism. Although at the time of the Muhammadans the statues were destroyed, one can still easily recognise, by the remains, what was intended to be represented.'" General Cunningham has stated that, with the; exception of the iron column and one stone pillar in the Colonnade having a Buddhist or a Jaina figure, there is nothing older than the tenth or eleventh century in the Great Mosque or in its neighbourhood. ' It is possible that the iron Lat or pillar may have been worshipped as a Lingam, hut it is an emblem of Siva rather than of Vishnu. e M. Garcin de Tassy, " Description des Monuments de Delhi en 1852, d'apiv^ le Tezte Hindustani de Saiyid Ahmad Khan."