Page:The Indian Antiquary Vol 1.pdf/91

 MARCH 1, 1872.]

Between

GEOGRAPHY OF MAGADHA.

the last baithak and this temple

tion as those in the outer hall, but more lofty.

there are marks of an enormous wall 14 or

The detached capital are each a foot high, the base is 2, the octagonal shaft 6, and the second

15 feet thick, and this forms the pathway which leads up the mountain side. The Rājwars —the almost sole inhabitants of the wild of Rāj gir—call it Jarāsandha's staircase, and tell you that he built it in a single day to assemble his troops on the mountain tops on the approach of his enemies from the west. The temple contains (besides the usual charana or footprints) two very

the kind I have yet seen. Its situation is magnificent, commanding at once a view of the

fine and perfect figures of Buddha.

capital 3 feet in height.

The lintel of the door

way is 2 feet broad and is carved with a rude

moulding. In the centre of the lintel, is a figure of Buddha. I found no images in the temple, but it is by far the most perfect building of

The first is

highly cultivated plain of Bihār, the “solitary

three feet high. Buddha is represented sitting on the lotus throne (padmasana) in the attitude

walls of new Rājgir, the five hills, and the valley

of meditation.

of Kusénagarapura.

Beneath this, the Sinhasana

rock,” the topes and temples of Nālanda, the

is divided into three compartments—the two

A short distance to the south of this is a

Outer containing lions and the middle one the

supported by two shells. The second figure is a smaller one and is surmounted by a canopy. Eight hundred feet to the west of this temple is a similar building containing nothing of in

very small Jaina temple dedicated to Dharma nātha and Shantinātha, the 15th and 16th Tār thankaras. It contains two images and a cha rana, with an inscription about 200 years old. The pujdri has corrupted the names to ‘Dhā naji' and ‘Sathadraji', and describes them as two

terest. Twelve or fourteen paces to the south

wealthy bankers who lived in the house at the

of it, I found the ruins of a very small Buddhist temple covered with the densest jangal. It

corner of the ancient city.

‘Wheel of the Law,’ (very elaborately carved,)

appears to have contained twelve gray stone

columns about six feet high. The entrance was to the east, and in digging out the centre I found a very curious image of Buddha—very rough

ly carved. The main figure was surrounded by smaller ones, each depicting some chief episode in his life. Piercing the jangal 400 feet to the south-west of this ruin, I found the re mains of a very large temple almost perfect.

Nirmul Kund, i. e. the mound in the south-west Continuing to ascend the eastern slope of the hill for nearly a quarter of a mile, we arrive at a Jaina temple of very considerable dimensions, It is square in form, and is surmounted by four handsome minarets and a cupola. It was built by one Pratāp Singh of Murshidābād, and a passage (pradakshiná) encircles the central shrine. There is also a small octagon chapel containing charanas at each corner.

The cupola had fallen down on all sides, forming

The doorway has been

a mound about 500 feet in circumference and 16

dhist temple, and is covered with exquisite carving. The temple is 51 feet by 58. Some

or 17 feet high. The entrance

to the east

taken from a Bud

is about 6 feet wide, and leads to a passage

two hundred yards to the west of this is the

some 14 or 15 feet long, the roof of which was

largest temple of the group, built by one Mánik chand Seth in the middle of the last century.

formerly supported by gray stone pillars about 6 feet high. This leads to a square chamber or

Mänikchand was a well

hall some 23 or 24 feet square.

Its roof is sup

Calcutta, and his dedication is recorded on the

Ported by twelve columns in the chamber, and

charana. The building consists almost entirely of Buddhist materials. It has a vestibule, the roof of which is supported by pillars some what smaller in size, though of the same shape as those in the temple I have described

eighteen more let into the brick work. These columns are each 7 feet high, with square bases and capitals and octagon shafts. They rested

ºn a detached square plinth a foot high. A

known character in


 * -capital, separate from the shaft, and cruci

above in detail.

Plan, supported the roof which was com Posed of enormous granite slabs laid transversely.
 * om this room a massive doorway and a flight

mains of a Buddhist temple, probably larger than any other on the hill. Its pillars, &c., lie

form in

At the north side are the re

about in all directions, and it seems to have


 * steps leads to the inner chamber—some

served as the quarry from which Mánikchand built

what less in size than the other, but consider being

his. A quarter of a mile further on, and near the crest of the hill, I had the good fortune to


 * . The columns are of the same descrip

find another Buddhist temple in the jangal, about

ally loftier—the total height of its roof