Indian Antiquary Vol 03

SR No.: 032495
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 420
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1874.
ground, and it will be a pity if they and the few than those at Konur,-one side-stone measured others that still remain entire in the first two 11 feet 9 inches in length, and the capstones groups cannot be preserved from destruction. are proportionately large; but the cells are not
Twelve or fifteen miles east-south-east from high. Some are full of earth, inhabited by white Badâmi, in the Kaladgi zillâ, is the village of ants; but though the surface of the hill-top is Aiwalli or Aiholli—the Eiwally and Iwullee strewn with loose stones, there is not much of old maps, &c.-a place remarkably rich in evidence that the dolmens have ever been corancient remains, with a Saiva and a Jaina ered with them as at Konur. cave-temple, and many structural temples of To the west of Aiholli, on a rocky rising the sixth and seventh centuries, better known ground on the banks of the Mala prabha, to the destructive Wadári than to the archeo- are several small dolmens, mostly open at the logist. On the south-east of this village is a sides; and among a group of very old temples rocky hill, the top of which is covered within the same place is one raised on four rough dolmens. These stand on the bare rock, while unhewn pillars :--but this may have been the those at Konur are on a sandy soil. A large shelter of some devotee of bygone days, or number of the Aiwalli dolmens still retain otherwise appropriated to purposes quite different their capstones, bat perhaps all of them want the from those on the hill and at Konur, which were stone that filled the entrance ;-for here they undoubtedly burying-places, and bear a strange do not seem to have been entered by a covered unhown resemblance to the table-shaped monupassage as at Konur, but through a round monts, often also enclosed by side-stones, known hole in the stone that formed one end of the cell. in Scotland by the Saxon name of Thruh-stanes In one case, at least, this stone still lies beside (Sax. thruh, tharrue-a grave or coffin). the dolmen. . They appeared generally larger
J. B.
ON SOME PAHLAVI INSCRIPTIONS IN SOUTH INDIA.
(Reprinted, with additions.)
BY A. C. BURNELL, Ph.D., M.C.s., TANJORE. The Christian antiquities of Southern India, been thus modified becomes an important have been as yet quite neglected; perhaps be- question, and one which may not be neglected, cause the Brahmanical system once seemed to especially since Prof. A. Weber's remarkable promise more results, and therefore to be better publications on the Kộishnajanmashtami and on worthy of attention, and perhaps also because the Ramayana. I would therefore draw the of Dr. Buchanan's ill-considered books. His attention of archæologists in India to the early information was by no means new, for much settlements in Southern India of Persian Chrishad already been written on the subject by tians who preceded the Syrians, and to the chief Portuguese and Italians, but he displayed so records left by them--bas-reliefs of the cross much credulity on his favourite subject that with Pahlavi inscriptions, still existing in several no one would be likely, after reading his books, places in Southern India. Though these tablets to consider their object worthy of serious notice. had been often noticed, I was the first to point But as now the great age formerly attributed out the true nature of the inscriptions.t to a considerable portion of the Sanskrit litera- The origin of the Christian colonies in Southern ture is ascertained to be fabulous, and the India is very obscure, and rests upon native originality of much is open to doubt, it is very legends which, most likely, were first suggested necessary to collect all facts which throw light by foreigners in the Middle Ages; for the on foreign intercourse with India, as the possi- narrations of the medieval travellers afford bility that Indian literatures and religions have numberless instances of the way in which the
• He worted that the Syrians of Travancore are Christinas of the pare primitive type, proof against the corruptions of the Jesuits; whereas if it had not been for the Catholio missionaries they would long ago have relapeed into heathenism. He grossly exaggerated the
number of Irmelites in Southern India, and relates with grest nalvets his attempts to steal some documents from them.
Academy, IV. p. 237 (June 2nd, 1873); also Ind. Ant. rol. II. p. 183.