Indian Antiquary Vol 11

SR No.: 032503
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 396
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 9

JANUARY, 1882.
VIJNÔT AND OTHER OLD SITES IN N. E. SIRDH.
great flat area or "square" in the centre of the town.
Altogether there may have been a score or 80 of stones remaining scattered about, all more or less shaped and dressed, and mostly slabs, not exceeding 4 feet in length, and less than a foot in thickness and height. Several of them had bevelled edges, with tenons or projecting tongues as if to form a mitre joint, confirming the idea that the stone was only or chiefly used as a facing to walls of brick: and as there were in all probability no stone quarries in the neighbourhood, all the stone had to be brought across the desert from Jesalmêr, or up the river from Rohiî. The quarries of the latter place however yield limestone of which only a few very small fraginents were found hore; whereas all or nearly all the stones are of a grey or yellowish sandstone precisely like that found in Jesalmer.
That so little stone remains is perhaps due to the fact of the temple, in which only it was used, being but a small one, and that all of it which was not buried deeply in the ruins, has long since been carried off by any one who wanted it, for use or ornament. Many such instances were heard of. One finely carved block has been set up in the arched opening over the door of the little village masjid at Rôti. In size it may be about two feet square; divided vertically into three parts : the two outer being carved to represent very ornamental capitals of a couple of pillars or pilasters, and the middle-compartment having a florid running scroll.
At Sirwahi (or Seorai) again, two blocks of carved stone were seen at the rozah of Musa Nawab, which were evidently the base, and the capital of a pillar carved in the same stylo-a rough sketch of these was made (Figs. 17 and 18). They are used for stools (kursl), and the present incumbent of the rocal would not part with them on any account. He stated that they came originally from the ruins of an old building (? a temple) in the ancient fort of Sirwali. As however no other fragment of stone was to be found or heard of at Sirwahl; it seems probable that they may have come from Vijnôt.
The excavations at the Vijnôt temple site have apparently been carried down to the foundations of the front and principal part of the buildings, the level of which is now more than 4 feet below the level of the
Notes on the Sculptured Stones from Vinot
sketched in the accompanying plates. Fig. 1. This is a piece of carved sandstone, dressed throughout, 19 inches square and 4 inches thick. The face is divided into two panels by the representation of rude slender cylindrical pillars, in low relief, on each side of a circular medallion, one of which contains an elephant in outline, and the other a rather intricate and irregular piece of ornamental scroll-work, of which nothing could be made out in the way of a symbol or well known pattern; the effect is produced in the typical manner of the style, by little deep sharp-cut curved tapering incisions.
Above and below the centre of each medallion is a little double triangular plate very slightly raised towards the centre and base of the triangles. The medallions are surrounded by a pattern, produced by the little deep curved incisions peculiar to the style, and their flanking pillars are adorn. ed with fillets or bands at regular intervals sloping in a peculiar manner as if intended to represent garlands caught up in the middle.
In the centre, between the two medallions and their pillars, is a single flat pillar with two or three horizontal bands and something of a capital bearing the representation of an object that could not be made out. It is possible that this pillar may have been intended to represent a cylindrical pier like that in the Pahladpuri temple at Multan which is of iron.
The centre of the slab containing this carving is countersunk between a raised border above and below, carved in the style of the place to represent a running scroll or roll ornament with florid scrolls in the bends devoid of any sign of a recognisable symbol or living object. The upper and lower edges of the stone slope. Rough as it is, the sketch is rather more precise and well defined than the appearance of the carving, owing to the partially decayed surface of the stone. But it is believed to be a tolerably faithful representation. The very deep vertical cuts or grooves between the pillars are hardly, if at all, exaggerated.
Fig. 2 represents one of the larger carved blocks of those still to be seen at Vijno, measuring 34" long., 8" high, and 9' thick. The carved face is divided into five square panels, the two outside ones being larger and occupying the ends of the stone, which are higher than the centre. The three centre panels or compartments are lower and a little withdrawn behind the line of the lower border and the prominent end compartments.
The centre panel contains a very peculicr object,