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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[Dec. 6, 1872.
ARCHÆOLOGY IN THE KRISHNA DISTRICT. Extracts from a Report by the late J. A. C. Boswell, M.C.S.
(Proceedings of the Madras Government,' 14th Dec. 1871.) We generally find that the conception of a divine of some chief; sometimes to commemorate bounbeing is associated, among most races, with the daries or grants. There is one, he states, by the power of destruction, before men's minds attain the roadside within a mile of Mangalor, bearing a male idea of beneficence or wisdom. Hindus readily and female figure, side by side, standing with admit that the worship of Siva is of much greater crossed lege, both with high caps and tunics which, antiquity than the worsbip of Vishnu. And now he takes it, are nothing but the old Hindu or Polygar we see how the serpent is brought into the worship costumes coming down to recent times and exhibitof Siva. One of his great titles is Nagabhushana, ed on numberless temples of known date. Offerings the snako-adorned one. The serpent, worshipped are made to some of these sculptured figures whose originally as a fetish, becomes naturally and appro- deeds are still remembered. We have here a very priately, like the Greek idea of the snaky locks of interesting subject of ethnological research. We the Gorgon, a symbol in the representation of Siva,
know what the dress and appearance is of modern the destroyer. With this power of adaptation, we Tartars. In the Amrayati sculptures, nearly 2.000 can readily imagine how the religion of the Scy- years old, we have these Scythic Tartars clearly thians was calculated to find acceptance with the portrayed in their characteristic costume, almost aborigines in this country, the Dasyus, or whatever invariably in connection with horses, and then we name they went by, and we see how the worship of have occasional allusion to the exu9o, Skuthoi, in the snake instead of ceasing became naturally an ancient classical records that have come down to accessory and development of a more advanced us. A careful and systematic examination and comsystem,
parison of the contents of the cairns and kistvaens In connection with this I may here mention the all over tbe country will probably afford much userecent discovery of a very interesting stone at Inkol ful material from which to draw deductions as to in the Bapatla Taluk. There is a temple here the stage of civilization reached by that early race, dedicated to Siva under the designation of Bhimes- and the influence they exerted upon succeeding varasvami. Close to the temple there are two very generations. But at present private individuals ancient sculptured stones. Upon one there is a open these ancient tombs and ransack the contents large representation of the Naga, and on the other in a most reckless manner. Curiosity satisfied, the side of the same stone there is a male figure in what few articles found may be kept, or, more probably, I venture to call the ancient Scythic costume, the are thrown away as useless, and no record is precap and the tunic. On the second stone there is served of the result. If this state of things goes another figure sculptured in the same costume in on, the remaining Scythic remains in the country the same style of art. Now, this serpent is to this will, in a few years, be entirely destroyed. I would day an object of worship. It is painted with ver- strongly urge that Government issue orders for the milion and turmeric, and receives offerings of protection of all such ancient remains and then let fruits and flowers; but in regard to the Scythian
research be made by qualified persons under official figures even Hindu imagination is for once foiled. authority, and let all that is found be brought toIt is not often that the natives of this country are gether to one Indian Museum to be carefully preat a loss to give the name of some one of their served, where those who take an interest in such gods to any piece of sculpture that may turn up; matters may be able to examine them. but with regard to these figures the people confess To return to the Krishna. In another Sivalayam, utter ignorance. There they stand among their in the same village of Inkoilu, there are built into objects of veneration, but they do not worship the wall parts of a frieze, apparently taken from an them; they do not know what they are. If we can older temple, representing animals, &c., with figures. really identify these figures with the Scythic period, There are portions of similar friezes to be seen in & the age of the cromlechs and tumuli, then we shall choultry at Vinukonda and in a temple at Parchar have gained an important step. The style in which in the Bapatla Taluk. This is what we find, indeed, these works are executed, though the stone used is in many of the old temples in the district. Stones very coarse, is considerably in advance of the mode have been used in their construction which are eviof sculpture employed in many of the serpent stones. dently the relics of more ancient buildings.
On the other hand, I have been informed by Mr. I have briefly adverted to what I conceive to M. J. Walhouse, Civil and Session Judge of Manga- have been the order of transition from a fetish to lor, that such, or somewhat similar stones, abound the Linga as a symbol, up to the representation or in Kurg and all through Maisur, and are called ideal embodiment of the thing symbolized in Siva, Kolle kullu, slaughter-stones, usually set up to the destroyer. The next stage seems to have been commemorate the deaths in battle or by wild beasts the adorations paid to the x'akti as the symbol of
- Mr. Boswell unfortunately adopted and advocated A vitiates much of his reasoning. Mr. Walhouse's viewe are very unsound hypothesis respecting these remains, and it well deserving of development.-ED.
