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144
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MAY, 1877.
Vakpati Raja, the grandfather of the celebrated usual decision (the external evidence being nil). Bhoja Raja of Dhårå, translated by my friend Mr. the purpose for which these buildings were N. J. Kirtane :
erected. "Generally," he says, "it is assumed that "This VAkpati inscription may assist in settling they were fire-temples, from their name,-nur in the date of Bhavabhūti if the assertion of Kalhana the Semitic languages signifying fire', - but more in the Rajatarangint be true:
from their construction," which he admits to
favour this view, but adds, "Why so numerous ? "कविर्वाक्पतिराजश्री भवभूत्यादिसेवितः।
We can count upon our fingers all the fire-temples forat (sic) 4 af a graritala."
that exist, or ever were known to exist, in fire
worshipping Persia; and if a dozen satisfied her Allow me to correct an obvious error. This
spiritual wants, what necessity was there for VÅkpati Raja king of Dhârâ has nothing to do
three thousand, or probably twice that number, in with Vákpatirêja the poet of Kanoj and the protege
the small and sparsely inhabited island of Sarof Yasovarman, who lived at least four centuries
dinia." (p. 432.) Finally he appears rather to favour before the time of VAkpati Raja the king. Like
the view that they were tombs, and is certain many other statements of Kalhana made in the
that if so, "they were those of a people who, like Rdjatarangint, that most useful work, the lines
the Pârsis of the present day, exposed their dead quoted are indeed valuable. They show that
to be devoured by the birds of the air," and " that V Ak pati the poet and Bhavabhat i were con
such towers would answer in every respect pertemporaries, and were both patronized by king Ya
fectly to the Towers of Silence of the modern sovarman.. This is corroborated by a certain pas
Persians; and the little side-chambers in the sage (already published by Prof. Bhåndárkar) in
towers would suit perfectly as receptacles of the a Prakrit poem of Vâkpati's, entitled the Gauda- denuded bones when the time arrived for collect vadha, or the killing of the Gauda king,' lately
ing them." discovered by Dr. Bühler, and now undergoing
The necessity of sparing your space has obliged preparation for the press by me.
me to give only the heads of Mr. Fergusson's SHANKAR P. PANDIT.
argument, and that in a maimed and disjointed Mudebihal, 23rd March 1877.
fashion. What I have now to point out is that there is no inconsistency between the Fire-temple
and Tower of Silence theories. The Nurhags NURHAGS AND DUKHMÅS.
may have been both at once. SIR-In Mr. James Fergusson's invaluable A modern Tower of Silence is always a round work on Rude Stone Monuments he describes as tower with sides nearly perpendicular to the horifollows (pp. 427 et seqq.) a class of remains zon, its dimensions varying from thirty to sixty found in the island of Sardinia, and nowhere else, feet in diameter, and its height being generally equal called Nurhags:
(including the parapet) to about three-fifths of the "A Nurhag is easily recognized and easily base. (These dimensions are rough estimates, and described. It is always a round tower, with sides open to correction.) They are always one story in sloping at an angle of about ten degrees to the height, the centre occupied by a circular chamber, horizon, its dimensions varying from twenty to and the top by a parapeted platform. There is sixty feet in diameter, and its height being gene- invariably a stone external staircase leading to rally equal to the width of the base. Sometimes the platform. And there is invariably, close by, they are one, frequently two, and even three a small solid Fire-temple. The following rough stories in height, the centre being always occu- dimensions are those of one attached to a tower pied by circular chambers, constructed by pro- near Kalyana in the Thånd collectorate :-On a jecting stones forming & dome with the section foundation of trap-rock there is a plinth of coursed of a pointed arch. The chamber generally occu- rubble one foot high and 13 feet 6 inches square, pies one-third of the diameter, the thickness of and on this another two feet high and 13 feet square. the walls forming the remaining two-thirds. Three stone steps ascend the double plinth to the There is invariably a ramp or staircase leading to Fire-templo, which is of brick and mortar, nine feet the platform at the top of the tower."
square outside and seven inside, set back to within Mr. Fergusson then proceeds to give numerous eighteen inches of the rear (or western) edge of the illustrations and details, among which, as bearing | plinth. The walls are 5 feet 6 inches high, and upon my argument, I shall only notice the fact surmounted by a roof apparently of about half that that there are remains of at least three thousand height, and the same thickness, forming (if the of these buildings in the island.
term be admissible) a curvilinear pyramid. In the Next he proceeds to discuss, with less than his I west side is a niche for the sacred lamp; in the
