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APRIL, 1908.)
GAZETTEER GLEANINGS IN CENTRAL INDIA.
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A series of miscellaneous carvings found on the spot are given in Plate IT, Fig. 2. It will be remarked that the big male figure hhs the judge's-wig-like hend-dress. This site is one which might possibly repay investigation by excavation scientifically carried out. The Raja of Slicopur-Baroda, in Gwalior, who is a Gaur Rajput, says that traditionally his ancestors held this tract in the 11th and 12th centuries, but he has no stories about the place.
I would guggest that the more perfect of the two pillars with its capital and dwārpāla might be secured and set up or put in safe keeping at Gwalior or Indore. There is already a museum in the former place, and one is being started under official auspices in the latter. Though of immense weight, the railway line is so close that the removal could certainly be effected, and it would be well worth wbile.
2. - Khilchipura. Dr. Fleet in his paper on the Mandasor inscriptions notices the village of Khilchipura, two miles from Mandasor, and refers in particular to an ornamental column there, remarking that it probably possessed more carving than was visible above ground at the time. I havo had the pillar excavated to its base (Plate III, Fig. 4). It is one pillar of a toran, as the socket of 10 X 4.5 ing., into which the architrave was inserted, can be seen on one side, and the remains of an amalaka fruit are still to be seen on the top.
• The carving is interesting. It consists of a series of plaques on both sides of the pillar, apparently relating a story. A man, woman, and child, or dwarf, are apparently the dramatis personce. The woman is always naked and the man in the act of uncovering himself. The man has a wig similar to those in the Mandasor carving. The excavation disclosed one more plaque. The total length of tho pillar, as it stands, is 17 ft. 6 ins., and when complete must have been quite 20 ft.
At 5 ft. O ins. below the present ground level, the remains of an old floor, composed of slabs of stone, and some old bricks were found, while the end of the pillar was 8 ft. 6 ins. below this.
Close to this pillar stands a small temple, made up of stones from an older structure, while there are many signs of old foundations round it. It would appear from the carving on the stones that a 12th century temple once stood on this spot. This was, no doubt, destroyed wben Mandasor fell to the Mahammadans, and became a place of importance in the 14th century. A tomb to a Muhammadan sint, Ankā Pir, evidently placed on the site of an old temple, and some other ruins stand in and near the village. A very fine tank dating from Muhammadan times lies to the north of Khilchipara. A massive dem, which help up the southern end, has been cut through. It must have retained a very large area of water.
3.- Mandasor. This town, the Dabapura of early days, is now the head-quarters of a nila in Gwalior State. It stands 1,516 ft, above sea level on the banks of the Siwana, Souna, or San river, a tributary of the Siprä. It is a considerable trade centre, especially for the opium trade. It was a place of importance in early days, as it is mentioned in an inscription of the Western Kshatrapas at Näsik and in one of the time of Kumāra Gupta 1. The fort, which is the most important foature, is said to bave been founded by 'Ala-u'ddin Khilji (1296-1816) and to have been completed by Hoshang Shāh, the Malwa Sultan (1465-34 ). It is largely built of Hindu and Jain remains supposed to have come from Afzalpur, a village not far from the town. Though this may be in part true, a great deal of the material was certainly local, and excavation in the fort might produce relics of value. An instance of what might come to light is shown in tho large mutilated statue given in Plate III, Fig. 5. It was once a fine piece of carving and must have belonged to a building of merit.
Aste, Vol. XV, p. 191. 4.8. W. 1., Vol. II, p. 140; Gupta Inc., p. 81 ; ante, Vol. XVIII, p. 227.
