Indian Antiquary Vol 52

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 401

DECEMBER, 1923)
BOOK-NOTICES
371
Page 24, para. 2.-Mr. Bhattacharya complains Sculpture Shed to the west of the Jain temple that no European or Indian archaeologist has and transferred to the main Archeological Museum tried to explain whon and how the modern name at Sarnath in 1911 where it is exhibited in the Sarnath came to be associated with this place. Central Hall against the west wall. The description This is not correct, for the point has been fully I given by Mr. Bhe tacharya is also incomplete as discussed by General Cunningham in his it leaves the figures in the relief on the base un. Archaeological Survey Reporte, vol. I, p. 105, identified. Correct information about them is and repeated in Mr. Oertel's article and 'in my given in the Oatalogue of the Museum of Archaeology Guide to the Buddhist Ruins of Sarnath , p. 2.
p. 67, No. B (6) 175. Mr. Bhattacharya is also Page 29.-When the Sarndth Catalogue and the wrong in stating that the back of this sculpture Guide to the Buddhiet Ruins of Sarnath, were bears six chaityas sketched in three tiers. In reality published, the exact purpose of the Aboka railing there are eight chaityas arranged in only two rows. unearthed by Mr. Oertel in the southern chapel P. 77, l. 24-25.--Here we are i formed that the of the Main Shrine was not known. It was
monolithic railing disclosed in the southora chapel tentatively suggested that the railing might of the Main Shrine is engraved with "two or three originally have surrounded some sacred spot at
lettere " which baffle docipherment. This railing, Sárnáth or possibly the Asoka Pillar itself. Mr.
indeed, bears two short inscriptions engraved, one Bhattacharya prefers the latter suggostion. It is, completely and the other only partially, by the however, now evident that like the stupas restored priests of the Servåstivadi sect of Buddhists in by Sir John Marshall at SAfichi, the Dharma- the 3rd or 4th century A.D. Both these inscriprájika Stupa (Jagatsingh Stúpa) at Sárnáth tions have been deciphered and published in was also provided at the top with a harmika the Annual Report, of the Director General of balustrade and that the railing brought to Archaeology in India for 1904-05, Part II, p. 68 light by Mr. Oertel is the one which originally and for 1906—07, p. 96, No. IV. There is no other surmounted the sta pa referred to.
writing on the visible portion of this railing, which Page 36.-Mr. Bhattacharya states that no
has not yet been deciphered. inscriptions of the reign of any other Gupta
P. 78, U. 20-23.--These lines inform us that in king than Kumâragupta II have so far been found
view of the inscription engraved on the back of tho at sårnâth. This requires correction, for out of
Bodhisattva statue (Bal), Dr. Vogel has expressed the three Gupta inscriptions carved on Buddha images, discovered by Mr. Hargreaves in 1914-15,
the opinion that, at the time when this image was
installed, it was not the custom "to erect statues two, both dated in the year 157 of the Gupta era,
against the walls of the temples." What Dr. Vogel belong to the reign of Budhaguptu (vide Director
does say in his Annual Report for 1904-05, p. 47 General of Archæology's Annual Report for 1914.
(not 57 as quoted) is : " It is noticeable that the 15, Part II, pp. 124-5, Inscriptions Nos. XVI and
image is also carved on the back, which indicates XVII).
that it stood detached and not inside a shrine or Page 59. 70 D (e) 8, read D (1) 8.
against the wall of some building. I presume that Page 61.-In lines 14 ff., we read that "in the
the first Buddhist imagos were erected in the open end of the 13th century" queen Kumaradevi
with umbrellas over them," etc. had an inscription engraved to record the restore
P. 79, IL. 16.1.-"Like other Aboka Pillars this tion of a Buddha image of the time of Aboks et Sarnath. The worde placed between the
pillar (the Sarnath Asoka Pillar) is also crowned inverted commas should be corrected to " in the
with four lions. It is by no means the rule. end of the 12th or begioning of the 13th century of
Only one other Aboka Pillar, namely the one at the Vikrama-era." The latest date known for
Så fichi, is known to have four lions. Other Aboka Govindchandra (A.D. 1114-1164), husband of
pillars bear a single lion, or elephant or bull. Kumaradevi, is 1211 of the Vikrama Samvat. P. 80, H. 21-22.- For B (6) 73, read B (6) 173, It is highly improbable that this queen should have. Mr. Bhattacharya is su convinced of this tiny image survived her husband so long as to have been having been a gift of the Maharaja Kumâragupta living in the ond of the 13th century V.S.
II, that he omphatically mentions this opinion at Page 69, l. 1.--For B (c) read B (c) 1.
p. 39 and 98 also of his book. 20 is true that Dr. Page 77, para. 1.--This pars. is devoted to the Konow mentioned this as a possibility, but I agree description of an image (No. В6 175) representing with Dr. Vogel that the absence of any titles before the temptation of Gautama Sakyamuni by the the name of Kumkragupta in the inscription on Evil One (Mara). Mr. Bhattacharya describes this image and the insignificant character of the it as still standing to the east of the Main Shrine, gift militate against such an assumption. but the visitor using this Hindi Guide will in vain P. 80, l. 23.--For B (6) 79, read B (6) 179. Search for it in the area indicated. Having been P. 86.-Referring to the four animals carved on unearthed in 1904-05 by Mr. Oertel, it was first the abacus of the Aboka Capital, Mr. Bhattacharya deposited along with other soulptures in the remarks that he accepta the late Dr. Bloch's view