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INTRODUCTION
on a basement, 47 ft. sq. and 10 ft. high, being nine storeys in height each of which is distinctly marked on the exterior. A stair in the interior communicates with each and leads to the two upper storeys, which are open, and more ornamental than those below. It is 30 ft. wide at the base, and 122 ft. in height; the whole being covered with architectural ornaments and scluptures of Hindu divinities to such an extent as to leave no plain parts, while at th: same time this mass of decoration is kept so subdued, that it in no way interferes either with the outline or the general effect of the pillar” (p. 60)
Vincent Smith calls this Jaya-Stambha 'an illustrated dictionary of Hindu mythology' because it contains all the denizens of the Hindu pantheon, with their names attached'. It has also 'images representing the seasons, rivers, weapons and other things unpublished.' Smith thinks 'that whenever this series of sculptures shall be reproduced it will be invaluable as a key to Brahmanical iconography.' In his opinion, however, it is not likely to contribute much to the history of art, because, the better class of art in Rajputana dates from an earlier period ending with the twelfth century' (p. 127 A History of Fine Art in India and Ceylon. Second Edition, Oxford, 1930).
From the inscription in the second storey of the Jaya-Stambha referred to above, it appears that the architect of this magnificent edifice was one Jaitra, assisted by his two sons Nāpā and Punjā (p. 139-Sarda). Whether the Nāpā mentioned here is the same as Nāthā—brother of Mandana is not clear (Sarda p. 137 f.n.).
A treatise on the architecture of Jaya-Stambhas attributed to Kumbhā was engraved on stone-tablets and fixed in the lower part of this Jaya-Stambha (p. 108).
The Pras'asti of this Jaya-Stambha was engraved on several black marble tablets (Tod, p. 1819). Of these only two are now in existence-the first and the last but one containing verses I to 28. & 168 to 187 respectively. We know from a transcript of this prasasti by a Pandit in V.S. 1735, A.D. 1678 that many more slabs existed at the time. Kesava Jhoting-son of Narahari of the Burgu family was entrusted with the composition of the pras'asti, but he died before it was completed. The latter part was composed by his son Mahesa on Monday the sth day of the dark half of Mārgas'ișa, V. S. IS17 (A.D. 1460-61). This Prasasti is a fine historical poem
1 "The dome that now crowns this tower was substituted for an older dome since I
sketched it in 1839" P. 60. Fergusson. 2 A part of the first tablet, found at Chitor and since deposited in the Udaipu Museum, gives Maharana Kumbhakaran's description of the characteristic features
of Towers according to Jaya and Aparajit" (MK, p. 161). 3 This manuscript was in possession of M.M. Gaurishanker Oza. See his History of
Rajputana Vol. II p.631.
