History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c25.s8.38

v2.c25.s8.38

In the capitals of the pillars in these caves, as represented in the accompanying woodcut (No. 331) from the Elephanta cave, we find the perfected form of those ribbed cushion-capitals that are found at Bâdâmi and in so many other caves, dating from at least as early as the 6th century; but in these excavations it seems to have reached its fullest development and beauty of form. From its frequent recurrence of earlier and later date it has come to be considered the typical capital of early Indian architecture. It may be compared to the Doric order of classical art as, in the same way, the vase with foliage falling over it, as exemplified in the Râmeswara cave and elsewhere, may be regarded as an Oriental type of the Ionic order. This ribbed cushion form of capital also reminds us of the amalâsilâ crown to Hindû sikharas¹ though we may be unable to say from what it has been derived, we can hardly escape the conviction that in their origin they are akin.