History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c25.s9: Kîrtti-Stambha Gateways.
History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c25.s9
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Kîrtti-Stambha Gateways.
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Toran gateways or Kîrtti-stambhas, as above remarked, were common adjuncts to Hindû temples as well as to Buddhist stûpas. The gateways at Sânchi and Bharaut are the earliest we can now point to; but of similar purpose, though of very different construction, were such gateways as those at Baroli and the four already mentioned at Worangal (vol. i., p. 435), which may belong to the 12th century. But there are others of the same character that may be here mentioned. The only one yet known in the Dekhan is at the ruined temple of Galaganâth, outside Aihole, which still retains the lintel supported by two massive square carved pillars, and from the style and carving may date from about A.D. 900; but if there ever was a pediment over the lintel it has totally disappeared.
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Of more ornate style is one at Pathâri, in the Gwâliar territory, about 11 miles south-east from Eran, where are also many remains of great antiquity and interest. It stands in front of an old temple called Gâdarmar. The shafts of the pillars are sixteen sided with Gupta bases and capitals of the same pattern as the pillar from the Eran temple (Woodcut No. 166). The brackets that support the toran arch—now lost—also bore female and animal figures on four sides, but these are mostly now lost. Above these brackets the pillars are circular, and support a large abacus on the inner projections of which rests the richly-carved lintel, which carries over its centre a circular stone or amalasîlâ, with lions on each of the end blocks.¹ It has had no pediment, and must belong to the age of the Gupta remains at Eran.
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¹ 'Ancient Monuments, Temples, etc., of India,' plate 222; 'Journal Asiat. Soc. of Bengal,' vol. xvii. pp. 307ff.
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In front of the great Sûrya temple at Mudherâ in Gujarât there stood a fine Kîrtti-stambha gateway, but the whole of the pediment has fallen, and only the pillars, 24 ft. 6 in. high, remain standing of the structure erected in A.D. 1026. But, besides the arch at the Rudra Mahâlaya at Siddhapur, about 32 ft. in height, but now considerably injured, there are at Vadnagar, the ancient Ânandapur, two fine examples almost entire, about 35½ ft. in height. The photographic view (Plate XXIV.), will enable the reader to form an idea of the style of these Gujarât Kîrtti-stambhas. They must have belonged to some large temple in this once notable sacred city. Another smaller but similar gateway, of nearly 23 ft. total height, stands above a KÎRTTI-STAMBHA AT VADNAGAR.
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*kund* or sacred tank at Kâpadvanj, about 60 miles south-south-east from the last.¹
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¹ 'Archæological Survey of Western India,' vol. ix., pp. 67, 79, 84, and plates 44, 49, 57, and 59; vol. viii. p. 94 and plate 82.
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At Rewâ, the capital of Bâghelkhand, about 30 miles east from Satnâ railway station, is the most richly sculptured of all these gateways. It was brought from the ruins of Gûrgi-Masaun, an old deserted city, 12 miles east from Rewâ, and set up in front of the palace. It is about 11 ft. wide and 17 ft. to the underside of the lintel, which is of three superimposed blocks of a height of about 6 ft. 9 in. very richly carved, the middle course being perforated right through and showing the figures in full relief. The upper corner blocks and pediment—if ever they existed—are wanting. Like most of the others it is Brahmanical and is covered with figure sculptures of all sizes, largely female, with devatas and griffons.² It may probably belong to the end of the 12th century. There is still another gateway at Gyâraspur;³ and the latest are perhaps those on the dam at Râjasamudra.
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² L. Griffin's 'Famous Monuments of Central India,' plates 87-89; Cunningham's 'Reports,' vol. xix. p. 80 and plate 19.
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³ Cunningham, 'Reports,' vol. x. p. 33.