The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c18.86

v2.c18.86

The capital of the column is of the *lāṭ* type. The collar has festoons of beaded garlands hanging from lions' heads ; and over it occurs a double lotus, and on it a tile with a cyma over it, having three couchant lions on one side. There was probably an animal of some kind on the centre of the top ; but it has been knocked down and lost. A very good drawing of the pillar (taken from a photograph) occurs in the *Proceedings of the Asiatic Society* for 1872 and Mr. Fergusson has published a woodcut of it in his *History of Indian and Eastern Architecture* (p. 433). Describing the pillar, Mr. Fergusson says, 'its proportions are beautiful and its details in excellent taste ; but the mouldings of the base, which are those on which the Hindus were accustomed to lavish the utmost care, have been destroyed. Originally it is said to have supported a figure of Garuḍa, the Vāhana of Viṣṇu—and a figure is pointed out as the identical one. It may be so, and if it is the case, the pillar is of the 12th or 13th century'. My opinion of its date is different (see *ante*, p. [113]).