A History of Fine Art in India and Ceylon, from the Earliest Times to the Present Day c16.s7.5

c16.s7.5

The Chambā State, a small principality situated among the lower Himalayan ranges between Kashmīr territory and the British Districts of Kāngrā and Gurdāspur, is rich in temples and inscriptions going back to the seventh century of the Christian era. The antiquities of the State, already partially described in the *Annual Reports of the Archæological Survey*, will form the subject of a special work in three volumes, upon which Dr. Vogel is engaged.² The temples contain much excellent wood-carving. Out of several photographs kindly supplied by Dr. Vogel I have space for one only, a fine frieze from the ceiling of the temple of Kālī at Mirkula or Udaypur (Plate LXXX). Dr. Vogel believes its date to be much later than a. d. 700, but the wigs, or wig-like hairdressing, worn by the little demons (*gaṇa*) in the lower band of the frieze suggest a possibility that the work may be as early as the seventh century. The principal figures, the male god with sixteen arms, and the female with ten, are presumably Siva and Pārvatī. A small bull (*nandi*) stands near the god's right foot. The carving is clever and spirited, and the general effect decorative, notwithstanding the grotesqueness of the design. But for the wigs I should be inclined to suggest the ninth or tenth century as the date. The style is so local that extensive special experience is needed to estimate the age of specimens with any confidence.