Iron in Ancient India c6.s4.9

c6.s4.9

There is another thing in connection with the erection of this pillar which is of great importance. The inscription says that the pillar was erected on a hill called Vishnupada, whilst as a matter of fact the place in which it stands at present is a level country. Vincent Smith contends, and there is evidently much force in his contention, that the pillar was originally erected in some other place which "must have been a well-known spot frequented by Vaishnava pilgrims, within the Gupta dominions and not very remote from Delhi. All the conditions of such a place are satisfied by Mathurā" which is less than eighty miles from Kutab Minar. Vincent Smith supposes that "the Katra Mound, where the magnificent temple of Vishnu, under the name of Keshava, once stood, may very probably prove to be 'Vishnupada giri,' the mount of Vishnu's footmark, mentioned in the inscription." He also concludes that the pillar was removed to its present site by Ananga Pal II in or about A.D. 1050 when he founded the city of Delhi *de novo*. This conclusion is supported by the comparatively new structure of the platform on which the pillar is erected as well as the fact that there is another inscription on the pillar itself in which Ananga Pal announces the date of the foundation of Delhi by himself.