Iron in Ancient India c6.s6.26

c6.s6.26

pillar—the third of its kind—12 feet 9 inches high is situated in the courtyard of the temple with a Saiva trisul or trident on its top. It is stated that just before the death of the Pathan Emperor Alauddin, when rebellion broke out in all parts of India, the Hindus defeated the Mussalmans and built this pillar as a mark of victory with the molten implements of war left by the flying Mussalmans.¹ The iron of the pillar has not yet been under examination, but I have little hesitation in concluding that the pillar is made of wrought iron in a similar manner as the Delhi and Dhar pillars. The iron of this pillar as well as that of the Delhi pillar were probably obtained from Rajputana itself, as numerous hillocks of iron slag exist near Khetri and other places in Rajputana, showing that iron was smelted there in large quantities from ancient times.