1847.] Note on the Sculptures of Bodh Gyah. 335 



successfully analyse the events depicted in the drawings of Adjunta, 

 perchance, or the sculptures of Bhilsa." — What would not our talented 

 and ever-to-be-lamented friend have given to see the clumsy though 

 interesting objects, the subject of this paper 1 In these we fiud the wor- 

 ship of the Dagop and the Chuttur, of the Sun and of Fire, of deities 

 hitherto unknown to us, but which appear to have reference to bramani- 

 cal creed, and point to Egyptian origin. 



As the best way to induce and encourage an undertaking is to set a 

 good example, I now lay before the Society a portfolio of rough 

 sketches of some of the curious sculptures of unquestionable antiquity 

 found scattered here and there at the former parental seat of Buddhism 

 —Bodh Gyah. 



It will be seen that these bassreliefs are in medallion, they form the 

 ornament of posts or pillars which, from the elliptical sockets remain- 

 ing, show them to have supported a railing similar to that still existing 

 around the Tope or Chaitya at Bhilsa, and represented in the very 

 sculptures themselves, not only around the Topes, but forming enclo- 

 sures for the sacred Trees and " Chutturs" (Umbrellas), &c. This 

 pattern, which I shall call the " rail or bar pattern," I had years since 

 remarked as a peculiarity ; it is to be found in the present sculptures, in 

 the caves of Western India, Mahabullipore and Amaravatti, in the 

 caves of Kundgirri and the Tope of Bhilsa, in fact it may be considered 

 as the certain and indisputable mark of early Buddhist works. We have 

 a square pillar with similar sockets in our museum, on one face of which 

 is the figure of a priestess holding a bird cage, and on the other probably 

 the elephant and Maya Davee, illustrative of her dream related in the 

 Pali annals ; it is in Agra red sandstone, and I believe was found at Mut- 

 tra and deposited in the museum by Col. Stacy ; I invite the attention 

 of my Calcutta brother-members to this curiosity, which has no doubt 

 originally formed part of a similar work to those described. 



By the foregoing it will be seen that from these sculptures we learn 

 the peculiar style of architecture prevalent in the country two thousand 

 five hundred years ago, at least of religious buildings, and from the 

 Bhilsa sculptures we find that of fortifications. 



We next see that the leading objects of worship were the Chaitya 

 and the Bo tree, of which so much mention is made in the early Budhist 

 works. 



2 y 2 



