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F. S. Growse — The Tirthas of Vrinda-vana and Golcula. [No. 4, 
Dwapar, and Treta Yug ; while the name of the Kali Yug is given to another 
somewhat plainer. All these interior pillars, however, agree in consisting as 
it were of two short columns set one upon the other. The style is precisely 
similar to that of the Hindu colonnades by the Qutb Minar at Delhi ; and 
both works may reasonably be referred to about the same age. As it is 
probable that the latter were not built in the years immediately preceding 
the fall of Delhi in 1194, so also it would seem that the court at Mahd-ban 
must have been completed before the assault of Mahmud in 1017 ; for after 
that date the place was too insignificant to be selected as the site of so 
elaborate an edifice. Thus Fergusson’s conjecture is confirmed that the 
Delhi pillars are to be ascribed to the ninth or tenth century. Another long- 
mooted point may also be considered as almost definitely set at rest, for it*can 
scarcely be doubted that the pillars as they now stand at Maha-ban occupy 
their original position. Forgusson, who was unaware of their existence, in 
his notice of the Delhi cloister, doubts whether it now stands as originally 
arranged by the Hindus, or whether it had been taken down and re-arranged 
by the conquerors ; but concludes as most probable that the former was the 
case, and that it was an open colonnade surrounding the Palace of Prithi 
Kaj. “ II so,” he adds, “ it is the only instance known of Hindu pillars being 
left undisturbed.” General Cunningham comments upon these remarks, 
finding it utterly incredible that any architect, designing an original build- 
ing and wishing to obtain height, should have recourse to such a rude 
expedient as constructing two distinct pillars, and then without any disguise 
piling up one on the top of the other. But, however extraordinary the 
procedure, it is clear that this is what was done at Maha-ban, as is proved by 
the outer row of columns, which are each of one unbroken shaft, yet precisely 
the same in height as the double pillars of the inner aisles. The roof is 
flat and perfectly plain except in two compartments, where it is cut into a 
pretty quasi-dome of concentric multifoil circles. Mothers come here for 
their purification on the sixth day after child-birth — chhathi p vja — and it is 
visited by enormous crowds of people for several days about the anniversary 
of Krishna’s birth in the month of Bhddon. A representation of the infant 
god’s cradle is displayed to view, with his foster-mother’s chum and other 
domestic articles. The place being regarded not exactly as a temple, but as 
Nanda and Jasoda’s actual dwelling-house, Europeans are allowed, to walk 
about in it with perfect freedom. Considering the size, the antiquity, the 
artistic excellence, the exceptional archaeological interest, the celebrity 
amongst natives, and the close proximity to Mathura of this building, it is 
perfectly marvellous that it found no mention whatever in the archaeological 
abstract prepared in every district by orders of Government a few years ago, 
nor even in the costly work compiled by Lieut. Cole, the Superintendent of 
the Archseologieal Survey, which professes to illustrate the architectural 
antiquities of Mathura and its neighbourhood. 
