Lord Mahavira and His Times

SR No.: 011080
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kailashchandra Jain
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas
Publication Year: 1974
Total Pages: 427
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 347

Art and Architecture
329
century B.C. Jarāsandha-ki-Baithaka at Rājagļiha, the approxiimate date of which was the sixth century B.C., if not earlier, and which was built wholly of blocks of stone neatly fitted together without mortar supplies an instructive archaeological 'proof. Structures of this kind must have been few and far between in the earliest times because wood was generally used for building purpose. This may account for the rarity of stonebuilding in that age.
During this period, there was a tendency to bid good bye to the age-old building materials like mud and mud-bricks, but a complete switch-over to the more durable material-i.c. burnt bricks, had not been made. It seems that the use of the kiln bricks was largely confined to the structures of public utility. The perplexing discovery of 250 ft. long wall at Rupar, probably an enclosure of a big edifice, a barn and .chain from Hastināpura and remains of tank and well at
Ujjain testify to this fact. Structures made of mud and mud'bricks still persisted, and they are found at Nagda, Atranjikherā, Hastināpura, Mathurā and Rājghāt. While at Ujjain and Awra, the use of dressed stones with mud for building purposes is also noticed. Small hearths of bamboo and recd have been discovered at Chandraketugarh2 and Mathura.3 "The discovery of terracotta ring-wells, soakage jars at close intervals, brick and pottery draint in the habitual arcas reflect, in a way, the high civic sense and sanitation arrangements. PAINTING
We have no extant specimen of painting because walls, pillars and roofs made of wood and bricks used for purposc of decoration perished in course of time. But it is clcar from iboth the earliest Jaina and Buddhist canonical literature that painting, both sccular and religious, was considered an important forin of artistic expression and was widely practised by the classes and masses alike. A number of motifs illustrating
1. 1. Ar. A Revicw, 1953-54, p. 6. 2. Ibid, 1959-50, p. 30. 3. Ibid, 1954-55, p. 15 4. Ibid. 1959.69), p. 60.