About The Book
The Ancient and Medieval Architecture A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilization is a seminal work that explores the architectural achievements of ancient and medieval India through the lens of its cultural and spiritual ethos. The author delves into the evolution of Indian architecture, examining its origins, influences, and distinctive styles, such as Buddhist stupas, Hindu temples, and Islamic structures. He highlights the harmonious integration of art, religion, and philosophy, emphasizing the aesthetic and symbolic dimensions of Indian architecture. This work is considered an important contribution to the study of Indian art history, offering insights into the Indo-Aryan civilization and its enduring legacy in architectural design.
Introduction
ONCE upon a time a Botanist, very learned but with rather defective eyesight, went travelling in far-distant lands. And he came to a great primeval forest with lordly trees, to whose branches many kinds of creepers and curious plants were clinging. Wishing to know what kind of trees these were, he began to gather the leaves and flowers of the creepers and parasites which had intertwined themselves with the branches, without noticing that they were not the real growth of those great forest trees. And he brought them home and dried them carefully, gave them long Latin names, and sent them to other men of science as leaves and flowers of the very rare and curious trees which he had found. So he became famous as a great discoverer. But soon afterwards another traveller, not learned but loving the beauty of the forest, went the same way and saw the same lordly trees. And at first he too thought he had never seen such trees before; but, looking at them closer and pulling the creepers and undergrowth aside, he saw that the trees were really of the same species as those which grew in his native land-such as the oak, chestnut, the elm and ash tree-only in a tropical climate they grew larger and more luxuriantly. The Botanist, when he heard of this, smiled scornfully and said: "That fellow knows nothing about trees. Did I not examine every branch and give the trees their proper names? Of course, the leaves and flowers I took were of the creepers and parasites; but the trees themselves are rotten and useless. The forest should be cut down, so that the soil may be ploughed and used for growing things that are useful and good for food." And the King who ruled over all those lands, wishing to know the truth, for he was building a new city and wanted good timber for it, sent some of his servants who were learned in forest lore to inquire into the matter. And they came back to the King and said: "It is true, O King, that these trees are of the same kind as those we have always used for building in our country: they are very old, but sound and fit for use. The forest should not be cut down, for if the parasites, creepers and undergrowth which are spoiling the trees are removed, the forest will be of great value to the State and give good timber for building many cities." What the King did belongs to another story; but as he was a good and wise King, I do not think he had the forest cut down as the Botanist advised. I must leave the interpretation of the parable to my readers. The present work only deals with city building incidentally, as part of a much greater subject-the history of the civilisation introduced into India by the Aryan race and its relation to empire-building. It does not profess to give more than an outline of its fundamental ideas. The materials dealt with are mainly those furnished by the ancient and medieval monuments of India-an open book for those who can read it, but one which has remained closely sealed for Europeans even to the present day. Fergusson, in his great pioneer work, "The History of Indian and Eastern Architecture," made an attempt to interpret it at a time when the diffi-culties of the subject were immeasurably greater than they are now. It says much for his genius as a historian that he seized at once the great cardinal truth stated so admirably in his introduction-one that cannot be repeated too often.
Hindu (947)
Agriculture (125)
Ancient (1105)
Archaeology (814)
Architecture (568)
Art & Culture (933)
Biography (731)
Buddhist (550)
Cookery (166)
Emperor & Queen (588)
Islam (245)
Jainism (325)
Literary (889)
Mahatma Gandhi (393)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Visual Search
Manage Wishlist