Posted on: 16 January 2013

Detail of two sculptured architraves from Garhwa, Allahabad District - 1875

Photograph of two sculptured architraves from Garhwa, Allahabad District, taken by Joseph David Beglar in the 1870s. The town of Garhwa is rich in the remains of Gupta monuments and sculptures. A large number of sculpted pillars have been found here, some of which would have came from a Buddhist monastery. However there are remains of both Buddhist and Hindu activity at Garwha; the frieze in this photograph depicts Hindu themes. It shows the left-hand side of the two architraves also seen in photograph 663. At the left of the top piece is a circular medallion identified by Cunningham in his report of a series of tours in that area in 1874-75 and 1876-77, as ''the sun-god seated in his seven-horse chariot, and on each side an attendant shooting downwards the arrows or rays of the sun.''

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u r doing a marvelous job

Sari, costume and attires of people during Gupta Buddhist period, beautiful sculptures of 3rd to 6th century in India

If I am not mistaken the Sun God here represents rising of sun early in the morning shooting down the darkness with his rays. Thereafter the panel captures social activities of people from all walks if life. Need more time to study this extremely beautiful panel. It's theme is unique

RBSI, these two architraves are in Lucknow Museum and is a partial photograph of a long beam or lintel..... Describing them A. Cunningham wrote, "At the left there is a circular medallion with the Sun-god seated in his seven-horse chariot...On the extreme right there is a similar medallion with a king and queen seated together in conversation. In the middle there is a square panel, containing a male figure with six or eight arms, who is standing in the midst of a number of flying figures, which form a canopy over him. On the ground to the right there is a figure kneeling before him with both hands raised in adoration. This is the principal figure of a long procession which extends as far as the right medallion...I am not able to offer any explanation of these strange scenes." Mario Bussagli an art historian and author wrote, "...details the activities of human beings on earth as the celestial luminaries rise and continue their course to form the hours of day and night, midday being emphasized as the supreme hour of the blazing sun, the Visvarupa or the Omnigenous form of the a Supreme Being....."

<3 I like it :)