Old Photos- Temples 1860

 Old Photos- Temples 1860

Great Temple at Lonar - 1865 Photograph of the Great Temple at Lonar, Buldana District, Maharashtra from the Allardyce Collection: Album of views and portraits in Berar and Hyderabad, taken by Robert Gill in the 1860s. There are many temples on the craters edge, mostly built around the 12th century in the Hemadpanti style of the Yadava period. Lonar Lake is an important site in Hindu mythology as it is considered to be the spot where an incarnation of Vishnu overpowered the demon-giant Lonasur by throwing off the lid and revealing his subterranean cave. The lake is considered to be the giant's blood, a nearby hill is the discarded lid and the crater is the remains of the cave. This photograph is a view of the principal entrance to what is considered to be the finest temple in the area. The exterior walls of the temple are covered in sculpture. Photographer: Robert Gill Source: British Library Website Temple at Mehkar - 1865 Photograph of the temple at Mehekar from the Allardyce Collection: Album of views and portraits in Berar and Hyderabad, taken by Robert Gill in the 1860s. The temple seen in this photograph was described by Gill in the Central Provinces list of 1897: "All that a few years ago represented the once fine temple of Mehkar was a picturesque ruin of standing columns and lintels, situated upon a very high basement or platform. The columns, judging from photographs, were of an old type and rather neat in design, and decorated with large lozenge-shaped ornament, conventional eaves, and bands of geese. These have now all disappeared." The temple, in all likelihood built by Jain devotees, was also accompanied by residential buildings built to house pilgrims visiting the site. Photographer: Robert Gill Source: British Library Website Relief sculpture representing Krishna - 1865 Photograph of a relief sculpture representing Krishna Venugopala from the Allardyce Collection: Album of views and portraits in Berar and Hyderabad, taken by an unknown photographer in the 1860s. As Venugopala, Krishna represents the flute playing cowherd who attracts the gopis with the sound of his divine music. Depictions of Krishna with his favoured gopi, Radha, are often used to symbolise the union of the human soul with the divine. In this sculpture Krishna is represented as holding the flute to his mouth. Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Vishnu. Source: British Library Website Banu Begum's tomb - Aurangabad 1860 Photograph of a view looking towards Banu Begum's mausoleum in Aurangabad from the Allardyce Collection: Album of views and portraits in Berar and Hyderabad, taken by J. Johnston in the 1860s. Aurangabad is situated on the Kham river in the Dudhana valley between the Lakenvara Hills and the Sathara mountain range in Maharashtra. Originally known as Khadke, it was founded in 1610 by Malik Amber at a crossroads of the region's major trade routes. It later became the base of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and was renamed in his honour. This photograph is of the tomb of Bani Begum, the wife of one of Emperor Aurangzeb's sons. Built in the 18th century, the tombs pavilions are balanced on slender pillars surmounted by Bengali-style domed roofs. Photographer: J. Johnston Source: British Library Website Alms House Lonar - 1865 Photograph of the Alms Houses at Lonar, Buldana District, Maharashtra from the Allardyce Collection: Album of views and portraits in Berar and Hyderabad, taken by Robert Gill in the 1860s. Photographer: Robert Gill Source: British Library Website Musjid at Burhanpur - 1865 Photograph of a tomb at Burhanpur from the Allardyce Collection: Album of views and portraits in Berar and Hyderabad, taken by an unknown photographer in the 1860s. Burhanpur is sitauted on the bank of the river Tapti and was founded around 1400 by the Prince Nasir Khan; the first of the Faruki kings of Kandesh who would rule the city for the next 200 years. The city is surrounded by ramparts and several large gates give access to its centre. There are two great mosques within the city walls, the Jami and Bibi Masjid and several Muha Malik Ambar's tomb - Khuldabad 1860 Photograph of a tomb in Rauza (Khuldabad) from the Allardyce Collection: Album of views and portraits in Berar and Hyderabad, taken by J. Johnston. Rauza, also known as Khuldabad, is of religious significance to Muslims as the Emperor Aurangzeb (reigned 1658-1707) is interred here, together with other members of his dynasty. In his reign, Aurangzeb enclosed the city within a high fortified wall with seven gates, which remain today. There are between 15 and 20 doomed tombs and over 1000 sepulchres in Rauza and roads are often lined with the ruins of mosques and tombs. Photographer: J. Johnston Source: British Library Website