KULU-MANALI

He side-tracks the issue Of a date of origin by the observation:

"The excellent workmanship of the large bas-reliefs and, in fact, all the sculptural decorations on the Bajoura temple, points to an early date." Later researchers have concluded that the Bajoura temple of Visheshar-Mahadev is somewhat later in date than the Sun temple at Martand in Kashmir. According to this theory the origin of the Bajoura temple could be placed somewhere in the late 8th or early 9th century.

A more recent theory is that the panels were probably carved by the Pala sculptors in the 11th century,"6 when many artisans took refuge into hills after the conquest of Kanauj by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1018. Dr. Goetz, however thinks that these sculptures on Bajoura temple axe probably 11th century copies of 7th century originals"

These theories appear rather far-fetched. We have no evidence that the Pala sculptors whose exquisite specimens could be seen in the Museum in Patna ever went to this area. Nor is there any evidence that the sculptors used to copy older originals. Indian sculptors had, more or less, an aristocracy and sense of dignity and we have not got much evidence that they ever did copy originals, except in very rare cases when ordered by the rulers.

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