DDK HistoryF.p65 - CSIR

Ixviii COMMENTARY TO ILLUSTRATIONS
on the sea-coast; p. 324). The scene represents ascetic in the presence of the rival god
Siva, and at least four figures (including one in the foreground with head knocked off)
have been seriously damaged in carving the Visnu shrine, which has no function
whatever in the original story. The underlying smarta-vaisnava (p. 260) struggle may
be regarded as that between feudalism from above, and feudalism from below, though
kings might worship either or both deities from the Gupta period down. For another
(highly doubtful) interpretation of Visnu -at Mahabalipuram, cf. L. B. Keny, ABORI
29, 213-26.
GROUP V : Military art (52-51)
52. Demon army of the tempter Mara on a Gandharan relief. The lowest soldiers
are dressed in Roman style armour, not correctly understood, as the scales of one
cuirass turn upwards. Mara derives from the Iranian Ahriman,
53. Funerary stele (viragal) in memory of heros fallen in some unknown naval
battle not later than the 10th century A. D.; at Eksar, less than two miles from Borivli
station Bombay.
54. Defeat of the East India Compnny’s fleet in 1731, by the Arngares (Angrias) off
their island fortress Janjira Kulaba (off Alibag, opposite Bombay). Detail of a
contemporary paper scroll (water-colour) now in Bharat Itihas Saonshodhak Manual,
Poona ; by kindness of Mr. G. H. Khare, Lower center, a British ship being captured by
Sakhoji Baba and upper left, part of another in flight. Upper right, fishing nets offshore.
The ships of both sides are seen to be of comparable size, construction, armament, and
rigging. In 1739-57, the British, allied with the Peshwas, finally defeated the Aingares.
Both feared the ambitious sea-lords. (Kanhojl Aipgare, who had died before this action,
had been high admiral of the Maratha fleet with title sarkhel) as they had reduced most
of the forts between Poona and the Konkan. One of the consequences was that
shipbuilding and the heavier carrying trade was thereafter monopolized by the East
India Company, and Indian shipping preserved only primitive types.
55. Muzzle of the Malik-i-Maidan cannon on the walls of Bijapur. The caliber
(2’4") is shown by the human figure ; stone balls to fit the bore still exist. The cannon
was cast in gun-metal at Ahmadnagar under the supervision of the Turkish engineer
Muhammad bin Hassan Rumi in A. D. 1549. The muzzle decoration is symbolic,
showing an elephant (the cannon-ball) charging out of a dragon’s mouth. More for
ostentation than use, the smooth-bore shows one of the failures of the feudal period to
get the most out of techniques within its reach. The artillery of the rival Vijayanagar
kingdom was decidedly poorer in spite of the incredible wealth amassed by the Hindu
kings after Kr^na-deva-raya (no. 63). The difference led to disaster in the final battle
(Jan. 23, 1565, at Tagtfi-Raksas, sometimes called “of Talikota”). with annihilation of
the Vijayanagar army, capital, and empire. The cannon shown is said to have been the