The early Mahommedan architecture of Ahmedabad has been remarkably influenced by these clever Hindu masons. After- wards the taste of their Mahommedan masters reacted on their own work, as is strikingly seen in the Jaina temples of Palitana and other parts of Gujarat. At Malwan and Patgaum, in the Ratnagiri Collectorate of the Bombay Presidency, a soft slatey stone is carved into cups after the schistose models imported into Western India from Persia. The masons of Sargiddapanam in Nellore [Madras] are noted for their stone sculpture on the native towers called Galegopurams ; and those of Buchereddi- palem for their sculpture on the granite pillars of the local temples. The masons also of Udayagiri in this district are skilled in stone carving. The masons of Tumkur in Mysore are specially noted for the stone idols they carve. Stone jugs are largely manufactured at Kavaledurga in Mysore.
Captain Cole, R.E., who has paid special attention to the ancient stone sculptures of India, in his Catalogue to the Objects of Indian Art exhibited in the South Kensington Museum , 1874, classifies them in the two divisions : —
I. Statues and bas-reliefs.
II. Decorative sculpture for architectural purposes.
Under the head of statues and bas-reliefs he enumerates : —
1. The Buddhistic figure sculptures of the Asoka edict pillars, and of the Sanchi and Amaravati topes ; and the Grceco- Buddhistic remains in the Peshawur district.
2. The Jaina sculptures, of the twenty-four hierarchs 01 chat sect in Rajputana, at Gwalior, at Benares, and Mahoba, and in Bandelkhand.
3. The Brahmanical bas-reliefs of Pandrethan and Marttand in Cashmere, at Bindraband, at Eran and Pathari near Bhilsa, at Khajuraho in Bandelkhand, and at Puri in Kattack.
4. The Mahommedan sculptures, consisting of the two carved elephants which formerly stood outside the gates of Delhi, and similar statues at Fattehpur Sikri and Ahmedabad.
