Indo-Iran J (2008) 51: 65–69

DOI 10.1007/s10783-008-9091-0
BOOK REVIEW

Bakker, Hans T. [Ed.], The Vākāt.aka Heritage. Indian

Culture at the Crossroads [Gonda Indological Studies
Volume XIII].
Groningen: Egbert Forsten 2004, pp. VIII, 196, 13 plates.
ISBN 90-6980-148-5. €80,-

Oskar von Hinüber

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008

After H. Bakker’s fundamental and seminal work on the Vākāt.akas was published in
1997,1 a colloquium was organized at Groningen five years later in 2002 to assess
the present knowledge on the Vākāt.akas from different points of view by a number
of specialists. The outcome is united in this volume in the form of 13 articles, which
are introduced by the editor who also gives a very useful summery of the individual
contributions.
At the beginning, H. Kulke offers “Some thoughts on state and state formation
under the Eastern Vākāt.akas” and argues that there were not two branches of one, but
really two Vākāt.aka kingdoms, the Eastern kingdom of Nandivardhana (Nagardh-
an/Nandardhan) and the western of Vatsagulma (Basim). Further he draws attention
to innovations under the Vākāt.akas, such as the foundation of a state sanctuary, land-
grants to Brahmins and the use of copper plates (p. 5a). The administration of the
Vākāt.aka kingdoms is discussed by closely following the evidence of the respective
inscriptions accompanied by the warning to use praśastis with utmost caution, par-
ticularly when they were written at a much later date (p. 1b).
Similar warnings are found in the contribution “Transition from early historic to
early medieval in the Vākāt.aka realm” by D. Kennet, who critically surveys the argu-
ments in favour of the de-urbanisation thesis as proposed by R.S. Sharma in 1987. It
turns out that the archaeological evidence, on which R.S. Sharma relied needs thor-

1 H. Bakker: The Vākātakas. An Essay in Hindu Iconology [Gonda Indological Studies Vol. V]. Groningen
.
1997 [rev.: H. v. Stietencron, OLZ 94. 1999, columns 366–374; G. Michell, BSOAS 63. 200, p. 127 foll.;
R.L. Brown, JAOS 121. 2001, pp. 664–667; A. Malinar, WZKS 2006, pp. 260–262; cf. also W. Spink:
Ajan.t.ā (see note 8 below), Vol. II, pp. 3–21]. A review in this journal did not materialize, because to
prospective reviewer preferred not to deliver.
O. von Hinüber
Kartäuserstr. 138, 79102 Freiburg, Germany
66 O. von Hinüber

ough re-evaluation. But in spite of the fact that a large part of the basis of Sharma’s
argument disappears, “no single case of incontrovertible evidence for large-scale ur-
ban developments” (p. 15b) can be found in the area of the Vakāt.akas.2 This concurs
with the paucity of Vākāt.aka coins, a subject addressed by E. Raven in “Kings of
copper,” which reviews the present state of Vākāt.aka related numismatics.3
In one of the most stimulating articles M. Willis turns to problems of Gupta his-
tory:4 “The archaeology and politics of time.” Looking at the recumbent Nārāyan.a
relief, the Varāha image and paying attention to the natural rift in the rock at Udaya-
giri, M. Willis is able to offer a surprising, brilliant and fully convincing new inter-
pretation of the site. After extensive field research, which included visiting Udayagiri
over a long period of time to follow the cycle of a year, insights into the astronomi-
cal observations underlying the planning of the reliefs could be discovered. Although
this long time research is quite common in anthropology to follow festivals etc., it is
rightly recommended here also for monuments, where it may prove equally fruitful as
amply attested by this article, which combines a thorough knowledge of literary texts,
epigraphy, art and astronomy. The result of this rich article is summarized by the au-
thor as an answer to the question, why the Gupta rulers were attracted to Udayagiri.
It was an old site of astronomical observation, where the rājasūya, closely connected
to the year, could be visualized and where ambitious kings were able to create ties
among the sacrifice, the mythology of Vis.n.u and themselves (p. 52a). Particularly the
reading of this article as an example for careful research and sound methodology is a
most rewarding exercise.
The article by R.L. Brown surveys the “Vākāt.aka-period Hindu sculpture,” and
H. Bakker reports on the excavations at Mansar. His interpretation of the excavation
of the Hid.imbā Tekd.i (p. 78f.) is now substantiated in the article “Monuments to the
dead in ancient north India” (IIJ 50, pp. 11–47).5
When reaching the article by W. Spink “the innocent evolution of Ajan.t.ā’s tech-
nology,” actually an interesting contribution on doorframes, although the article is
unfortunately somewhat vague about details such as the actual number about these
doorframes and the fittings for the doors.6 In this article, one also enters some sort of
chronological wonderland. Every cave, every detail in the individual caves is dated

2 Doubts of a similar kind are raised also in F. Virkus: Politische Strukturen im Guptareich (300–550 n.
Chr.). Wiesbaden: 2004 [rev.: IIJ 50. 2007, pp. 183–192], pp. 32–37.
3 There is a minute error in the captions of plate 3.11 and 3.12: The text on the coin has clearly vriddhi, not
vr.ddhi.
4 Cf. now also Michael Willis: Later Gupta History: Inscriptions Coins, and Historical Ideology. JRAS
15. 2005, pp. 131–150; G. Fussman: Les Guptas et le nationalisme indien. Cours et travaux du Collège
de France. Résumés 2006–2007. Annuaire 107e année, pp. 695–706 and S.R. Goyal: A history of the
Vākāt.aka-Gupta relations. Jodhpur 2006.
5 The articles marked as “Bakker forthc.” and “forthc. a” in the bibliography (p. 180a) appeared in the
meantime: “A theatre of broken dreams” Delhi 2006, pp. 165–186 and “The man of Mansar” Leuven
2007, pp. 179–194.
6 The topic is not taken up systematically in the published volumes of W. Spink’s Ajantā monography (see
..
next note).—On doors and their fittings in early Buddhist literature cf. O.v. Hinüber: Sprachentwicklung
und Kulturgeschichte. Ein Beitrag zur materiellen Kultur des buddhistischen Klosterlebens. Akademie der
Wissenschaften und der Literatur, Mainz. Abhandlungen der geistes- und sozialwissenschaftlichen Klasse,
Jg 1992, Nr. 6, Chap. III.
Book review 67

to the year, the perfect fulfilment of the dream of all scholars struggling with ancient
Indian chronology. Unfortunately, the basis of this chronology is difficult to perceive,
even by the help of the four published volumes of the monumental monograph on
Ajan.t.ā by W. Spink.7
The proposed very tight chronology is challenged in the next article, actually a
letter by H.v. Stietencron addressed to W. Spink, pointing out a number of very per-
tinent practical questions such as the disturbances suffered by resident monks dur-
ing the excavation of the caves or the possible duration of excavating a cave. That
monks were indeed suffering from construction work is born out by Buddhist texts.
Recently G. Schopen collected relevant material, which shows that monks were in-
deed molested by repairs and even driven out of the monastery in order to find the
tranquillity needed for meditation elsewhere.8 Another question is the speed of the
excavation work. From W. Spink’s long answer to H.v. Stietencron9 it is evident that
nobody ever seems to have bothered about asking a specialist, about simply consult-
ing a stonemason. . . Only after that is done, all speculations about the duration of
the work have to begin anew paying also attention to the many breaks of work again
referred to by G. Schopen. On the whole, W. Spink is unimpressed and all criticism
is categorically warded off with refreshing openness: “I will continue to resist, with
pleasure, all assaults on the notorious Short Chronology, or on my perhaps blind
trust in Dan.d.in’s retelling of the Vākāt.aka debacle” (Vol. I, p. 26). Consequently,
what is urgently needed is a complete reconsideration of the proposed chronology of
Ajan.t.ā and to begin with, a survey very simply stating what is really said in inscrip-
tions and in literature, and where interpretation if not fantasy begins. The appendix
to vol. II of W. Spink: Ajan.t.ā, pp. 273–339, a collection of the “Ajan.t.ā’s inscrip-
tions” by R.S. Cohen is a laudable step into the right direction to control formu-
lations such as “Bagh’s patron, one Dattat.aka” (p. 88a) based on the Bagh plate of
Subandhu: dattat.aka-kāritaka-layana-vihāre (CII IV.1, no 7, line 5).10 This plate was

7 Ajantā: History and Development. Vol. I The end of the golden age (2005); Vol. II Arguments about
..
Ajan.t.ā (2006); Vol. III The arrival of the uninvited (2005); Vol. V Cave by cave (2007). [Handbuch der
Orientalistik. Abschnitt II Indien, Vol. 18, 1.2.4.5]. Leiden. Other voumes are under preparation. As neither
bibliography nor index have been published so far, the book is somewhat difficult to use at present.
8 G. Schopen: On monks and menial laborers. Some monastic accounts of building Buddhist monasteries,
in: Architetti, Capomastri, Artigiani. L’organizzazzione dei cantieri e della produzione artistica nell’Asia
ellenistica. Studi offerti a Domenico Faccenna nel suo ottantesimo compleanno a cura di Pierfrancesco
Callieri. Serie Orientale Roma C. Rom 2006, S. 225–245, esp. p. 241.
9 Ajantā, as note 8, Vol. I, pp. 22–65, where the letter is reprinted; p. 28 it is stated that the stonemason
..
at Ajan.t.ā used neither levels nor measuring tapes: In view of the advanced theories put forward in the
vāstuśāstras and the practical achievements seen in the monuments this sounds slightly astonishing. And
again the article by G. Schopen quoted in the previous note is useful: Plans (ākāra) were used when
building monasteries (Schopen p. 237).
10 The translation uncritically quoted from CII in a second reference to this grant in W. Spink: Ajantā
..
Vol. I, p. 27 “. . . for maintaining an alms-house. . . ” is wrong (“alms-house” is Pāli dānasālā, dānagga
or Aśoka dānagaha). The sub-compound in gandhadhūpamālyabalisatropayojyah., CII IV.1, no 7, line 6
foll. °-balisatra-° refers to a Hindu sacrifice and is transferred thoughtlessly from a Hindu or Vedic to a
Buddhist context, as done occasionally by royal offices, where obviously Brahmins drafted Buddhist in-
scriptions, cf. O.v. Hinüber: Verwischte Spuren. Der Gebrauch buddhistischer Texte nach dem Zeugnis von
Literatur, Inschriften und Dokumenten (in press). Another grant by Subandhu from Mahis.matı̄ transferring
two ārāmas and two cisterns to the Buddhist order has the correct wording: gandhadhūpadı̄patailādihetor,
68 O. von Hinüber

found in cave II and, consequently, Dattat.aka most likely was the donor of only that
cave.
The dedicatory praśasti in cave 17 is the starting point for L.A. Wood “The Ajan.t.ā
cave 17 inscription as a preface to the local king’s vihāra.” In an innovative look at
the murals and the inscription taken together, the author tries to demonstrate their
homology: both are assumed to refer to indirectly (inscription) and directly (murals)
to Aśoka as a universal monarch and to the Śibi- and Viśvantara-jātakas. However,
the interpretation needs to be a bit stretched at least to find allusions to Aśoka in the
inscription and to find Aśoka in the murals. For, e.g., the change from Can.d.āśoka
to the Dharmarāja occurred after bloody battles in Kalinga, but the turning point in
the life of the donor was the death of his brother. Equally faint are the allusions to
Aśoka in the murals. Only the gift of dust is well hidden in the pictorial program.
If such a homology was really intended, why not have the Aśoka-avadāna, which
was depicted at Kanaganahalli, facing the Viśvantara-jātaka instead of the Sim . hala-
avadāna in the main hall of cave 17? That the donor is praised for numerous gifts
is not at all unusual in any Buddhist and Hindu context, because this is any king’s
duty and not necessarily a reference to the dānapāramitā exemplified in the Śibi- und
Viśvantara-jātakas. Lastly, the caveat also pronounced by the author herself (note 5)
that because a substantial part of the inscription is destroyed any stringent interpre-
tation is very risky, should be heeded.11 Nevertheless, the idea of possible homolo-
gies of this kind should be kept in mind when reading inscriptions attached to works
of art.
The next three articles discuss the possible spread of influences from the Vākāt.aka
heartland into different directions: J. Williams “On the edge of what? Reconsidering
the place of Mandasor in the fifth and sixth centuries”; L.S. Nigam “Impact and ex-
tension of Vākāt.aka art in Chhattisgarh (Daks.in.a Kosala)“ and D. Stadtner “Vidarbha
and Kosala.” While L.S. Nigam concentrates on sculptures,12 D. Stadtner investi-
gates unusual details of the architecture of temples built at Tala and Rajim. Lastly,
Y. Yokochi concentrates on one particular type of images “the Mahis.āsuramardinı̄
icon with special reference to the images made in the Vākāt.aka realm” and describes
subtypes to the Gupta iconography, while referring briefly to the earlier Kus.ān.a and
later mediaeval types.

Indian Archaeology. A Review 1991/2 [1996], plate LVA, line 6 and p. 116, where it is said “A copper-
plate. . . was found at Bagh Cave, which records the excavations of the caves during the reign of Subandhu
of Mahishmati.” Nothing only remotely similar is said in the inscription. However, a second monastery at
Bagh is mentioned ajitasena-kāritaka-vihārasya, line, 4. This shows at the same time that the correct seg-
mentation is dattat.aka-kāritaka-layanavihāre “cave-monastery.” The word layanavihāra does not seem to
be attested so far. It could be a back-formation from (Pāli) len.a.
11 The figure standing to the right side of the Buddha in the gandhakuti is interpreted as the local King
.
(plate 9.14). However, nothing is said on the figure standing to the left, perhaps the deceased brother of the
King (??).
12 An interesting detail mentioned by L.S. Nigam is the spread of the box headed variety of Brāhmı̄ to
Daks.in.a Kosala (p. 155a), as observed already by V.V. Mirashi, EI 22. 1933/34, p. 17. This may be an indi-
cation of some sort of political influence exercised by the Vākāt.akas, who preferred this particular form of
script. For, kings used to import their script into conquered territories, cf. K.V. Ramesh and S. Subramonia
Iyer, EI 42. 1977/78 [1992], p. 14.
Book review 69

Thus the book as a whole offers a very remarkable collection of thoughtful contri-
butions to a large variety of Vākāt.aka related topics, and beyond. For, starting from
and in relation to the Vākāt.akas many areas of general interest are discussed such as
state formation, urbanisation, economics, or art. Contributors, organizers of the par-
ticularly fruitful symposion, and the editor are to be congratulated alike for presenting
this excellent and stimulating survey.