DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0109
86
BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE.
Book I.
by excavation. The pillars are apparently only 5 ft. 11 in. in height,
and are generally ornamented with a semi-disc top and bottom
containing a single figure, or a group of several. They have also
a central circular disc, with either an animal or bust in the centre of
a lotus. No part of the upper rail seems to have been recovered, and
none of the intermediate rails between the pillars arc sculptured.
As the most ancient sculptured monument in India, it would be
extremely interesting to have this rail fully illustrated,1 not so much
for its artistic merit as because it is the earliest authentic monu-
ment representing manners and mythology in India. Its religion, as
might be expected, is principally Tree and Serpent worship, mingled
with veneration for dagobas, wheels, and Buddhist emblems. The
domestic scenes represent love-making, and drinking,—anything, in
fact, but Buddha or Buddhism, as we afterwards come to understand
the term.
Bhashttt.
Whatever interest may attach to the rail at Buddh Gaya, it is
surpassed ten times over by that of the newly-discovered rail at
1 It is to be hoped that when Geu.
Cunningham publishes the volume lie is
preparing on the Bharhut Tope, he will
add photographs of the pillars of this
rail. It would add immensely to the
value of his work if it afforded the means
of comparing the two. Some illustrations
of the sculpture from Major Kittoe's
drawings will be found in ' Tree and
Serpent Worship,' woodcuts 7, 20, 24.
Two of them are reproduced here, the
first representing a man on his knees
before an altar worshipping a tree, while
a flying figure brings a garland to adorn
it. The other represents a relic casket,
over which a seven-headed Naga spreads
his hood, and over him an umbrella
of state. There are, besides, two trees
in a sacred enclosure, and another
casket with three umbrellas (Woodcuts
Xo. 25, 26). They arc from drawings
by Major Kittoe.
Tree Worship : Baddh Gaj
iS. Relic Casket: Bllddl) Gaya Hail.
BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE.
Book I.
by excavation. The pillars are apparently only 5 ft. 11 in. in height,
and are generally ornamented with a semi-disc top and bottom
containing a single figure, or a group of several. They have also
a central circular disc, with either an animal or bust in the centre of
a lotus. No part of the upper rail seems to have been recovered, and
none of the intermediate rails between the pillars arc sculptured.
As the most ancient sculptured monument in India, it would be
extremely interesting to have this rail fully illustrated,1 not so much
for its artistic merit as because it is the earliest authentic monu-
ment representing manners and mythology in India. Its religion, as
might be expected, is principally Tree and Serpent worship, mingled
with veneration for dagobas, wheels, and Buddhist emblems. The
domestic scenes represent love-making, and drinking,—anything, in
fact, but Buddha or Buddhism, as we afterwards come to understand
the term.
Bhashttt.
Whatever interest may attach to the rail at Buddh Gaya, it is
surpassed ten times over by that of the newly-discovered rail at
1 It is to be hoped that when Geu.
Cunningham publishes the volume lie is
preparing on the Bharhut Tope, he will
add photographs of the pillars of this
rail. It would add immensely to the
value of his work if it afforded the means
of comparing the two. Some illustrations
of the sculpture from Major Kittoe's
drawings will be found in ' Tree and
Serpent Worship,' woodcuts 7, 20, 24.
Two of them are reproduced here, the
first representing a man on his knees
before an altar worshipping a tree, while
a flying figure brings a garland to adorn
it. The other represents a relic casket,
over which a seven-headed Naga spreads
his hood, and over him an umbrella
of state. There are, besides, two trees
in a sacred enclosure, and another
casket with three umbrellas (Woodcuts
Xo. 25, 26). They arc from drawings
by Major Kittoe.
Tree Worship : Baddh Gaj
iS. Relic Casket: Bllddl) Gaya Hail.