A Pilgrimage Special: Broken Souvenir

on
Our guide, if I remember right, told us there are thirty two Asokan pillars throughout India. Asokan pillar or pillars of Ashoka are a series of columns built by Mauryan king Ashoka during the 3rd century BCE. These pillars which are dispersed throughout northern Indian are carved with proclamations of Buddhist teachings called the Edicts of Ashoka. The first pillar which we saw during our trip must be the one in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha.The pillar here has an elephant capital at the top since the elephant represents the Buddha's conception. The capital however now lies at the base of the pillar and is beyond recognition. The best pillar most probably is the one in Vaishalli where a single lion faces north to denote the direction Buddha took during his last voyage. A lion capital is said to represent the attainment of Buddhahood. At Deer Park in Sarnath, we see yet the most famous of the columns. Strangely, this pillar is in a terrible broken state. The pillar reportedly was broken during Turk invasions and originally was surmounted by the Lion Capital of Ashoka which is now on at display at the Sarnath Museum and is the National Emblem of India.

 37

Asokan Pillar in Lumbini... Asokan Pillar in Vaishalli...



An Asokan pillar near Mucalinda Lake, Bodhgaya...

 Broken Asokan Pillar in Sarnath..


Comments

Liudmila said…
Strange thoughts had Ashoka, why columns? I would made some statues if I wanted to represent something...
May 8, 2008 at 12:53 PM
footiam said…
There are edicts on the columns. These edicts are like messages or instructions and on stones, they last for a long time. One can still see them today. At the top of the columns, there are statues; animals usually to tell the story of Buddha. If it's a horse, that's the horse he rode when he renounced his palace life, etc etc. As youcan see, the muslims destroy them but one famous statue at the top of the column can be seen at Sarnath Museum, there are four lions facing four different directions; I think that means Buddhism being brought to all the four corners of the world or something like that.
May 12, 2008 at 1:01 AM
Liudmila said…
it's very interesting, I did not know about it.
May 12, 2008 at 3:50 AM
footiam said…
Ancient people are very clever,I suppose!
May 15, 2008 at 7:56 AM
footiam said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
May 15, 2008 at 7:56 AM
Liudmila said…
You know, Footiam, I make a tourist guide in Salernofrom time to time and the city is full of churches. The Christiantum is here from the first centuries. So I want to say that I learnd many symbols of paleochristian times. Everything has it's symbol. Maybe because persons after Roman Empire did not know write.
But as for me, I understand symbolism better and more fast too. You look at something -and know just what they wanted to say you without other explanations.
May 15, 2008 at 12:45 PM
footiam said…
Ancient people seem to use a lot of symbols . Chinese too. There are many animals etc that has hidden meanings. For example, tortoise means long life, bat, good luck. Some people think of these as superstitious but I think it promotes positive thinking.Symbols are also important since many people in ancient time , i suppose are illiterate and besides, it is a universal language; people who speak different languages may be able to understand them. And as you say, you understand faster!
May 17, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Post a Comment