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The Lion Capital of Ashoka is the capital, or head, of a column erected by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka the Great in Sarnath, India, c. 250 BCE. Its crowning features are four life-sized lions set back to back on a drum-shaped abacus.
Sanchi Stupa & Lion Capital are prime examples of Mauryan architecture. Download Sanchi Stupa notes PDF for IAS Exam. Learn the significance of Lion Capital and its adoption as Indian emblem.
Lion Capital, Ashokan Pillar at Sarnath, c. 250 B.C.E., polished sandstone, 210 x 283 cm, Sarnath Museum, India (photo: Shyamal) The pillar reads from bottom to top. The lotus represents the murky water of the mundane world, and the four animals remind the practitioner of the unending cycle of samsara as we remain, through our ignorance and ...
Jun 7, 2024 · The Lion Capital of Ashoka, also known as the Ashoka Pillar, stands as an iconic testament to India's rich history and the profound influence of Emperor Ashoka, one of the greatest rulers in ancient times.
Aug 4, 2019 · The Lion capital was originally a part of the pillar constructed by Ashoka, the great emperor of the Mauryan dynasty who created the largest empire of ancient India. After the bloody conquest of Kalinga which claimed more than 1,00,000 lives, a deeply distraught Ashoka found solace in the teachings of Buddha.
The top of the column—the capital—has three parts. First, a base of a lotus flower, the most ubiquitous symbol of Buddhism. Then, a drum on which four animals are carved represents the four cardinal directions: a horse (west), an ox (east), an elephant (south), and a lion (north).
The Lion Capital of Ashoka is the capital, or head, of a column erected by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in Sarnath, India, c. 250 BCE. Ashoka erected the column to commemorate the site of Gautama Buddha's first sermon some two centuries earlier.
This flower, and the animal that surmount it, form the capital, the topmost part of a column. Most pillars are topped with a single lion or a bull in either seated or standing positions. The Buddha was born into the Shakya or lion clan. The lion, in many cultures, also indicates royalty or leadership.
The Lion Capital of Ashoka is the capital, or head, of a column erected by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in Sarnath, India, c. 250 BCE. Its crowning features are four life-sized lions set back to back on a drum-shaped abacus.
Ashoka, leader of the Maurya Empire, placed pillars like this one at several Buddhist monasteries during the 3rd century BCE. This particular capital is also shown in the center of the modern flag of India. This horizontal disk is called the abacus. It sits between the capital and the pillar.
