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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 [1] are four life-sized lions set back to back on a drum-shaped abacus.
The pillars of Ashoka are among the earliest known stone sculptural remains from India. Only another pillar fragment, the Pataliputra capital, is possibly from a slightly earlier date.
The capital. 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 pillars depict animals such as elephants and lions and wheels and lotuses which are all significant symbols in Buddhism. The majestic pillar edicts have been found at Topra, Rampurva, Nigali Sagar, Lauriya-Araraj, Lauriya Nandangarh, Sarnath and Meerut .
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Jan 26, 2023 · The Indian national emblem features four animals: The lion represents power, courage, and strength. The bull represents hard work, perseverance, and stability. The elephant represents wisdom, prudence, and royal authority. The horse represents energy, speed, and loyalty.
Most of the pillars were topped by sculptures of animals. Each pillar is also topped by an inverted lotus flower, which is the most pervasive symbol of Buddhism (a lotus flower rises from the muddy water to bloom unblemished on the surface—thus the lotus became an analogy for the Buddhist practitioner as he or she, living with the challenges ...
Dec 6, 2023 · 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).
