Early Buddhist Art
Artist: unknown
Title: Mauryan Temple of the First Sermon at Sarnath, Ashokan
pillar capital, detail
Material: Chunar sandstone
Site: Sarnath, India
Current Location: Sarnath Site Museum, India
Period/Date: Mauryan period (ca. 323-185 B.C.E.)
Iconography/Iconology: There is considerable debate about the meaning
of the adorsed lions that form the major portion of the capital sculpture.
The lions originally supported a wheel (cakra
) that is symbolic of the Buddha having set the teachings in motion
by "turning the wheel of the law." Throughout the history of
Buddhist art, lions have been used in the context of supporting the teachings
by lending their power and energy to them. On the other hand, the lions
may have been secular symbols of the rule of the Mauryans who had adopted
an essentially Persian iconography. The Buddhist may have then adopted
this royal iconography.
Stylistic Comments: The lion's mussel, eyes, and mane is distinctivly
Achamenid, with little or no Indic modification.However, as will be seen
in subsequent pages, Indic elements also appear in the same sculpture.
The high polish of the relatively grainy sandstone is a technique that has
puzzled scholars for several generations, but was apparently a simple rubbing
method (as demonstrated to the author by Dr. P.L. Gupta).
