English
The Gateways have suffered more during the forty years that have elapsed since thty were discovered by the English than they did quite the previous righteen centuries ! YY Y aA As 5 ANE weed A ¥. ee Fiore! ; Docrein Pat Sipe " yur BAKA LL A + RX, TV.Y YAYDAT G . A KRAUAAN (UL 14 a rt f vY A’ >) E > + a > ~ - A KAAALA LASS PLATE XI. ¢ vY Y AX AL VW hav As MOY =) { AM TYIYNYYY ¥ XY SERA ALAK AR AS { } ¢ ( }o MAVYY AY NY ’ AAA AAAAALA +¥ A ¥wQa = A AAAALADAAS VoYY ¥ PLATE Xil. wan ge ky ¥ 4 RRAKAAKR AR AS G fc myyyn vy He ARS) ARK AAKLAAAT vY AN yn ¢ A 0 a A AALALARAAL y he Ke WvYVY ¥ PLATE Xill. DAN OHI © ee a ts \o Ss ‘en yrs wa % > at > >= S) roa ~s 7 G YD KY MAMA YY Ls AIA ny Y, x YN D A AMMALLYD DEO YOYY_Y DESCRIPTION OF PLATES. 105 PLATES X. to XV. THESE six photographs represent from various points of view the three external faces of the upright pillars of the Northern and Eastern Gateways, which are still standing. It will not be necessary to describe their sculptures in detail in this place, as all these bas-reliefs have: been drawn by Colonel Maisey, and lithographs from his drawings will be found in the Plates of this work. As these are much more distinct than the photographs, it will be more convenient to describe them in detail when referring to the subsequent plates. The photographs are nevertheless extremely interesting, not only as authenticating the lithographs, but also as showing the position _ of each bas-relief with reference to the others; and it may be possible hereafter to trace some connexion between them. In Colonel Maisey’s volume they are arranged consecutively as they stand on the pillars, but ‘I fail to catch any trace of a’ story running through them, and have consequently aftanged them in this work according to their subjects. It is most important, however, that others should have the means of knowing how they are placed on the monument itself, and for this purpose the ~ photographs are indispensable. With a little familiarity, the subjects as lithographed are easily recoghized in the photographs, and each is ; melemree to on in me descriptions which will be given hereafter. The bas-reliefs exist only on two faces of the pillars. On the inner side, or that turned towards the Dagoba, the lower part is completely concealed by the pre-existing Rail, so that there is only room for one square piece of sculpture in each. In both _ Gateways this consists of a representation of a Dagoba on the right-hand pillar, and a sacred Tree on the left (Photographs VII. and IX.), these two being the principal objects of worship at Sanchi, and therefore selected when only two could be represented. — The outer faces of the four pillars are covered with architectural ornaments — which are not represented in the lithographs, being sufficiently clear in the photographs. On the Eastern Gateway this consists in a rich ornamentation of lotus flowers, interwoven with a scroll ornament; not in such good taste as such ornaments are generally found to be in. monuments of this class in India. . On the Northern Gateway the ornament on the right-hand pillar (Photograph XT.) is in much better taste, and of its class is as good and elegant as anything to be found either at Sanchi or Amravati. It does not seem to have any particular. meaning, but the same detail is found on the intermediate props between the architraves in ~ front of both. Gateways. The ornament on the left-hand pillar of the Northern Gateway (Plate X.) is the only one which seems to have any symbolical meaning. The central part con- sists of a-floral ornament somewhat similar to that on the companion pillar, but narrower, and on each side of it are eight hooks or pegs, from which depend wreaths “or garlands. From the second peg two necklaces of emblems are suspended, which ‘are represented on a larger scale in Plate III. Fig. 4. Some of thése will be easily " (4799.) (oe 106 THE TOPE AT SANCHL recognized; others will be referred to in the sequel. At the bottom of the pillar are the sacred impressions of the feet of Buddha, and at the top an ornament which, in — order to avoid theory, I have ventured to style the Trisul or Trident ornament. It is one of the most common features both here and at Amravati. It crowns both these - Gateways (Plates IV. to IX.). It is seen on the standards and arms of the soldiers everywhere. It is found on all or nearly all the old Buddhist coins, and generally. may be said to be one of the most favourite emblems ‘of the age. Yet it must be remarked it is never worshipped, as the Wheel emblem is, nor as the Tree or Dagoba are. As an object of worship, it is certainly inferior to these; as an ornament, it occurs more frequently and nearly as prominently. Although so common, it is not very easy to explain what the meaning always. may be which the early Buddhists attached to it. The key to the mystery may, ° - however, probably be found in the annexed diagram from one of the notes by ' Rémusat on the travels of Fa Hian.* This emblem is also found in China and Thibet, inscribed with Sanscrit letters, which serve further to designate the pie: Thus the lowest marked “a”? means the No.1 4, earth; the circle “ va” represents water; the triangle “ra” fire; the crescent “ka” stands for the wind; and the cone marked “ kha” for ether. General Curfningham,}+ by a different process, makes out that - ra it is compounded of the old Pali letters, meaning the same thing ; though in this case it is not quite clear whether the emblem was. va derived from the letters, or the letters from the emblem.{ But this is of little consequence, as by any of these processes we arrive at the a me Conclusion that the Trisul ornament represents the five elements or the material universe. When, however, it is placed on the top of a pillar, as is done in this _case, and very frequently at Amravati, and connected with the feet of Buddha on the base, it is not so clear- what the combination means; but without wishing to put it forward for more than it is worth, I would suggest that the two together may stand for . _ Buddha, or the first person of the Triad—Buddha, Dharma, Sangha—the two latter being represented by the Wheel and the Tree. It must. be recollected we are now speaking of times before Buddha was represented by images to be worshipped. If _ the first person of the Triad was represented on the monuments at all, it must have been by some emblem. So far as can at present be perceived, there was no other which can be Sppronniated to him.§ ka * Foé-Koué-Ki, p. 92. + Bhilsa Topes, 355 t General Cunningham then goes on to state that he considers this emblem the representation of Dharma, the second person in the Buddhist Triad. Here I cannot follow his reasoning. If any, the Wheel represents the Law. , '§ In the Foé-Koyé-Ki there is a curious story (chap. xx.) of a king—Prasenajit—* who having a strong “ desire to see Buddha, who was then absent in heaven, caused a head of an ox to be sculptured in sandal wood, “ in such a manner. a5 tO represent the image of Foé, and placed it where he had sat.” In this form the legend is quite unintelligible; but may not this emblem have been called “the Ox-head emblem” from its similarity to that amimal’s head, snd hence the confusion of ideas ? ty vy yy ‘y WYYrKv¥YyY A; x ¥ YiYyYay ry WY vx) WI y Ana v6) Shy Y ARR ARAM TS AROMA KAMAE Se A a on ee sry winryy NEMICOS so SNTOY a VA i SDARAAACK dad ANAVAL ES AA OVAKALUAA oh he Og ) KYyow 1 AAA bh/ AR OA CL wh 6 LOA hoe \yYYYnyyYy Y DMG LED AkOMAD MAX AIW]d Ze | Me Gees ess! , <a Ss” “4. _ -_™— DESCRIPTION OF PLATES. 107. PLATES XVI., XVII, anv XVIII. SoUuTHERN GaTEway. urs Gateway is entirely prostrate, and was apparently lying on the ground as it is now when Captain Fell visited Sanchi in 1819. Colonel Maisey is inclined to consider it as the oldest of the four Gateways. “The “ pillars,” he. says, “are different in style from the others, and the buildings and “ costumes struck me as having served as the models for those of the other gates, _“ which, though evidently the work of superior artists, have not so original an’ * appearance.” It is difficult to form a positive opinion on such: an- argument as this without seeing the sculptures themselves, but it is probable Colonel Maisey ' may be right. But, on the other hand, there is so much more of Serpent Worship in the sculptures, and they show a certain character of finish that would rather seem to place them, as ‘sometimes I felt inclined to do, as the third. Though with the materials at my command, I am unable to offer a decided opinion on the subject, . I think the sequence in which they were erected is tolerably clear. The North and. East Gateways, with their elephant capitals, certainly come next to one another, and of the two the Eastern is certainly the most modern, and it is therefore probable that they are either the first or thie last pair. There is a reason, however, whiclr seems to me even more cogent than that assigned by Colonel Maisey .why the ‘Southern Gateway should be oldest. On looking at the plan, .Plate II., it will be perceived that it is opposite. the flight of steps that leads to the terrace from which the dome springs. This must, therefore, always have been the principal entrance,. and when only one Gateway existed it seems most improbable that it should be anywhere else.