This pillar once belonged to the Great Stupa (reliquary mound) at Bharhut. The prominent female in the upper register is a goddess associated with fertility and nature, emphasized by her grasp of the mango tree, which becomes laden with ripened fruit at her touch. With her left hand, she points to an amorous couple (mithuna) in the lower register. In Indian art, images of loving couples embracing are auspicious motifs that symbolize prosperity and fecundity.
These are the oldest found paintings in India, in Ajanta caves. The paintings there date to 2nd century BC to 5th century AD. Which is the early Satavahana to the Gupta, Vakataka, etc period. You no longer can take images of them because of the damage done.
The King with the Ladies
More images of Ajanta Cave 10 paintings
Soldiers carrying axes, bows and arrows and spears.
Drawings based on the paintings
Traces of an empire; Rock cut temples of Ajantha, Part III | Sand Prints
More Ajanta cave paintings
This scene probably represents the installation of the legendary Kalinga Jina, a votive object (erased, photo left) that had been taken away by the king of Magadha in south Bihar but was recovered by king Vakradeva (crowned figure in the photo). The identification is not certain, and this scene might alternatively represent the king worshiping at some other shrine. An Ashoka-style wooden railing is depicted below the elephant; this type of railing can be found in many other scenes at Udayagiri.
The iconography of the nandipada is very old, antedating both the Buddhists and Jains in India. It appears here at the top of the arch.
This crowned bracket figure, of a rider on his horse.
Thread starter | Similar threads | Forum | Replies | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Archaeological Survey of India | History & Culture | 8 | ||
Chinese Territorial Strife Hits Archaeology | Indo Pacific & East Asia | 1 | ||
Archaeology Picture Thread | General Multimedia | 9 | ||
Pakistan's Turmoil Endangers Its Archaeological Treasures | Defence & Strategy | 3 |