Studies in Indian Art c13.s5.t2: II. Kīrtistambha

Studies in Indian Art c13.s5.t2

Language: English

II. Kīrtistambha

c13.s5.t2.1

Literally the word kīrtistambha implies 'a pillar associated with kīrti'. We actually have such free-standing lofty pillars in front of the chaitya-halls at Karle, Kanheri, etc. As a matter of fact such pillars formed an integral part of the earliest chaitya-prāsāda architecture, This is borne out by the description of the *prāsāda* in Laṅkā, of which a monumental pillar formed a distinguishing land-mark: *prāsādasyu mahāms tasya stambham hemaparishkṛitam/ utpāṭayitvā vegena Hanumān mārutātmajaḥ* (Sundara. 43 17).

c13.s5.t2.2

We may go even earlier, and we find that the stūpa monument, when standing under the open sky, had also its free standing pillars. The mounds of thick yellow clay rammed as hard as stone, at Lauriya Nandangarh offer typical examples. Their contents indicate that they were burial mounds. In the particular mound in which a piece of gold-leaf with the figure of the Earth Goddess was found, a little below that level was discovered a long hollow shaft 10" in diameter showing that once a wooden pillar was placed there. In another adjoining mound the shaft of the wooden pillar was found *in situ*. We have another instance in the A'okan pillar installed in front of one of the Gateways of the Great Sānchi Stūpa. Probably reference to a wooden pillar (*sthūṇī*) associated with a mound of earth raised over the relics of the departed ones may be traced to the Ṛigveda X. 18. 1.¹ The Sabhāparvan refers to such a pillar erected on the top of a *śmaśāna chaitya* as *chaityayūpa*, the two together invoked as a befitting *upamāna* in point of loftiness to Viṣṇu riding on Garuḍa.²

c13.s5.t2.3

¹ *ut te stabhnāmi pṛthivī tvat parīmam logaṃ nidadhan mo aham ṛisham. etām sthāṇāṃ pitaro dhāruyantu te' trā yamaḥ sādanā te minotu. I keep off the earth above thee, while over thee I place this clod (or heap) of earth. May I be free from injury. Here let the Pitṛis make stead-fast this pillar for thee, and there let Yama make an abiding place for thee.*

c13.s5.t2.4

² *chintayāmāsa kṛiṣhṇo'tha garuṭmantaṃ sa chābhyayāt, kṣhaṇe tasmin sa tenāsīch chaityayūpa ivochchḥritaḥ* Sabhā 22.22, Poona Edn.

c13.s5.t2.5

Thus in accordance with a well-established old custom the *caitya-prāsāda* was provided with its associative column. This explains the existence of *Kīrtistambhas* in front of *kīrti* excavations.