Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c11.126

c11.126

The pillars infront of shrines were known as *Prāsāda-stambha* and infront of rock-cut Chaitya halls as *Kirti-stambha*, where *Kirti* means a rock excavation. A Yaksha shrine or Buddhist Stūpa came to be associated with a pillar as shown by the Sarnath and Sanchi pillars and by the description of the Nikumbhilā Chaitya in Laṅkā which had a large pillar by its side. The tall stature of the shafts (*Varshman*) and their being erected as banners of sacrifice (*Adhvarasya ketu*) are both mentioned in the Ṛigveda (RV. III. 8. 3, II. 8. 8). Such pillars were raised for welfare of the whole community (*Mahate Saubhagāya* RV. III. 8. 2.).