Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c11.47

Language: English

c11.47

(vi) Pillar in Lumbinī Garden (modern Rummindei) "with the figure of a horse on the top" which Yuan Chwang saw broken in the middle by lightning. He does not mention the inscription but the Fang-Chih refers to it as connected with the Buddha's birth. This is the famous Aśokan Pillar to which he gave the highest honour amongst his similar monuments as 'it marked the spot of the birth place of the Buddha (hida Buddhe jāte Sākya-muni ti). So the emperor came to this spot, paid homage to it, raised a pillar (Silāthabhe usapāpite) and built a railing carved in stone.'

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