Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c12.s2.29

c12.s2.29

An important element in the architecture of the great railing is the cross-bars (sūchī) three of which were fitted between each pair of pillars. The total number of cross-bars in the railing was 228 of which about 80 were found. The cross-bar measures 1' 11¾" in length by 1' 10½" in breadth with a thickness of 6". The rails are beautified by circular bosses or medallions on each side, sculptured with various subjects, similar to those of the medallions of the pillars. There are few Jātakas amongst them but they present a variety of humorous scenes and flowered ornaments of sheer richness and beauty. [Fig. 64]. The rail-bars of the four entrances owing to the wider intercolumniation of the pillars, were considerably longer than those of the main railings, and their faces were occupied by oblong panels showing religious scenes such as worship of the Stūpa, the Bodhi tree and the Dharmachakra.