Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c12.s2.t1.13

c12.s2.t1.13

It is clear that the religious world sculptured at Bharhut partakes of these cults of deities in an atmosphere of joy and freedom. As part of the Vriksha maha or tree-worship, we have a series of panels showing worship of the following Bodhi trees of the six Buddhas : 1. Aśvattha or Pipal, (*ficus religiosa*), known as the Bodhi Tree of Gautama Buddha. The Bodhi Tree is worshipped by royal persons, common citizens, elephants, Nāgas, etc. It is placed in a railing and at times the Bharhut sculptor has conceived its shrine (Bodhighara) as a building of great beauty with an open pavilion below and a domed top above with railings in both storeys.