Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c12.s2.t1.4

c12.s2.t1.4

C. ANIMALS :—Two kinds of animals, natural and fabulous, are shown. The motif of the fabulous animals like the winged lion, winged horse, griffin, was quite ancient in Indian literature. In Bharhut we find a fish-tailed elephant (jalebha or jala-hasti) and crocodile with a fish tail as well as a winged horse (balāhaka-aśva). We find fourteen quadrupeds, six kinds of birds, snake, crocodile, tortoise, lizard and frog. The quadrupeds include the lion, elephant, horse, rhinoseros, wild goat, bull, deer, buck, wolf, monkey, cat, dog, sheep, hare and a squirrel. The birds comprise the cock, parrot, peacock, goose, wild duck and quail. The representation of all these animals is correct and spirited. The artists have been most successful in the treatment of monkeys and elephants whose poses and attitudes are delineated with a perfect natural charm.