Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c12.s4.35

c12.s4.35

Scene 2 represents three elephants who seem to be attacking a panicky crowd. In the fore-front are shown a female and a male figure defending themselves with a heavy club. Behind them are a number of female figures either seeking shelter in various attitudes of consternation, or by their gesture offering to assist in repelling the attack. Fergusson incorrectly thought that it probably represented some episode in the story of the conquest of Ceylon by Vijaya where elephants, *Yakshas* and *Yakshiṇīs* performed important parts. (*Cave Temples*, p. 81). [Fig. 95].