Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c13.s3.2

c13.s3.2

There are two types of railing clearly distinguished at Mathura. An earlier one marked by several features, viz. 1. profusion of lotus designs in medallions, 2. the number of medallions which is generally three in the middle and one half each above and below, 3. bevelling of square edges to convert them into octagonal form (*aṭṭhaṃsika*), 4. absence of human or divine figures on pillars, 5. absence of human heads inside cross-bar medallions as are found at Bharhut, 6. carving in low relief. These features distinguish the railing the remains of which belong to the earlier Jaina Stūpa at Kaṅkālī Ṭilā. From an account in the Rāyapaseṇiya Sutta we know that this kind of railing was styled as *Padmavara-vedikā*. "Why, O Revered Sir ! is the Padmavaravedikā called by that particular name ?"