Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c13.s5.54

c13.s5.54

In the early iconography, in case of the standing figures a chhatra or parasol is shown over the Buddha's head, which also was included in the paraphernalia of the Chakravartī. The feature of the two chowries and the chhatra was already the sign of royalty in early art as seen at Bharhut, in the figure of Māndhātā at Bhājā and at Sanchi. The formula of Buddha's image seems to have evolved by combination of the ideal Yogī seated in meditation and the ideal Chakravartī seated on a siṃhāsana with two chowri-bearer attendants with a chhatra held above. In the case of the seated figures, the chhatra seems to have been replaced by the halo.