Eastern Indian School of Mediaeval Sculpture c7.97.2

c7.97.2

The makara standard of Māra shows that the Buddhist Satan, whose name is the same as the ancient and modern Persian word for a snake (6), which snake, again, is the symbol of Satan in Jewish, Christian and Muhammadan mythology, was becoming identified with the Indian god of love, Kāma, who is called makara-ketana, i.e., “one whose standard was the makara.” The other new feature of the Benares school is the presence of the Earth-goddess. In stele No. S. 1 of the Indian Museum collection, we find a female on the pedestal of the stele running towards the proper right. This is the figure of the Earth-goddess rushing out of the centre of the earth, at the call of the Master. Her right hand is close to her mouth and most probably the artist wanted to show that she had placed a finger on her mouth in expression of wonder. A finger of her left hand is pointed upwards, showing that the cause of her appearance is the call of the Master. Anderson stated about this basrelief, "The other to the left consists of three women within a walled enclosure, one kneeling and apparently engaged in her devotions, holding up a vase with some object on it, and offering it to one of the women, whose attitude is peculiar."¹ We find the figure of the Earth-goddess in the same position, but only half emerged out of the earth both in S. 3 and S. 4.