Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c11.25

c11.25

But where these two conceptions have broken fresh ground, especially at Sanchi is in the imaginative symbolism with which they are so freely adorned. Most of the emblems employed were of very ancient usage going back into Vedic times, but here they are materialized and brought into the service of Buddhism, the wheel, the tree, the trisula, the lotus, the mounted gryphon, and many other-magical motifs appear in these sculptures to be reproduced in a variety of forms in the subsequent art of both Buddhists and Hindus Specially significant are the dwarf-shaped creatures supporting the cross-bars of the gates at Sanchi, like leprechauns their origin is unknown but that they wielded some mystic power is certain for they found their way into the capital of the pillars of the medieval Indo-Aryan temples Representational, visionary, with the artlessness of youth and always warm and human, this Buddhist plastic art at Barhut and Sanchi expresses that dawning of consciousness which marks all early artistic effort, but is rarely shown better than in these examples