The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c10.32

c10.32

It is easy to understand why the wheel appealed to the understanding of every Indian as an appropriate symbol of the whole teaching of Buddha, which was not a dogma of religion but a rule of life. The wheel was not only an ancient Vedic symbol of the sun, as representing the cosmic soul-force, but every Aryan in performing the rite of pradakshinâ round his native village—starting from the eastern gate and following the path of the sun along the Road of Auspiciousness to its zenith at the southern gate, its setting at the western gate, its descent into the nether world until it reached its nadir at the northern gate, whither the sons of King Sagara¹ pursued the sacrificial horse which had escaped from their charge, and, finally, returning to his starting-point in the east—was symbolically turning the wheel of the divine law and meditating upon the mystery of life and death.