An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s1.2

v1.c17.s1.2

Many early historical sites, such as Taxila (Marshall, 1951, 2, pp. 630-2, 654-5), KAUŚĀMBĪ and KONDAPUR have yielded a variety of amulets of different materials. Among the animal-shaped amulets are represented a gargoyle, tortoise, frog, fish, lion, elephant, bull, horse, hare, ram, dog, monkey, etc. The commonest among them is the tortoise amulet, which, however, has a higher antiquity, for it is reported from Chalcolithic levels at PRAKASH. The tortoise was held sacred as it was an incarnation of Viṣṇu and the mount of Yamunā, besides being associated with longevity. Gargoyle (*makara*) amulets have been found at NEVASA and KONDAPUR, *makara* being a symbol of the waters and the mount of Gaṅgā and Varuṇa. *Nandi* amulets are also quite common at sites in the Deccan. Horse and elephant amulets however are extremely rare. The elephant came to be associated with birth and regeneration in water cosmogony and as such is connected with the nativity of Buddha. The lion too was sacred to the Buddhists because Buddha was the 'lion of the Śākyas' (*Śākya-siṁha*).