A Pilgrimage Special: Broken Souvenir

Our guide, if I remember right, told us there are thirty two Asokan pillars throughout India. Asokan pillar or pillars of Ashoka are a series of columns built by Mauryan king Ashoka during the 3rd century BCE. These pillars which are dispersed throughout northern Indian are carved with proclamations of Buddhist teachings called the Edicts of Ashoka. The first pillar which we saw during our trip must be the one in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha.The pillar here has an elephant capital at the top since the elephant represents the Buddha's conception. The capital however now lies at the base of the pillar and is beyond recognition. The best pillar most probably is the one in Vaishalli where a single lion faces north to denote the direction Buddha took during his last voyage. A lion capital is said to represent the attainment of Buddhahood. At Deer Park in Sarnath, we see yet the most famous of the columns. Strangely, this pillar is in a terrible broken state. The pillar reportedly was broken during Turk invasions and originally was surmounted by the Lion Capital of Ashoka which is now on at display at the Sarnath Museum and is the National Emblem of India.

Asokan Pillar in Lumbini... Asokan Pillar in Vaishalli...



An Asokan pillar near Mucalinda Lake, Bodhgaya...


Broken Asokan Pillar in Sarnath..