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| Ashok Piller at Sankissa, Farrukhabad Uttar Pradesh |
Pillers of Ashoka
The Pillers of Ashoka are a series of columns dispersed throughout the Indian subcontinent, erected or at least inscribed with edicts by the Mauryan king Ashoka during his reign in the 3rd century BC. Originally, there must have been many pillars but only nineteen survive with inscriptions, and only six with animal capitals, which were a target for Muslim iconoclasm. Many are preserved in a fragmentary state. Averaging between 12 to 15 m (40 to 50 ft) in height, and weighing up to 50 tons each, the pillars were dragged, sometimes hundreds of miles, to where they were erected.
List of Pillers in Uttar Pradesh
The main survivals, listed with any crowning animal sculptures and the edicts inscribed, are as follows:
- Sarnath (near Varanasi) Uttar Pradesh, four lions, Pillar Inscription, Schism Edict.
- Sankissa, Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh, elephant capital only.
- Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh (originally located at Kaushambhi and probable moved to Allahabad by Jahangir. (Pillar Edicts I-VI, Queen's Edict, Schism Edict)
- Delhi-Meerut, Delhi ridge, Delhi (Pillar Edicts I, II, III, IV, V, VI; moved from Meerut to Delhi by Firuz Shah Tuglaq in 1356.
The Mauryan Period
With the emergence of the Mauryans in 3rd century B.C., a new chapter was opened in the history of Art. It is said that Ashok visited Sarnath and Kushinagar and had personally ordered for construction of Stupas and Viharas at these two sacred places. Their traces have disappeared but the remnants of stone pillars found at Sarnath, Allahabad, Meerut, Kausambi, Sankisa (Farrukhabad) and Varanasi give us an idea of the excellence of Mauryan Art. All the Ashokan pillars have been built with Chunar stones. The Lion Capital of Sarnath is without doubt and excellent specimen of Mauryan ARt. Writes the famous historian Vincent Smith, 'It would be difficult to find in any country an example of ancient animal sculpture, superior or even equal to this artistic expression of Sarnath, because it successfully combines realistic treatment with idealistic dignity and every detail has Come out with utmost perfection.' Mathura was another important centre of Art in the Mauryan Period. Colossal sculptures of Yakshas and Yakshinis have been found in the district Parkham, Borada and Jhing-ks-nagar and certain other places. All these represent contemporary folk art. There was considerable artistic activity in Uttar Pradesh during Shung-Satvahan Period. A large number of architectural and other fragments found in the ruins of Sarnath tell us the story of buildings, etc. built during this period. The remains of a semi-circular temple of this period is now represented only by its foundation wall, During those days mathura was a prominent centre of Bharhut-Sanchi School of Art. Several important specimens of this schools have been found here. |
