This object is a section of an architrave or lintel from a ceremonial gateway (‘torana’). It probably belonged to a Jain or Buddhist stupa (shrine) or monastery site.
The sandstone panel is carved in low relief with a winged lion pacing to the left, flanked by a front-view lioness and a standing attendant waving a fly-whisk. The attendant was probably orginally honouring a deity represented in the centre of the panel. This deity, most probably a Buddha, is now missing. On the extreme right is part of a conventional foliate motif . This probably represents the Buddhist 'three jewels' emblem, symbolising the Buddhist law and teachings ('dharma'), the community of monks ('sangha'), and the lay devotees.
Physical description
Part of an architrave of red and ochre coloured sandstone, with traces of a former coating of haematite. The panel is rectangular and is carved in low relief. it is a section of an architrave from a gateway (torana) decorated with a man holding a flywhisk (chauri), presumably honouring the deity represented in the centre of the panel, most probably Buddha, but now missing.. a winged lion (passant) and a frontally-seated lion, ending on the right with part of a conventional foliate device, probably representing the Buddhist triratna ( three jewels) emblem, symbolising the Buddhist law and rteaching (dharma), the community of monks (sangha) and lay devotees.. This was probably part of a Buddhist veneration scene.
Place of Origin
Mathura, India (made)
Date
2nd century (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
red and ochre coloured sandstone with traces of a former coating of haematite
Dimensions
Height: 27.3 cm, Length: 76.8 cm, Depth: 10.2 cm
Object history note
The triratna emblem on the panel were used in Jain as well as Buddhist religious architecture in this period, but the lion motif does suggest a Buddhist affiliation as more likely - Buddha Sakyamuni was characterised as the 'lion' of the Sakya clan.
It was customary from at least the Sunga period (1st BCE-1st CE) and in the Kushan period to mark religious sites, be they shrines, temples or especially stupas, with monumnetal free-standing pillars (stambhas) and gateways (toranas). In the Buddhist and Jain context, both of which utilised stupas, these gateways would mark the four cardinal points of a stupa. Gateways of this kind resemble those of secular urban architecture of the period, except that they were not designed to be fortified.
No provenance is available, but it may be assumed that this lintel was excavated in one of the many mounds that mark ancient sites at the city of Mathura, known in early sources as the 'city of gods'.
Descriptive line
Part of Architrave with winged lion and lioness, sandstone, Mathura, North India, 2nd century
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Guy, John. ‘Indian Temple Sculpture’, London : V&A Publications, 2007. p.22.pl.13. ISBN 9781851775095 Guy, John (ed.). ‘L’Escultura en els Temples Indis: L’Art de la Devocio’, Barcelona : Fundacio ‘La Caixa’, 2007. ISBN 9788476649466. p.60, cat.20.
Exhibition History
: L’escultura en els temples indis: l’art de la devocio (CaixaForum, Barcelona 27/07/2007-18/11/2007)
Labels and date
ARCHITRAVE FRAGMENT
Sandstone
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, North India
Kusana dynasty
2nd century A.D.
Section of an architrave from a ceremonial gateway (torana) which would have marked one of the approaches to a stupa (relic mound).
IM 1-1927 [1988]
Production Note
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, northern India
Materials
Sandstone
Techniques
Carving
Subjects depicted
Lions; Fly whisks
Categories
Architecture
Collection code
SSEA
