Sandstone pillar from Bodhgaya, Bihar, Eastern India

A damaged upper section of an octagonal pillar in red sandstone with upper and lower roundels on opposing sides and pairs of oval-shaped mortises with pointed ends on the other two sides carved to receive the horizontal rails of the enclosure. The upper roundels, which are missing their sides and top parts depict scenes within a simple circular moulding. One of them depicts three turbaned devotees standing on a raised platform (with the outermost one largely broken off) shown in three-quarter profile, worshipping the sacred Bodhi tree which inclines towards them on the left. The roundel below, which has only a piece on the right hand side missing, is carved with a head and shoulders bust of a man gazing out to the right of an onlooker. He is wearing an elaborate turban twisted with a large knot tilted on the right hand side of his head. His hair is brushed back from his forehead and marked with incised lines, and on his shoulders rest two cylindrical earrings. Behind him, on his left side, radiate a series of fish-tail ended ribbons, filling the concave circular centre. This is encircled with a multi-petalled lotus blossom which has beaded ornamentation down the centres of each of the front petals set within a plain circular moulding.
On the reverse side of the pillar the upper roundel depicts a scene of a princely figure seated at royal ease on a plain throne resting on a multi-arched platform under an umbrella with a female attendant behind him holding a fly whisk as he receives a hunter with what appears to be a bird on a pole. This probably represents a scene from the Hansa Jataka story, relating to one of the Buddha's previous existences as a goose who offered his life for another. The roundel below is similar to the one on the other side with a lotus frame, although the front petals here have only an incised central line with no beading. The central part is carved with a winged elephant, passant, facing left with its front right foot raised. There are inscriptions carved on both of the front facets of the decorated sides.

Given by Surgeon-Maj. F. A. Turton

This pillar was one of the pillars discovered at Bodhgaya during excavations in 1862 and 1873 by General Cunningham, which he recognised had been part of the ancient railing which encircled the sacred Bodhi tree under which the Siddhartha Gautama gained Enlightenment and became the first historical Buddha at the end of the 6th century B.C. Two sets of pillars were discovered by Cunningham of which this pillar belongs to the earlier set made of a sandstone from the Kaimur hills near Sasseram in the district of Shahabad. According to T. Bloch fifteen of the early pillars share a dedication by the Lady Kurangi. According to Cunningham three pillars were sent to South Kensington, but there are Museum records only for this pillar.

This pillar was found in Bodhgaya, Bihar, in Eastern India, and dates from the early 1st century. It formed part of the original sandstone railing encircling the tree shrine at Bodhgaya, marking the site of the Buddha's enlightenment.
The surviving section represents the upper section of the pillar, and is decorated on two faces with roundels. The upper roundels depict devotees worshipping the sacred Bodhi tree and a scene of a princely figure receiving a hunter with a bird on a pole. This is probably a scene from the Hamsa Jataka story, which recounts the Buddha's previous existence as a goose who offered his life for another. A Brahmi inscription records the pillar as 'the gift of the noble lady Kurangi'.

IS.1065-1883