Here the people whom Mr. Fergusson calls Dasyus are represented worshipping
the five-headed Naga, or Serpent, which appears in a small hexagonal temple,
raising its head over something very like an altar. In front stands a pot of fire,—
probably a fire-altar,—and in spite of Mr. Fergusson’s doubts, we think both the
Serpent and the Fire are connected with the old Sun-worship.[52]
In the foreground an old man is seated in a circular leaf-thatched hut, with,
according to a frequent Indian custom, a scarf bound round his knees and loins.
Behind him in the hut is suspended his upper garment, and in front a bearded
senior, of his own tribe, is, to all appearance, addressing him. Near this
individual stands another pot of fire, with three pairs of tongs or ladles, and a
bundle of sticks to feed the flame. Close beside him we see one elephant, two
buffaloes, sheep, and deer. The scene takes place in a forest. Above are trees and
cocks, with monkeys and peacocks; below, a reedy marsh opens into a lake
blooming with lotus-flowers and occupied by geese.
A lower bas-relief in the same gateway puts before us a very different scene:
In the centre of the upper part blooms the sacred Buddhist Tree, behind its altar,
with its Chattee and garlands, occupying a position similar to that of the serpent
in the other bas-relief. Two Garudas or Devas, or flying figures, present
garlands, and two females, instead of griffins, approach it on either side.
In the lower part of the picture, the Inja, or chief male personage, sits enthroned
upon the Naga, and is sheltered by its five-headed hood. On his right crouch
three women on stools, eating and drinking, and each with her tutelary or snake
behind her; and above them are a female Chaori bearer and a woman with a
bottle—there are snakes behind both. On the other side are two women playing
on drums, two on harps, one on a flute, and a fifth dancing, but all likewise with
snakes, and all in the costume which Mr. Fergusson defines as that of the
Hindus.
The worship of the Naga by the bearded Dasyus as represented in the upper bas-
relief, does not occur again at Sanchi, and occurs only once at Amravati. There,
however, the five-headed snake is seen very frequently in front of the dagoba,
and in a position which is designed to command the worship, not only of the
Dasyus, but of the whole world.
The Hindu male or chief canopied by the Naga, as shown in the lower bas-relief,
occurs at least ten times at Sanchi, and must have occurred several hundred
times at Amravati.