left a chief in the ordinary Hindu costume—surrounded by the women of his
family—presents his little son to the Buddha-emblem.
In the lower circle the same structural arrangements occur up to the Trisul (or
emblem), but the whole is surmounted by the Chakra, or Wheel, which we know
to be the symbol of Dharma or the Law. Here all the worshippers are men; it is,
we are told, one of the very few scenes in these sculptures from which women
are entirely excluded. Whether it was considered that the study of the Law was
unsuited for women, or whether some other motive governed the designers,
certain it is that, contrary to the usual rule, the whole of the worshippers are of
one sex and one race. The only other noticeable peculiarity is the introduction of
two antelopes, one on each side of the throne.
The second circle represents the Trisul ornament, or emblem, not on a throne,
but behind an altar. The sacred feet of Buddha are depicted, but there are no
relics. In the upper compartment the principal worshippers are two men with
seven-headed snake-hoods, and two women with single snakes.
In the centre of the bas-relief sits the principal personage, with a nine-headed
snake-hood, between two of his wives, and beyond, on both rims of the circle,
stands a female figure, supporting herself by the branches of a tree. On each a
young girl waits; one of these girls has a snake at the back of her head. In front
are three musicians, also with snakes; and on their right a lady without a snake
receives the assistance of a girl with a snake.
“This distinction,” says Mr. Fergusson, “between people with snakes and those
without is most curious and perplexing. After the most attentive study I have
been unable to detect any characteristic either of feature or costume by which the
races can be distinguished, beyond the possession or absence of this strange
adjunct. That those with snakes are the Naga people we read of, can hardly be
doubted; yet they never are seen actually worshipping the snake like the Dasyus,
but rather as protected by it. The snake seems their tutelary genius, watching
over, perhaps inspiring them; but whether they borrowed this strange emblem
from the natives of the country, or brought it with them from the north-west, are
questions we are hardly yet in a position to answer satisfactorily.”
We have thus abundant evidence of the prevalence of Serpent-worship in India