The ancient and medieval architecture of India: a study of Indo-Aryan civilisation

THE HOLY MOUNT 6i

oftheroadwaywithcocoa-nut flowersand
ornamentalplantain

trees."

'

Another motifwhichisusedbothstructurallyanddecora-

tively in Indianart is a combination ofthe

fruits of Nelumbium and Nymphcsa. This

wasapplied to the domestic

water-vessel,as

in fig.

25,

and also

to the capitals ofpillars

for producing

the form used at Elephanta

and Ajanta,

called by Fergusson

"

cushion-

shaped

"

(fig. 26). It maybenoted that an

exaggerationofthe torustowhichthepetals

ofNelumbium areattached would

produce

a

Fig.25.-IndianWater-

similarshape.

vessel*

^

Themostimportant

architecturaladapta-

tions of the water-lilymotif wereVishnu's

standard, andthe

Vishnu shrine, with its sikhara, or spire,

described at

p. 63.

Vishnu'sstandard,

orpillar—otherwisetheholyMount Meru,

the

pivot of the universe—was represented

bythestalkoftheblue water-lily,its ensign

beingthe fruit containing the mysticwheel,

anditsbrightflutteringpennonsthepetalsof

theflower. Itwasoftensurmountedbysome

heraldic animal, by the wheel

itself, or by

Vishnu's eagle, Garuda, orbyfigures ofthe

Devas, the Shining Ones who dwell aloft.

The

simplestformofitis

thatshowninfig. 2

1

,

and in PI. XII, b andc. A

very elaborate

compositedesignis oneofapair

ofdhwaja-

stambhas

representedin

theAmaravati

sculp-

^'*Tempi^*piuar!

°

tures placedon either sideof

the entranceto

thesttlpa'sprocessionpath. It

is reproducedin

PI. XII, fig. a.

Atthefootisanempty

throne,with two

figuresinadorationon

^

p.

134,

Yatawara'stranslation.