No. 35.-— 1887.] notes on jAtakas. 



187 



Buddha and the reign of Asoka. This sculpture represents a large 

 assembly and is duly labelled — 



Sudhamma Reva Sabha Bhagavato Chudk Malta. — The words Reva 

 Sabha I take to mean the assembly or synod which was presided over 

 by the famous Buddhist Priest Eevato just 100 years after the death 

 of Buddha, or in B.C. 378. 



But the Bharahut sculptures are not confined to the legends and 

 events connected with the career of Buddha, as there is at least one 

 bas-relief which illustrates a famous scene in the life of Rama. In this 

 sculpture there are only three figures, of which one seated to the left is 

 holding out an arrow towards a male and female who stand before 

 him — the latter being behind the other. These figures are labelled 

 respectively Rama (the rest lost, but most probably Chandra), Janalca 

 Raja, and Sitala Devi. I believe that this is by far the earliest notice 

 that we possess of the great solar hero Rama and his wife. 



I look upon the discovery of these curious sculptures as one of the 

 most valuable acquisitions that has yet been made to our knowledge 

 of ancient India. From them we can learn what was the dress of all 

 classes of the people of India during the reign of Asoka, or about 

 three quarters of a century after the death of Alexander the Great. "We 

 can see the queen of India decked out in all her finery, with a flowered 

 shawl or muslin sheet over her head, with massive earrings and elaborate 

 necklaces, and a petticoat reaching to the midleg, which is secured round 

 the waist by a zone of seven strings, as well as by a broad and highly 

 ornamented belt. 



Here we can see the soldier with short curly hair, clad in a long 

 jacket or tunic, which is tied at the waist, and a dhoti reaching below 

 the knees, with long boots ornamented with tassels in front just like 

 Hessians, and armed with a straight broad sword, of which the scabbard 

 is three inches wide. 



Here also we may see the standard-bearer on horseback, with a 

 human-headed bird surmounting the pole. Here, too, we can seet he 

 king mounted on an elephant escorting a casket of relics. The curious 

 horse-trappings and elephant-housings of the time are given with full 

 and elaborate detail. 



Everywhere we may see the peculiar Buddhist symbol which crowns 

 the great stupa at Sanchi used as a favourite ornament. It forms the 

 drop of an earring, the clasp of a necklace, the support of a lamp, the 

 crest of the royal standard, and the decoration of the lady's broad belt 

 and of the soldier's scabbard. 



There are also houses of many kinds, and several temples, one of 

 which is labelled Vijayata pdsdde, or the " Temple of Victory." There 

 are animals of several kinds, as elephants, horses, deer, cows, and 

 monkeys, and a single specimen of a real tapir. There are numerous 

 crocodiles and fishes, and in one sculpture there is a very large fish, 

 which is represented swallowing two boat-loads of men. There is also 



83-88 G 



