214 W. Theobald — Notes on some of the symiols found on the [No. 3, 
over the * stupa.' As the peacock yearly sheds and renews his glorious 
plumes there may possibly lie hidden an esoteric allusion to a life beyond 
the grave, but it is more probable that it is used simply as an emblematic 
animal, being covered with spots, in which one brand of the Aryan family 
saw the eyes of the unfortunate Argus, while in India the same spots 
would represent the ‘ stiijinata ’ with which Indra was covered when the 
saint’s curse fell on him. The peacock is, however, appropriately sacred 
to Indra, from the loud cries with which it greets and seems to call for 
the rain. 
24. ‘ Stupa ' with a eeliquaet (oe lamp) in each chambee. Fig. 48. 
In each chamber of this stupa, is seen, what 1 apprehend may be 
intended for a reliquary, shaped like the small ludlan drum, called ‘ dag- 
dagi’ and used by itinerant leaders of bears and monkeys. In the 
stupas of Afghanistan described in Ariana Antigua and other works 
no less than in those in India opened by Sir A. Cunningham there 
generally exists a relic chamber in the centre, containing a box of 
stone (steatite) or metal, in which a relic of some sort is deposited 
together with a few gems and coins both gold and copper, and some- 
times an inscribed slip of gold. 
These objects may, however, represent lamps as General Sir A. 
Cunningham informs me that the of Barhut was “honeycombed 
with small niches all round evidently for lamps.” This latter supposi- 
tion is supported by the fact that each compartment of the stupa is 
provided with one of these objects and not merely the central one. 
The shape of the enclosed vessel certainly however supports the former 
supposition, as Indian lamps are all shallow. 
25. ‘Stupa’ with ceescent on the top. Fig. 51. 127. 
This* is the most general mode of representing this structure and 
the symbol is ostensibly a planetary one. The crescent may, however, 
refer to Mahadev, Lord of life and death, who is represented with the 
crescent moon on his forehead in right wo may presume of his consort or 
‘ Sakti ’. Tarlati, also of course represents Ishtar of the Assyrian religion, 
the moon deity of the Ilindu being the male Soma or deus Luna with 
the crescent moon represented behind his shoulders, Ishtar it must be 
remembered is astronomically connected in the old As.syrian worship 
with the planet Venus, and it is in later times only that the attributes of 
Ishtar or the celestial mother, or virgin became associated with Artemis 
and the moon, 
* The ommission of the orescent over fig. 51 is an accidental error which the 
reader is requested to correct. 
