Rampurva bull capital
Also called: Rampurva capitals · Topic: The Mauryan Empire · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Rampurva, in West Champaran, Bihar, has two Mauryan pillars. One had a lion capital (carved top) and carried Ashoka's Pillar Edicts. The other had a bull capital and no inscription. The bull capital is one of the finest pieces of Mauryan art. The humped bull is carved in a lifelike way and polished to a high shine. It matters because it shows the skill of Mauryan sculptors with animal figures.
Example
The Rampurva bull capital, carved in the 3rd century BCE, now stands in Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The lion capital from the other Rampurva pillar is kept in the Indian Museum, Kolkata.
Don't confuse with
- Sarnath lion capital: four lions back to back, with a bull among the four animals on the ring below. It is India's national emblem. The Rampurva capital is a single, separate bull.