Vaishali lion pillar
Also called: Kolhua pillar · Topic: The Mauryan Empire · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Vaishali lion pillar stands at Kolhua near Vaishali in Bihar. It is a Mauryan pillar topped by a single lion that faces north. It is shorter and thicker than most Ashokan pillars, and it carries no Ashokan edict. The site is linked with the Buddha's visits to Vaishali. That is why it matters: it is a Buddhist place of worship marked by Mauryan art.
Example
At Kolhua, the lion pillar (3rd century BCE) stands beside a brick stupa (a dome-shaped Buddhist monument) and a small tank. The lion faces north, which is often said to be the direction the Buddha took on his last journey.
Don't confuse with
- Lauriya Nandangarh pillar: it also has a single lion on top, but it is inscribed with Ashoka's Pillar Edicts. The Vaishali pillar has no edict.
- Sarnath lion capital: four lions back to back, not one.