Ashoka patronized the reforming religions, especially Buddhism. He is said to have visited the principal localities from the life of Buddha, such as his birthplace at Lumbini. At each, Ashoka caused a pillar to be erected.
Some of these still stand, while fragments of others have been found by excavation. These pillars are among the greatest creations of Mauryan art - highly polished sandstone columns surmounted by finely carved capitals depicting animals and objects with Buddhist symbolic meaning.
Some bear Ashokan edicts, often with a Buddhist message. This example from Sarnath is perhaps the finest. It is surmounted by four lions, symbolizing royalty (that both of Ashoka and of Buddha), which had originally been crowned by a huge stone wheel.
Representing the sun and cosmic order in general Indian religious symbolism, the wheel also had a more specific Buddhist meaning, standing for Buddha's first sermon, known as 'the turning of the wheel of the law', which took place here at Sarnath.
The drum of the capital repeats this symbolism, four wheels alternating with representations of the 'four noble beasts', the lion, the bull, the elephant and the horse.
