"Stampha" Is An Important Architectural Feature Of Hinduism And related Religions, India

Navrang India November 12, 2024

Kirti Stampha,Chittorgarh Fort,Rajasthanupload.wikimedia.org 

The stambha (Sanskrit word) is a significant architectural and symbolic feature in Indian culture, often functioning as a pillar or column with religious, mythological, and commemorative importance.It is also associated with Jain temples and Buddhist pagodas.

Religious Significance

In Hindu mythology, the stambha is revered as a cosmic column that unites heaven (Svarga) and earth (Prithvi). Ancient texts, including the Atharva Veda, depict the stambha as a celestial pillar or scaffold supporting the cosmos and all of creation. In the story of the Narasimha avatara of Vishnu, Narasimha emerges from a stambha to protect the world by destroying the demon Hiranyakashipu. This stambha is often seen as an axis mundi, or world axis, symbolizing the connection between different realms of existence.

Architectural Role

Ashoka pillar, Vaishali, Bihar,upload.wikimedia.org 

Above image; Ashoka pillar, Vaishali, Bihar. One of the earliest deciphered Edicts of Ashoka in the Brahmi script, in Lauriya Araraj, Bihar, 3rd Century BC.image credit: Bpilgrim (talk · contribs) - 
Own work............

Vijaya Stambha, Chittor,Rajasthan upload.wikimedia.org 

Above image: Vijaya Stambha,  Chittor, Rajasthan built by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate his first victory over Malwa Sultan Mehmood Khilji in AD1457.Image credit. Schwiki........... -

In Indian architecture, stambhas are used widely for various purposes, both functional and symbolic. Some notable types include:

  • Dhvaja Stambha: A flagstaff tower, typically placed in front of the main shrine of a temple and aligned with the deity.
  • Kirti Stambha: Also known as a "glorious tower," it commemorates heroic deeds or notable achievements.
  • Vijaya Stambha: Known as a "victory tower," this type of stambha celebrates military victories and other triumphs.

Well-known  Examples

The Ashoka Stambhas (Pillars of Ashoka) are among the most famous examples. Erected across the Indian subcontinent by Emperor Ashoka, these pillars bear inscriptions of edicts promoting Buddhist principles and are a significant historical legacy. In Jainism, the Adi Purana mentions the manastambha, a large commemorative pillar positioned at temple entrances to inspire humility and reverence among devotees as they approach the holy space.

The stambha thus serves both as a structural element in Indian architecture and as a symbol of spiritual, historical, and cultural ideals.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stambha

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Indian_epigraphy