In eastern India, archaeologists have discovered a rock-carved elephant statue estimated to be around 2,300 years old, corresponding to the period when Buddhism held prominence in the region. As per Live Science, the statue stands approximately 3 feet (1 meter) tall and shares stylistic similarities with other Buddhist elephant statues found throughout Odisha state.
Historian Anil Dhir, along with a team from the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), unearthed the statue in April during their survey of the Daya River Valley in Odisha's Puri District. Dhir explained that the area is abundant in artifacts related to ancient Buddhism, which thrived in the region.
Buddhism in Ancient India
During their excavation, the archaeological team discovered various buried artifacts in the vicinity of the village, including architectural fragments from a Buddhist temple, as per Dhir.
Additionally, the recently unearthed elephant statue bears a striking resemblance to another one found at Dhauli, an ancient Buddhist center located around 12 miles (19 kilometers) upstream. The statue at Dhauli has been dated to a period between 272 B.C. and 231 B.C.
As Live Science previously reported, Buddhism originated in northern India in the 6th or 5th century B.C. and flourished as a major religion during the reign of Emperor Ashoka in the 2nd century B.C.
Under Ashoka's rule, Buddhism held significant influence throughout much of India, including the Odisha region, as noted by historian Upinder Singh. From the 3rd century B.C. to the 2nd century A.D., Buddhism had a dominant presence in India, including Odisha.
However, Buddhism's prominence gradually declined as its practices merged with various traditions of Hinduism, and with the rise of Islam in the region after the 10th century.
Today, Buddhism is followed by a small percentage of the population in India, accounting for about 0.7% according to a 2011 census. Nevertheless, certain Hindu ceremonies incorporate the worship of Buddha, sometimes considering him as an incarnation of the deity Vishnu.
According to a statement from INTACH, the floodplains of the Daya and Mandakini rivers are known for their abundance of Buddhist relics. Additionally, historical records indicate that a fortress was constructed at the site during the 16th century, and remnants of defensive walls and a moat have been discovered by the INTACH team.
What Do Elephants Symbolize in Buddhism?
Dhir mentioned in the news release that elephants held significant symbolism in Buddhism and were commonly depicted in various Buddhist monuments.
According to the INTACH statement, the recently discovered elephant statue was found in close proximity to a pillar made of laterite, a reddish clay material, along with other stone blocks. Similar findings were also made in relation to another elephant statue unearthed in the village of Kaima in Odisha's Jajpur District.
Art historian Christian Luczanits, from SOAS at the University of London, told Live Science that elephants held great importance as royal animals in ancient India, symbolizing fertility and the arrival of monsoon rains.
Peter Harvey, a historian of Buddhism and a "faith advisor" at York St John University in the U.K., added that elephants were closely associated with Buddhism due to a story in which the mother of Siddhartha Gautama, the Indian prince who later became the Buddha, had a dream during her pregnancy in which an auspicious white elephant entered her womb, as mentioned by Harvey.
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