ASHOKAN PILLAR

The site also has a unique Ashokan pillar, with an elephant capital instead of the usual lion. This is associated with Buddha’s mother Mayadevi’s dream of a white elephant at the time of conceiving Siddhartha. While the pillar is in ruins, its base has survived and intricate carvings of bodhi and lotus leaves are visible on it. It is said emperor Ashoka built it on the spot where Buddha’s foot touched the ground while descending from heaven. Ashoka also built a temple and a stupa to mark the descent of Buddha.