‘Stambha’ — A Testament to Time
The infinite, unearthly space that a human mind cannot gauge is a subject of intense intrigue for the human soul. It makes the stature of the Earthling rather minuscule in comparison to the unfathomable universe.
Man, humbled by this vastness, attempted to decipher these mysteries. The socio-cultural facets of Indian society are a manifestation of this attempt.
This fact rendered several questions unanswered and this mystery specifically paved the way for Religion. The Indian religious framework, like any other religion whose origin takes us thousands of years back in time, tells us that humans stand shorter than the energies and nature surrounding him.
To relate to the cosmic consciousness, human-scale structures and forms were built. Through the lens of architecture in the Indian context precisely, a temple was the medium to bridge the gap between the mortal and the immortal. The historic architectural library of India has the temple as its prime object.
An immensely important element of the temple in this regard is the ‘Stambha’. Its direct interpretation speaks of a bond that joins ‘Swarga’, the universe and ‘Prithvi’, the earth. It was considered to be a pathway to unlock the mysteries and energies of the cosmos.
Stambha, when translated to English, means a pillar. Its vertical profile standing firm, directed upwards to the limitless sky, is symbolic of power and strength. In architectural form and order, the Stambha is a ‘Bindu’ or a point element in a two-dimensional plane. The point stands for origin. The whole universe, according to Hindu scriptures, has evolved from a point and thus the Stambha has colossal importance.
The meaning of this term has changed over the years. From being a symbol of the gateway to heaven, to a tower of victory, to the pride of the Nation; time has marked a different meaning on each iteration of the column.
The change in its symbolic meaning is a clear reflection of the changes visible in the structure of society. For example, early societies were religion-bound to a large extent and thus the Stambha had largely religious implications. Deep Jyoti Stambhs, which are essentially columns that are illuminated with lights (diyas) on special occasions, are excellent examples to illustrate this point. Even the famous Shivalinga has its roots in ‘Shiva’s Manifestation as a Cosmic Stambha of Fire’.
Another philosophy behind the construction of Stambhas in ancient times was to proclaim a message symbolically for the entire world to know. The message ranged from declaring the extents of a kingdom, the wealth that it possessed, and even a religious ideology.
“Vijaya Stambhas” or ‘victory pillars’ gained prominence among conquerors. These exalted pillars stood tall and proudly aloof; often with the capital of the victorious kingdom and a message in an ornate script, declaring the king’s bravery in battle. King Ashoka of the Maurya kingdom was said to have made several such pillars. He also had his set of 33 edicts inscribed onto specific pillars, for his subjects to follow.
Not all stambhas were political messages. Many were erected to mark scientific advances or the excellence of craftsmen that a kingdom possessed, as is in the case of the Iron Pillar at Mehrauli. The legend of its rust-free nature continues to birth legends to this date!
As society progressed over time, the need for civilization gave rise to a different hierarchy in the social structure. Society was subjected to various categories of systems. The initial ages were marked by Feudalism, which dampened the religious strictness of society. The meaning of stambha thus morphed from a manifestation of religious importance to an expression of power and courage, often used for intimidation.
Let us now examine the stambha from the perspective of a layman of the Twenty-First Century. The question which needs to be answered and one that is of the utmost importance is this: “What value does today’s generation place on the Stambha?”
In the present time, the original meaning of the stambha has unwittingly been repressed under layers of ignorance. Any person, when asked about the stambha, would automatically think of the Ashoka Stambha or a memorial: something that is impressed upon the intelligence of first-grade students in rudimentary history lessons. What the stambha symbolizes is mostly a lost knowledge among us.
However, something in our subconscious aligns us towards the grandeur and hidden depth associated with the term “stambha”. We inherently know that the term carries with it historical as well as religious connotations. Perhaps it is this feeling that prompted us Indians to looks towards a stambha for the principles on which a great nation like ours could stand.
The national emblem of India (the Sarnath Capital), as well as the Dharma-Chakra at the center of the Indian flag, have all been taken from a stambha. The Ashoka Stambha at Sarnath is of great importance owing to this particular fact.
Today, a Stambha is mostly recognized for its literal meaning - a column or pillar. The metaphorical meanings are still in cognizance, but no longer potently realized. Memorials still make use of stambhas, but the true meaning of the choice is lost. Perhaps this reflects the mindset of India as we know it today.
