
Ashokan Column or the Lion Pillar at Kolhua was built by
Emperor Ashoka to commemorate
Lord Buddhas last sermon. There is a small tank nearby known as Ramkund. Lord Buddha visited
Vaishali frequently and Kolhua, where he preached his last sermon. To commemorate this event, Emperor Ashoka, in the 3rd Century B.C. erected a lion pillar. About 100 years later, Vaishali hosted the
2nd Great Buddhist Council. Two stupas were erected to commemorate this event.
Structure of Ashokan Column
Made of a highly polished single piece of red sandstone the pillar is surmounted by a bell shaped 18.3 m high capital. A life-size figure of a lion is placed on top of the pillar beside a brick stupa at Kolhua which commemorates Buddhas last sermon and announcement of his approaching
Nirvana. The
lion faces north, the direction Buddha took on his last voyage. Adjacent to this is the Ramkund tank associated with the
monkeys offering honey. Nearby are the skeletal remains of a monastery where Buddha resided and votive stupas dot the region. The
Archaeological Museum of Vaishali houses some of the archaeological remains discovered here.
(Last Updated on : 18-03-2016)