The railing of the Bharhut stupa is about nine feet high, and consists of pillars joined by cross-bars and covered by massive coping-stones. The pillars and cross-bars are profusely carved with scenes from the Buddha’s previous lives, as well as birds, animals, plants and flowers, yakshas, yakshinis, gods and kings. A pillar carving from the Bharhut stupa, below, shows the Buddha’s miraculous conception. As his mother, Mahamaya lies asleep, she dreams of an elephant that descends from heaven to enter her womb through her right side. Read my post on Bharhut to find out more about this magnificient stupa…