Question

Which scholar, due to his ignorance, incorrectly considered Sanchi to be a center of 'Tree and Serpent worship'?

• A. James Fergusson
• B. Walter Elliot
• C. H.H. Cole
• D. Colin Mackenzie

Hint:

To remember this, associate "Fergusson" with "Foliage and Fauna." He saw the trees (foliage) and serpents (fauna) but missed the Buddha! It highlights how early Western scholars often viewed Indian art through the lens of their own limited cultural perspectives.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept: The interpretation of ancient Indian monuments by early European scholars often suffered from a lack of understanding of Buddhist iconography and literature. Sanchi, one of the most significant Buddhist sites in the world, was subject to various interpretations before its purely Buddhist nature was universally recognized by art historians and archaeologists.
Step 1:The Misinterpretation by James Fergusson.
James Fergusson was a pioneering 19th-century historian of architecture. In his 1868 work titled \textit{"Tree and Serpent Worship"}, he focused heavily on the intricate carvings found on the gateways (toranas) and railings of the Sanchi Stupa. Because many of the reliefs depicted trees (the Bodhi tree), wheels (Dharmachakra), and serpents (Nagas), he concluded that the site was dedicated to the worship of nature and snakes rather than being a Buddhist commemorative structure.
Step 2:The reason for the error.
Fergusson’s ignorance stemmed from the fact that he was largely unfamiliar with Buddhist hagiography and texts. At the time he was writing:

• He did not realize that the "Tree" was a symbolic representation of the Buddha’s Enlightenment (the Bodhi tree).
• He did not understand that early Buddhist art was "aniconic," meaning the Buddha was represented by symbols (like the empty throne, the wheel, or the tree) rather than in human form.
• Consequently, he viewed the figures of Nagas (serpents) as primary deities of worship rather than as protective or subordinate spirits within the Buddhist cosmological framework.

Step 3:Context of other scholars.

• Walter Elliot was an official who collected sculptures from Amaravati but did not propose the 'Tree and Serpent' theory for Sanchi.
• H.H. Cole was a later archaeologist who actually advocated for the preservation of Sanchi in its original location rather than sending pieces to museums in London.
• Colin Mackenzie is famous for discovering the ruins of Hampi and the Amaravati Stupa, but his work was primarily surveying and documenting.