Explanation: Ashokan Pillar of Sarnath:

• It was carved out of a single block of polished sandstone.
• It bears one of the edicts of Ashoka, which reads, “No one shall cause division in the order of monks.”
• The pillar also records the visit of Ashoka to Sarnath. The year of his visit is said to be around mid 3rd century BC.
• It consists of a canopy representing an inverted bell-shaped lotus flower.
• His name appears as Dharmashoka in the inscription.
• Currently, the pillar remains where it was originally sunk into the ground, but the capital is now on display at the Sarnath Museum.
• The top of the column – the capital – has three parts.
• First, a base of a lotus flower, the most ubiquitous symbol of Buddhism.
• Second, a drum on which chakra and four animals are carved representing the four cardinal directions: a horse (west), an ox (east), an elephant (south), and a lion (north).
• Third, four lions stand atop the drum, each facing in the four cardinal directions.

Source: UPSC PYQ