When it comes to Indian culture, few symbols are as enduring and ubiquitous as the elephant and the lotus. Elaborate this statement with examples.

Indian culture – enduring & ubiquitous symbols:

◎ Symbolic Sacred ness:

Symbols are often equated to god and is [stones] (religious significance)

◎ elephant – Gajastak Shiv [?], Indra [?] Idealism (covet elephant)

lohu – lakshmi seen to be seated on lohu

◎ Synonymn in certain values

➤ Symbols signify certain values – often adopted in preaching moral values.

◎ elephant – wisdom lohu – purity

Ashtakam pillars: lohu used as capital

Elephant – importance in Buddhism (Gankasa elephant)

Enduring and Ubiquitous Symbols (box diagram):

◎ Sculptures: Decoration of temples and architecture

◎ Indian temples widely use lohu motif in decorative use. ◎ Hayata group of temples

◎ Also used for delineating sacred areas

◎ elephant kept at dusyaala outside garbhagriha.

◎ Temple tradition – (Dravidian temple)

Water bodies / tank with lohu [?] at centre

◎ Adoption of wood ideas. (Continuity in depiction)

➤ Dusydars also included such symbols due to interaction between little and greater tradition.

◎ Delhi Sultanate – Firozshah highliy used lohu motif widely in 'Firozabad' city

◎ Literature especially puraas depict stories about gods role – these symbols are related with life of gods

– These symbols are enduring (cause to continuous depiction across times) and ubiquitous (Found in almost all parts of India and across region) Share their importance in Indian culture.