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A stambha (Sanskrit: स्तम्भ, romanized: stambha) is a pillar or a column employed in Indian architecture.[1] A stambha sometimes bears inscriptions and religious emblems.[2]
In Hindu mythology, a stambha is believed to be a cosmic column that functions as a bond, joining heaven (Svarga) and earth (Prithvi). A number of Hindu scriptures, including the Atharva Veda, feature references to stambhas.[3] In the Atharva Veda, a celestial stambha has been described as an infinite scaffold, which supports the cosmos and material creation.
In the legend of Narasimha, an avatara of Vishnu, the deity appears from a stambha to slay the asura Hiranyakashipu. The stambha has been interpreted to represent the axis mundi in this myth by Deborah A. Soifer.[4]
Stambhas are popularly employed in Indian architecture. Different stambhas serve different purposes, including the following: