Medallion 8- Bharhut Series

Medallion Style: Plant + Geometry

This medallion places a large central lotus at its heart—an enduring symbol of beauty, purity, and cosmic origin. It is encircled first by an inner bead-and-reel border, whose rhythmic shapes give the design a sense of jewelry-like ornament. Beyond this lies an outer floral wreath, a garland of stylized blossoms that frames the lotus with abundance.

What fascinates me most here is the abstraction of petals. Two successive rows of petal shapes are stylized in such a way that they give the illusion of multiple lotus flowers layered as borders. The effect is almost architectural—a clever blend of floral softness with structural rhythm.

To me, this medallion speaks to the imagination of Bharhut’s artists, who constantly reinterpreted the lotus in new ways—sometimes naturalistic, sometimes abstract—always carrying layers of meaning and visual harmony.

Information & Reference Image Credit- Remains of Bharhut Stupa in Indian Museum by Arabinda Ghosh

Original medallion

Behind the scenes