Stambha

A stambha is a pillar or a column employed in Indian architecture. A stambha sometimes bears inscriptions and religious emblems.

Religion

In Hindu mythology, a stambha is believed to be a cosmic column that functions as a bond, joining heaven and earth. A number of Hindu scriptures, including the Atharva Veda, feature references to stambhas. 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.

Stambhas are popularly employed in Indian architecture. Different stambhas serve different purposes, including the following:

A dhvaja stambha is placed opposite the main shrine, on an axis with the main deity.
A kirti stambha and vijaya stambha are erected to commemorate victories.
The most well-known stambhas of India are the Ashoka Stambha — erected during the reign of Ashoka, spread across the subcontinent, bearing different types of royal edicts.
The Adi Purana — a huge manastambha — stands in front of the samavasarana of the tirthankaras, which is regarded to causes entrants to a samavasarana to shed their pride.