Ashoka was a patron of Buddhism therefore he used many symbols that are relevant in Buddhism as motifs in the Ashokan pillar. According to Buddhist tradition, Buddha entered his mother’s womb in the form of a white elephant.
According to the Chera poets, Senguttuvan was their greatest king. He is also known as the Red or Good Chera. He led many successful military expeditions. He has also been mentioned in the post-Sangam text, Silappadikaram.
The sculptures pertaining to the period of c. 300 – 600 CE shows the introduction of new styles in the temple architecture. The inspiration for the themes for the sculpture was drawn from Hindu, Buddhist, and Jaina traditions.