The Great Stupa at Sanchi

On a hilltop in the ancient village of Sanchi, near Bhopal, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, stands the Great Buddhist Stupa of Sanchi. It was originally built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd Century BC. The Great Stupa at Sanchi is one of the oldest stone structures in India, and an important monument of Ancient Indian Architecture.

The Great Stupa at Sanchi

The original Stupa commissioned by Ashoka was a simple hemispherical structure built of bricks, over the sacred relics of Buddha. It was crowned by a stone umbrella or Chatra surrounded by a railing on the summit, to indicate high rank and to honor the relics. An Ashokan Pillar was also installed close to the Stupa. The bottom part of the pillar still stands. The Ashokan Pillar consisted of the typical polished monilith pillar made of sandstone, together with an abacus and the capital consisting of four majestic lions sitting back to back and probably supported a wheel of law or Dharmachakra on the top. This pillar is one of the three known Ashokan Pillars carrying "Schism Edict" or the penalties for Schism in Buddhist Sangha. The other two pillars are at Sarnath and Kaushambi. There is another inscription belonging to Gupta period written in Sankha script.

Remains of the Ashokan Pillar in polished stone (right of the Southern Gateway).

The Capital of the Sanchi pillar of Ashoka, as discovered (left), and simulation of original appearance (right)

In the 2nd Century BC, Sanchi Stupa was probably vandalised to a great extent. This was the period during which Pushyamitra Sunga had ascended to the throne by overthrowing the Mauryan Dynasty. His son Agnimitra however rectified the wrongs done by his father and repaired the Stupa. The Stupa was expanded with stone slabs to almost twice its original size. The dome was flattened near the top and crowned by three superimposed parasols within a square railing. With its many tiers it was a symbol of the dharma, the Wheel of the Law. The dome was set on a high circular drum meant for circumambulation, which could be accessed via a double staircase. A second stone pathway at ground level was enclosed by a stone railing. There are short records of the donors written on the railings in Brahmi script.

Summit railing and umbrellas

The Great Stupa was adorned with four highly decorated Torana Gateways in the 1st Century BC by the Satavahanas. The railings and gateways were also colored. Although made of stone, the torana gateways were carved and constructed in the manner of wood and the gateways were covered with narrative sculptures. It has also been suggested that the stone reliefs were made by ivory carvers from nearby Vidisha, and an inscription on the Southern Gateway of the Great Stupa ("The Worship of the Bodhisattva's hair") was dedicated by the Guild of Ivory Carvers of Vidisha. The inscription reads: 'Vedisehi dantakarehi rupadamam katam' meaning "The ivory-carvers from Vidisha have done the carving". The reliefs show scenes from the life of the Buddha integrated with everyday events that would be familiar to the onlookers and so make it easier for them to understand the Buddhist creed as relevant to their lives. On these stone carvings the Buddha was never depicted as a human figure, due to aniconism in Buddhism. Instead the artists chose to represent him by certain attributes, such as the horse on which he left his father’s home, his footprints, or a canopy under the bodhi tree at the point of his enlightenment. The human body was thought to be too confining for the Buddha.

Stupa with Torana Gateway

The Southern Gateway of the Great Stupa is the main one as it was erected in front of the steps by which the terrace was ascended. The Southern Gateway was also the first to be erected. Then followed, in chronological order, the Northern, the Eastern and the Western, their succession in each case being demonstrated by the style of their carvings. Like the other gateways, the Southern Gateway is composed of two square pillars surmounted by capitals, which in their turn support a superstructure of three architraves with volute ends. The best preserved of all four gateways is the Northern one, which still retains most of its ornamental figures and gives a good idea of the original appearance of all the gateways. The Jewelry level carvings done on stone is magnificent. 

Northern Gateway

King Ashoka visits Ramagrama, to take relics of the Buddha from the Nagas, but he failed, the Nagas being too powerful. Southern gateway, Stupa 1, Southern Gateway, Sanchi

Temptation of the Buddha, with the Buddha on the left (symbolized by his throne only) surrounded by rejoicing devotees, Mara and his daughters (center), and the demons of Mara fleeing (right)

Foreign devotees and musicians on the Northern Gateway of Stupa