Sanchi Buddhist Monuments- Magnificent Architecture of Ancient India

This Buddhist complex with stupas, monasteries, temples and pillars is located on a hilltop about 46 km from Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh. It is considered to be one of the primary Buddhist’s sites and contains some of the oldest stone structures in India.

BY:DHARAM KANT DOGRA PUBLISHED ON OCTOBER 25, 2020

Sanchi is located in Raisen District of the State of Madhya Pradesh, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi are one of the oldest and best preserved Buddhist sanctuaries in existence in India.

This Buddhist complex with stupas, monasteries, temples and pillars is located on a hilltop about 46 km from Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh. It is considered to be one of the primary Buddhist’s sites and contains some of the oldest stone structures in India. The complex today comprises of a series of Buddhist monuments spanning from the 3rd century BCE and ending around the 12th century CE. After being abandoned for nearly 600 years the archaeological site of Sanchi was discovered in 1818 by General Taylor, a British officer.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) took up the task of exploring, excavating, conserving and restoring these ancient monuments. It took seven years of dedicated work by the ASI, under the supervision of Director-General John Marshall between 1912 and 1919, to make the world realize its true splendor and importance.

The Great Stupa

The most famous of the monuments at Sanchi is the Stupa number one which is also called the Great Stupa. It is the oldest surviving stone structures in India and was commissioned by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century B.C. It is a massive hemispherical dome with four ornamental Toranas i.e. gateways one in each direction. When originally built, this Great Stupa was a huge but simple hemispherical brick dome with the relics of Lord Buddha placed in a central chamber.

The current structure goes back to the Shunga period in first century BCE when the brick was replaced with stone and the diameter of the dome was nearly doubled. It was then decorated with gates and railings and a three tiered chatra or stone umbrella was surmounted on the top which symbolized the Wheel of Dharma and also indicated high rank. A flight of double staircase and heavily carved balustrade was introduced to let one walk around the sacred dome and get to the elevated rounded drum that came to be the seat of the structure.

Some smaller stupas were also built in the vicinity. Most of these monuments date back to the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C.

The Toranas and Gateways of the Great Stupa

The Toranas around Great Stupa are the oldest freestanding gateways in the country. The entire body of the gateways is covered with covered with carved narrative sculptures and reliefs showing scenes from the life of the Buddha integrated with everyday events and Jataka tales relating to events of the former lives of the Buddha as he was still a Bodhisatva.

All the Gates follow a similar architectural style. These are basically made of two strong square pillars with three horizontal architraves. Each of the base columns is capped with an extremely decorative load bearing column capital.

The Southern Gateway

The Southern Torana was the first to be erected and is the main one as it was erected in front of the steps by which the terrace was ascended. A few of the surfaces of the Southern Gateway are undecorated or lost.

The architraves of gate have an inscription on Ashoka’s visit to Ramagrama, Buddha’s seven incarnations and about the war over the relics of Buddha upon his death. The Pillars of Gate mostly have stories relating to Ashoka’s life. The pillar capitals of this gate have four lions that stand back to back, which is very similar to that of Ashoka Pillar which was later adopted as the National Emblem of India.

The Northern Gateway

The Northern Torana is one of the four richly carved gateways or Toranas surrounding the Great Stupa. It is the best preserved of all four gateways and still retains most of its ornamental figures. Like the other gateways, the Northern Gateway is composed of two square pillars surmounted by capitals, which in their turn support a superstructure of three architraves with volute ends. Elephants facing the four directions decorate the top of the gateway pillars and support the architraves. The capitals are flanked by a dancing Yakshini under foliage.

The Eastern Gateway

The Eastern Torana is one of the four richly carved gateways or toranas, surrounding Great Stupa. It is the third gateway to have been constructed. Like the other gateways, the Eastern Gateway is composed of two square pillars surmounted by capitals, which in their turn support a superstructure of three architraves with volute ends.

The architraves are all almost intact. They were crowned by two large decorated Shrivatsa symbols in the round, symbols of Buddhism (only one of them remains). The lintels have elephants mounted by Mahuts, and a single seated lion, at their ends. A single remaining Yakshini on top right corner suggests that many more have been lost.

The Western Gateway

The Western Torana is the last of the four gateways to have been constructed. Like the other gateways, the Western Gateway is composed of two square pillars surmounted by capitals, which in their turn support a superstructure of three architraves with volute ends.

The architraves are all almost intact, but there are almost no remains of “in the round” decorations around or on top of the lintels. Only remains a fragment of capital with a base composed of lions, at the center top of the torana.

Sanchi Stupa No. 3

Stupa No. three, with the railing around it and a staircase, was built during the time of the Shungas. This stupa houses the relics of two disciples of Buddha named Sriputra and Mahamoggallana. It has a single torana gateway oriented to the south built by Satavahanas in 50 BCE. This gateway stands 17 feet high, and is adorned with reliefs in the same style as those on the gateways of the Great Stupa. The Top front architrave shows Genies among foliage forming scrolls in the art of Gandhara.

Middle front architrave shows Buddhas represented by a Chaitya and two Bodhi trees and empty thrones. Bottom front architrave represents Nanadan Van the Heaven of Indra. In the centre is the pavilion with Indra himself seated on a throne surrounded by women attendants. In the foreground is the river Mandakini, which bounds the heaven of Indra, and to right and left of the pavilion are mountains and jungle forming a pleasure-garden for the gods and demigods who are taking their case therein.

Then, in the corners next to the false capitals, are Naga kings seated with their attendants on the folds of seven-hooded Nagas, whose coils mingled with the waters of the river, are carried through to the ends of the architrave, and go to form the spirals adorning its extremities. The sea monsters (Makaras) and the heroes wrestling with them, which are portrayed on the false capitals of this architrave.

The Ashoka Pillars

The pillars of Ashoka are among the earliest known stone sculptural, remains from India. Ashoka called them Dhamma Thambha (Dharma Stambh) as they were inscribed with edicts. The Ashoka Pillar at Sanchi was erected in the 3rd century B.C. It reflects Greco Buddhist style of architecture. It consists of a shaft and a crown of four lions that stand back to back. Unfortunately complete Ashoka Pillar does not stand here now. The bottom shaft of the pillar can only be seen at the gateway and the crown has been kept in the museum.

The capital of the Sanchi pillar of Ashoka has been kept in the Archeological Museum Sanchi. The figure of these lions was later adopted as the National Emblem of India. It bears a lot of resemblance to the pillar at Sarnath. . It is quite intricately carved but the lions of this Ashoka Pillar in Sanchi do not support the wheel of law or Dharmachakra.

Sanchi Archaeological Museum

The museum is situated near the archaeological site of Sanchi. It houses various artifacts which were found in the nearby complex.
1. Votive Stupa with double lotus sheet at the base. It is carved with four niches containing seated Buddha in different hand postures.
2. The seven hooded broken Nag King figure wearing necklace and other ornaments.
3. The four armed Gaja-Laxmi inside the museum.

Museum Opening Days

All days of the week except Friday Timings: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Location

Sanchi is located in Raisen District of the State of Madhya Pradesh, located 46 kilometers north east of Bhopal, the capital of M.P.

When to visit

Sanchi can be visited throughout the year, but it’s best to visit in the months of July to April as May and June are very hot.

How to reach Sanchi

BY AIR: The Raja Bhoj Airport in Gandhi Nagar, Bhopal is the closest airport to the Sanchi Stupa, about 55 kilometres away. BY RAIL: The nearest railhead is Bhopal, which is also an important junction of the West Central Railways.

Sanchi Stupa Opening Days

The monument complex remains open on all days of the week.

Sanchi Stupa Timings

The Sanchi Stupa opening hours are from sunrise to sunset.