Sanchi: A magnificent architectural expression
Sanchi Stupa |
Sanchi is now included in the list of United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s heritage sites of the world.
Emperor Asoka laid the foundation of this religious centre, a remarkable
sense of Buddhist art and architecture. Anil Gulati has the details.
Madhya Pradesh hosts one of the magnificent stupas of central India,
namely the stupa of Sanchi. If one is travelling on a train from Delhi
to Bhopal, the Great Stupa is visible from kilometres on a green serene
hill overlooking the plain, attracting one’s immediate attention. Sanchi
has remarkable specimen of Buddhist art and architecture right from the
early Mauryan period third century BC to 12th century AD.
Sanchi, has been known as Kakanaya, Kakanava, Kakanadabota and
Bota-Sriparvata in ancient times. It was Emperor Asoka who laid the
foundations of a religious centre at Sanchi, he might have been
fascinated by the location of the hill or because of his queen, Devi who
was the daughter of a merchant of Vidisha.
He erected the Great Stupa (Stupa 1) here after redistribution of
mortal remains of Lord Buddha for erecting several stupas all over the
country in order to spread Buddhism.
The Archaeological Survey of India website states that it was in year
1818, that General Taylor saw shapeless ruin in the wilderness of Sanchi.
Captain Johnson dug out the entire western portion of the stupa in 1822.
Alexander Cunningham and Captain FC Maisay (1851) further excavated
it in search of relic casket. However the credit for piecing together
the scattered fragments of this monument goes to Sir John Marshall
during 1912-1919 who was the Director General of Archaeological Survey
of India.
The monuments of Sanchi Sanchi’s monuments consists of stupas,
monolithic pillars, temples and monasteries and are about 50 in number.
Stupas are large hemispherical domes, containing a central chamber, in
which the relics of the Buddha were placed and are the most
characteristic monument of Buddhist India.
Stupa 1 - This is the principal monument at Sanchi and consists of a
gigantic mound of sandstone surrounded by sumptuous porticoes with stone
railings. It is known for its extraordinarily rich decorative work on
its four monumental gateways (southern, northern, eastern and western
gateways) or torana that provide access to the stupa.
They are positioned almost exactly in line with the four cardinal
points, and these gateways transpose into stone the structure of the
wooden gateways. The lush carvings, prodigious creations in bas relief,
high relief in the round, are an iconographic treasure trove.
The gateways - of all the gateway all of the first century BC the
earliest to be built was the one on the south, which was principal
entrance which was successfully followed by north, east and west
gateways. Of all toranas or gateways, the best preserved is the northern
gateway which enables the visitor to have a complete idea of the
appearance of all the gateways.
Each gateway consists of two square pillars crowned by set of four
lions, elephants or pot bodied dwarfs supporting a super structure of
the three cruciform architraves with spirally rolled ends.
The entire surface of the gateways is covered with relief’s
representing scenes and decorations. The subject matter of the carvings
on the gateways may be broadly classified as follows:
1. Scenes from Jatakas - stories of the Jatakas centre round the
previous births of Gautama Buddha 2. Scene from life of Gautama Buddha
3. Events in the subsequent history of Buddhism 4. Scene relating to the
Manushi Buddhas and 5.
Miscellaneous scenes and decorations Stupa 3 - Situated about 45
meters to the north east of stupa 1 is stupa 3.
Though smaller in dimensions and has one gateway and its
hemispherical. It is crowned by single umbrella. The importance of this
stupa lies in the fact that the relics if Sariputra and Maudgalyayana,
the two foremost disciples of Buddha were found by Cunningham enshrined
at the centre of this dome on the level of the terrace.
Stupa 2 - Dates back to the 2nd century BC, stands at the very edge
of the hill and its most striking feature is the stone balustrade that
surrounds it.
Besides these stupas there are remains of other large number of
others stupas on the main, they are monolithic or structural.
Immediately behind stupa 3 is stupa 4, which exists in heap of loose
stones without the trace of any ground balustrade. Stupas no 5 to the
stupa 3 is remarkable in its have an image of Buddha (in museum)
In addition to above monastery and temple 45 built during the period
of the 7th and 11th centuries, have a more developed styles of
architecture. The doorways of this construction are ornamented, with the
image of Buddha in an oval Halo.
Sanchi, not only is unique in having the most perfect and
well-preserved stupas but also offers a wide information and education
to the past. It is about 45 kilometres from Bhopal and is about hour and
half drive from Bhopal.
But Sanchi lacks number of trained guides. As per media reports it
has only eight licensed tourist guides but normally three to four are
available rest go missing. And Sanchi with guide is real interesting,
the local knowledge of stories, history and culture add a value to the
visit.
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