Historical Monument the Great Stupa’ at Sanchi

Research Paper: Historical Monument The Great Stupa’ at Sanchi
Ausbee B. Bryant III |

The Great Stupa’ at Sanchi is one of the most sophisticated and well known monuments of all time; the marvelous icon is considered to be a cornerstone of Buddhist art, architecture, and religion. It stands tall and holds a powerful presence that is very symptomatic of its historical context. India is home to one the most symbolic and oldest stone structures known to man. This astonishing marvel was appointed to be built around 3rd century B.C by one of the most powerful and influential rulers of ancient India, Emperor Ashoka the Great. Asoka was the emperor of the Maurya Dynasty and ruled the Indian subcontinent from ca. 269 BCE to 232 B.C and during his reign Ashoka converted to Buddhism and spread his Buddhist teachings through India, as well as having the great stupa erected to glorify and harbor the sacred Buddhist relics. This incredible monument is majestic & unique in more ways than one. It has been said that the structure symbolizes the world mountain and “despite having the most perfect and well-preserved stupa, Buddhist art and architecture, it’s also surrounded by numerous other stupas, pillars, temples and living quarters for monks, the greater part of which had been buried.” Upon first recognition one could be lead to believe that because there are many other alluring attractions in India it would be hard for this stupa to stand out and get its proper avowal. But this remarkable stone masterpiece has a wide range of spectacular things to offer, and tells us a very detailed story about early Buddhist life in India. “And believe it or not, although the Great Stupa is among one of many ancient monuments of India, few are of more interest than the tops of the stupas at Sanchi–Kanakheda.” Over the years many size stupas were built, but “the largest one consisted of a hemispherical dome, about 110 feet in diameter at the ground level and on the top of the dome was a flat area 34 feet in diameter, surrounded by a stone railing, and having a square capital or shrine in the centre.” The flat area around it was designed with the sole purpose of being a ritual for visitors to circumambulate around the outside of the monument so people would often visit the site to pay respect and worship. . The monument was built to immerse visitors and inhabitants of india into a Buddhist society that was perceived through the eyes of King Ashoka. “To see the Great Stupa and all its surrounding stupas is to see almost the entire span of Buddhist architecture in India. Each layer added to the building represents stylistic and architectural changes through the years.” Some may make the common misconception that the stupa is actually a building, its inhabited and is only used purely as a symbolic object. It’s the most distinctive monument of Buddhist India. “Originally stupas were mounds covering the relics of the Buddha or his followers.” Many Buddhist shrines & relics were built surrounding the stupa structure at the same time it was erected. “In 1851 the relics of Sariputta and Moggallana, two of the Buddha's closest disciples, were discovered by Fred. C. Maisey and Alexander Cunningham in a stupa at Sanchi and were re-enshrined at the same place in November 1952.” Amongst the Buddhist statues, along the perimeter of the Great Stupa were four entry points known as “The four gateways”. These were considered to be some of the most elegant of all art works, and were amidst the most excellent forms of Buddhist art in India. All four gates were engraved and covered all over with Buddhist relics that symbolized a once lived story about the life of the Buddhist people. On the top of the columns leading up to the three beautifully sculptured architraves were the lion capitals which were carved from sandstone and introduced by Emperor Ashoka in 272 BC. “The Ashoka Lion Capital is comprised of four Indian/Asiatic lions, standing back to back the lion capital, mounted on a cylindrical abacus. The abacus features the sculptures of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull, and a lion, separated by intervening 24-spoked Dharma wheels over an inverted bell-shaped lotus flower (National Flower of India)”. When the the Lion Capital was first erected it was placed on the pillar at Sarnath which was one of the many pillars erected by Ashoka to disseminate the tenets of Buddhism, and Sarnath pillar was built to monumentalize the location of the first sermons of Buddha. In conclusion the The Great Stupa’ at Sanchi is one of the most sophisticated and well known monuments of all time; the marvelous icon is considered to be a cornerstone of Buddhist art, architecture, and religion, it’s also stands as a powerful presence that is very symptomatic of its historical context. This incredible monument is majestic & unique in more ways than one and “although the Great Stupa is among one of many ancient monuments of India, few are of more interest than the tops of the stupas at Sanchi–Kanakheda.”