Sanchi Stupa Complex
Great Stupa at Sanchi · Mahastupa
Maurya to Gupta, 3rd c. BCE–5th c. CE, Great Stupa Ashoka 260 BCE expanded 2nd c. BCE·Buddhist (Maurya, Shunga, Satavahana, Gupta)·🇮🇳 Madhya Pradesh, India
About
About Sanchi Stupa Complex
Oldest stone stupa monument core in India (3rd c. BCE by Ashoka, expanded Shunga 2nd c. BCE to 16 m high 36.5 m diameter hemispherical anda atop lofty terrace with vedika rail and four exquisitely carved torana gateways (1st c. BCE Satavahana) illustrating Jataka tales in dense relief. Beside Gupta Temple 17 first structural stone temple. Buddhist pilgrimage uninterrupted.
Why it mattersOldest and most completely preserved Buddhist monument; reference prototype for all stupa torana architecture
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Torana crowd iconography identification many Jatakas still missing
- 02Ashoka lion capital originally Sarnath style comparison
Theories
- 01Stupa as cosmic mountain mandala
- 02Buddhist art aniconic early riddle – Buddha as symbol only
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 260 BCE Ashoka brick core; 150 BCE stone encasing; 50–25 BCE torana
- Period
- Maurya to Gupta, 3rd c. BCE–5th c. CE, Great Stupa Ashoka 260 BCE expanded 2nd c. BCE
- Culture
- Buddhist (Maurya, Shunga, Satavahana, Gupta)
- Purpose
- Relic stupa enshrining Buddha bodily relics and pilgrimage pradakshina path
- Rediscovered
- 1819 Gen. Taylor rediscovered jungle
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
260 BCE
Ashoka erects brick stupa and lion capital
150 BCE
Shunga stone encasing and rail
25 BCE
Satavahana torana gateways
410 CE
Gupta Temple 17 first free-standing
On the ground
Structures & features
23.4792° N · 77.7397° E · 412 m · 3 mapped features
Great Stupa dome (Sanchi-1)
stupa36.5 m brick/stone hemisphere with harmika and chhatras
23.4791° N · 77.7397° EEastern Gateway
toranaJataka tales Buddha life deep-carved gateway; Yakshi brackets
23.4794° N · 77.7400° ETemple 17 Gupta
structural temple5th c. Gupta stone flat-roofed temple - first structural free-standing
23.4788° N · 77.7390° E
Gallery