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Masterpieces
of Buddhist Art
Sanchi
is known for its Stupas, monasteries, temples and pillars dating
from the 3rd century B.C. to the 12th century A.D. The most famous
of these monuments, the Sanchi Stupa 1, was originally built by
the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, the then governor of Ujjayini, whose
wife Devi was the daughter of a merchant from adjacent Vidisha.
Their son Mahindra and daughter Sanghamitra were born in Ujjayini
and sent to Sri Lanka, where they converted the King, the Queen
and their people to Buddhism.
A
Chunar sandstone pillar fragment, shining with the proverbial
Mauryan polish, lies near Stupa I and carries the famous edict
of Ashoka warning against schism in the Buddhist community. Stupa
1 was found empty, while relics of the two disciples of Buddha
enshrined in the adjacent Stupa 3 were carried away to England.
The nearby modern temple has a reliquary containing the remains
of a Buddhist teacher from another Stupa outside Sanchi.
Places
to visit
The
Sanchi hill goes up in shelves with Stupa 2 situated on a lower
shelf, Stupa 1, Stupa 3, the 5th century Gupta Temple No.17 and
the 7th century temple No. 18 are on the intermediate shelf and
a later monastery is on the crowning shelf. The balustrade surrounding
Stupa 2, carved with aniconic representations of the Buddha, was
added in the late 2nd century BC under the Satavahanas.
Great
Stupa No. 1
The oldest stone structure in India. 36.5 mt in diameter and 16.4
MT high, with a massive hemispherical dome, the stupa stands in
eternal majesty, the paved procession path around it worn smooth
by centuries of pilgrims.
The
Eastern Gateway
Depicts the young prince, Gautama leaving his father's palace
on his journey towards enlightenment and the dream his mother
had before his birth. The Western Gateway Depicts
the seven incarnations of the Buddha. The Northern Gateway
Crowned by a wheel-of-law, this depicts the miracles associated
with the Buddha as told in the jatakas. The Southern
Gateway The birth of Gautama is revealed in a series
of dramatically rich carvings.
Stupa
No. 2
The stupa stands at the very edge of the hill and its most striking
feature is the stone balustrade that rings it.
Stupa No. 3
Situated close to the great stupa. The hemispherical dome is crowned,
as a mark of its special religious significance, with an umbrella
of polished stone. The relics of Sariputta and Mahamogallena ,
two of the Buddha's earliest disciples, were found in its inmost
chamber
The
Ashoka Pillar
Lies close to the Southern gateway of the Great Stupa, and is
one of the finest examples of the Ashokan pillar and is known
for its aesthetic proportions and exquisite structural balance.
The Great Bowl
Carved out of one block of stone, this mammoth bowl contained
the food that was distributed among the monks of Sanchi.
The
Gupta Temple
In ruins now, this 5th century AD temple is one of the earliest
known examples of temple architecture in India.
The
Buddhist Vihara
The sacred relics of the Satdhara Stupa, a few km away
from Sanchi, have been enshrined in a glass casket on a platform
in the inner sanctum of his modern monastery.
The
Museum
The Archaeological Survey of India maintains a site museum at
Sanchi. Note worthy antiquities on display include the lion capital
of the Ashokan pillar and metal objects used by the monks, discovered
during excavations at Sanchi
Access
Air
:
Nearest airport is at Bhopal ( 46 km via Diwanganj and 78 km via
Raisen) which is connected with Delhi, Mumbai,Gwalior and Indore.
Rail : Sanchi lies on the Jhansi-Itarsi section
of the Central railways. However, the most convenient railhead
is Vidisha.(10 km)
Road : Good, motorable roads connect Sanchi
with Bhopal, Indore Sagar, Gwalior, Vidisha and Raisen, besides
other places.
Best season: October to March.
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