Great Stupa, Sanchi
by Sacred Sites Places of Peace and PowerSanchi Stupa is a Buddhist
complex, famous for its Great Stupa, on a hilltop at Sanchi Town in Raisen
District of the State of Madhya Pradesh, India.
It is located in 46 kilometres
(29 mi) north-east of Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh. Great Stupa Sanchi is
one of the oldest stone structures in India, and an important monument of
Indian Architecture.
It was originally commissioned by
the emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE. Its nucleus was a simple
hemispherical brick structure built over the relics of the Buddha.
It was crowned by the chhatri, a
parasol-like structure symbolising high rank, which was intended to honour and
shelter the relics. The original construction work of this stupa was overseen
by Ashoka, whose wife Devi was the daughter of a merchant of nearby Vidisha.
Image Source: Great Stupa, Sanchi
Sanchi was also her birthplace as
well as the venue of her and Ashoka's wedding. In the 1st century BCE, four
elaborately carved toranas (ornamental gateways) and a balustrade encircling
the entire structure were added.
The Sanchi Stupa built during
Mauryan period was made of bricks. The composite flourished until the 11th
century.
Sanchi is the center of a region
with a number of stupas, all within a few miles of Sanchi, including Satdhara
(9 km to the W of Sanchi, 40 stupas, the Relics of Sariputra and
Mahamoggallana, now enshrined in the new Vihara, were unearthed there), Bhojpur
(also called Morel Khurd, a fortified hilltop with 60 stupas) and Andher
(respectively 11 km and 17 km SE of Sanchi), as well as Sonari (10 km SW of
Sanchi).[2][3] Further south, about 100 km away, is Saru Maru. Bharhut is 300
km to the northeast.
Sacred Sites of India
·
Buddhist Pilgrimage in
India
·
Muruga Shrines of
South India
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Created on Jan 2nd 2020 05:33. Viewed 387 times.