The visit
to this Buddhist Monument at Sanchi, one of the UNESCO Heritage Sites, was a
part of the “Bhopal, Udayagiri Rock Cut Caves, Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, Sanchi,
Bhojpur, and Khajuraho – of Madhya Pradesh Heritage Walk” organised by the எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு, between
25th and 28th December 2024.
A WORLD HERITAGE MONUMENT SANCHI
Sanchi monuments have been inscribed on the World Heritage List of the Convention on the Protection of the World's Cultural and Natural Heritage. Inscription on this list confirms the exceptional universal value of a cultural or natural site that deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity.
During the third century BC, the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka
(circa 273-36 BCE), the great patron of Buddhism, selected Vedisa Giri (Sanchi
hill) for the foundation of a Buddhist establishment, because the hill ensured
quietude and seclusion necessary for monastic life and also was situated near
the rich, populous and patronising city of Vidisha. He erected here a stone
column and a brick stupa. The Sunga period (second century BC witnessed the
stone casing and enlargement of the stupa of Ashoka (stupa 1). Erection of
balustrades around its ground, berm, stairway, and harmika. Reconstruction of
temple 40 & building of stupa-2 and 3. During the Stavahana regime (first
century BC). Four lofty gateways were added to stupa-1 and one gateway to
stupa-3. Structural activities were on a
slow pace during the reign of the Kshtrapas of Malwa (early centuries of the
Christian era), and Sanchi imported images from Mathura during the period. Four
images of the Buddha are placed against the berm of Stupa-1, facing the four
entrances. Temple-17 and some other edifices were the contributions of the
Gupta age. During the Seventh century CE, several Buddha images
were installed, and Temple 18 was erected on the foundations of an earlier edifice
at the site. Several temples and monasteries were built. During the medieval
period, when the site of the Pratiharas and Paramaras of Malwa flourished in the region, the temple-45 is typical for its dimensions and exuberant
ornamentation.
STUPA 1-(SECOND CENTURY B.C.)
The Stupa-1 consists of a plastered dome crowned
by a triple umbrella within a railing and contains the brick stupa of Asoka within its core. A circumambulatory path approached by a double stairway
is built against its base. The ground balustrade marks another procession path
around it. Four gateways (first century BCE) provide access to the stupa from
the cardinal directions. The height and the diameter of the stupa are 16.46 and
36.60 meters, respectively. The inscribed parts of the railings, pavements and
gateways are the donations of a large number of devotees from Vidisha and other
parts of the country. The scenes carved on the gateways generally depict
jataka, legends, scenes from the life of Gautama Buddha, subjects connected
with the history of Buddhism, past Buddhas, and miscellaneous decorative motifs. The
four images of Buddha installed against the drum are the additions of the fifth
century CE.
NORTHERN GATEWAY
The Gateway has many individual and panel
sculptures; the panel sculptures depict scenes from the life of Buddha, since Buddha was directly worshipped during that time. They are Bodhi trees and
stupas of Manushi Buddhas, Bodhi trees of Manushi Buddhas, The vessantara
jataka: Bodhisattva as prince Vessantara and is banished from the country by
his father, Buddha visits Shravasti city and miraculously grows a mango tree, In
the famous Jetavana of Shravasti, Buddha's Sangh stayed established in hutments,
A scene related to the Buddha and citizens, Travel view, Scenes of revelry, Alambusa
jataka, the hermitage of Kashyapa Bodhisattva and a one-horned son born of a
deer is nearby, Miracle of Sankashya in this, Buddha has been depicted, As
going to heaven through the steps to preach his mother, In the scene Buddha is
depicted as leaving Kapilvastu.
The arrival of Buddha in Kapilvastu and preaching to Sakyas,
Chhaddanta jataka - the Bodhisattva is described as a six-tusked elephant with
his group, In the center is Indra sabha and alongside Sujata is shown offering
pudding to Buddha, Vessantar jataka: the Bodhisattva Vessantar has been
described as giving everything in charity, Arrival of Shakra to see Buddha,
another Travel view, Arrival of Bimbisara, ruler of Magadha, at Venuvana to
worship Buddha, Welcoming gatekeeper, Scene of stupa worship by foreign Greeks,
Offering of honey by a monkey in addition to the devotees on the arrival of the Buddha
in Vaishali, and Arrival of the Buddha in Kapilavastu through the sky route
EASTERN GATEWAY
In this Eastern
Gateway, the sculptures are similar to Northern Gateway. Some of them are not
in the Northern Gateway. They are Mahabhinishkramana,
this is the scene of the renunciation of the Buddha, in which the umbrella on
the horse has been shown, which is the symbol of the Buddha sitting on the
horse, Buddha's travel and worship after attaining enlightenment, Buddha
showing the miracle of walking on the waters of Niranjana River in spate near
Uruvela village, Scene of the royal ceremony in which the king with soldiers is
shown outside the city, going to worship Buddha, Scenes from the celestial
world of seventh heaven where Indra (Shakra) is depicted holding thunderbolt
and accompanied by Apsaras, animals, birds and imaginary animals worshipping
Buddha in the form of a Stupa, Buddha being worshipped in the form of a stupa
by elephants (This scene is of Ram Gram Stupa), Arrival of Buddha in Unuvela
village and tableau of life has been described, The Miracle of the Serpent: The
miracle of Buddha suppressing the poisonous cobra living in the fire temple in
Uruvela village, After the suppression of the snake, the sages start the yagya
and without the permission of the Buddha, neither the wood is burnt nor cut, Scene
of worship of Buddhas symbol, The upper part depicts the dream of Mahamaya and
the elephant entering the womb. In the middle and lower part of the scene, the
ruler of Kapilavastu is leaving for the worship of the Buddha; here, the Buddha
is said to have come to the city through.
ASHOKA PILLAR
A local Zamindar reduced the highly polished monolithic column of Chunar Sandstone erected by Asoka to pieces. The lower portion of the shaft alone is in situ, while the Therematang portion lies inside a nearby shed. In its inscription, Asoka warned monks and nuns who tried to create a schism in the Buddhist community of expulsion. The magnificent capital with four lions is now exhibited in the museum.
Now in the museum
SOUTH GATEWAY
In this Southern Gateway, the sculptures are
similar to Northern and Eastern Gateways. Some of the unique sculptures are...,
Symbolic depiction of the birth of Buddha in which the goddess is said to be
standing on a lotus, Emperor Ashoka is going to open the stupa of Ramgram but
is worshiping when the bones are not received, The scene of Buddha giving the
first sermon of knowledge in Sarnath and the pillar and the antelope have been
depicted, Scenes of ceremonies and procession, as well as attacks by Mar, are
shown, The fragmentary pillar of this place has been preserved in the museum, Renunciation
of the house: Buddha is depicted as a canopy on the horse, The Chhaddanta
Jataka Budhisattva is described in the form of a six-tusked elephant with his
herd in the forest of banyan trees where Chhaddanta is being killed by a
hunter, After the death of Buddha, there was a war in Kushinagar for the
distribution of the ashes and equal distribution of the ashes on the persuasion
of a Brahmin named Drona, In Sambodhi and Bodhivriksha, the tree has been
described with the temple and the king has been depicted with the queens and Scene
of worship of Buddha's hair in heaven with people dancing around.
WEST GATEWAY
In this Western Gateway, the sculptures are similar
to all the Gateways. Some of the unique sculptures of this Gateway are… Scene of
the first sermon of Buddha in Sarnath, in which Dharmachakra and Mrigadav are
shown, Scenes of revelry in which couples in the mountain ranges are shown
playing or having a free ride, Mahakapi Jataka: Bodhisattva as the great monkey
(mahakapi) sacrifices his life by stretching across the river as a to protect
his subjects, Rulers of various regions are carrying the ashes of Buddha from
Kushinagar, The Mallas of Kushinagar are obstructing the handing over of the
ashes of Buddha. In the scene the Malla ruler is sitting with the queens in his
palace, After attaining enlightenment, Buddha conquered Mara (Indra) and his
army, (In the scene, Mara's army is said to be running away), Buddha is being
protected by Nagraj Muchlind during of penance, Scene of Mara trying to break
Buddha's penance and going back after a defeat, The Sakyas being preached by the
Buddha in Kapil Vastu and Dvarapala - Depicted in Greek dress and carrying
weapons in his hands, but because of the Triratna symbol on his sword, he is a
Buddhist follower.
Ref
Archaeological Survey of India Display board.
Gupta Period Inscription
It occurs on the outer face of a railing on the south side of the East Gateway. The complete inscription is in Sanskrit and written in prose. It refers itself to (Gupta) the year 131 i.e.450-451 CE. the 5th day of the month Asvayuj (Sept.- Oct.) and records an endowment of sixteen gold coins (dinaras) to the Buddhist community residing in the monastery at Kakanada bota (Sanchi) namely twelve coins for feeding a monk day by day and three coins for the Jewel House (Ratna-griha) and one for the place of the Four Buddhas (catur- Buddh-asana), in both cases for maintaining lamps. The grant is made by the upasika Hariswamini, the wife of the upasaka Sanasiddha.
Text
01. S[iddha]m[II*] Upasaka-Sanasiddha-bhayyaya upasik(a*)-Hariswaminiya mata
02. pitaram-uddisya Kakanadabota-sri-mahavihare caturddisay-aryyasam-
03. ghaya akshaya-nivi data dinara dvadasa [I*] esham dinaranam ya vriddhi-
04. r-upajayate taya divase-divase samgha-madhya-pravishtaka-bhikshurekah bhoja-
05.yitavyah [I*] Ratna-grihe=pi dinara-trayam dattam [I*] (ta)d-dinaratrayasa vri(d*)dhya ratna-grihe
06. bhagavto Buddhasya divase-divase dipatr-ayam pravalayitavyam [I*] Catur-Buddh-asa
07.ne=pi dattah dinara ekah [I*] tasya vriddya catur-Buddh-asne
bhagvato Buddhasya
08. divase divase dipah pravalayitavyah [I*] Evam=esh=akshyanivi
09.acandr-arkka-sila-lekhya svamini-Sanasiddha-bharyayyaya
10.upasik(a *)-Harisvaminya pravarttit iti [I*]
11.Samvat 100 30 1 Asayug-di 5
Translation
(Lines 1 to 4)- Perfection! By the lay worshipper Hariswamini, the wife of the lay worshipper Sanasiddha, twelve gold coins (dinaras) are given for the benefit of (her) parents (as) a permanent endowment, to the order of the faithful, (assembled) from the four quarters, at the Great Monastery of Kakanada-bota with the interest that accrues from these gold coins, day by day one monk from among the order should be fed.
(Lines 5 to 6)- Also, three gold coins are given at the Jewel house. With the interest of these three gold coins, day by day, three lamps of Lord Buddha should be lit in the Jewel house.
(Lines 6 to 8)- Also, one gold coin is given in the place where (the images of ) the four Buddhas are seated. With the interest of this, day by day, a lamp of Lord Buddha should be lit in the place where (the images of) the four Buddhas are seated.
(Lines 8 to 10)- Thus this permanent endowment,- written upon stone (to ensure) for the same time as the moon and sun,-has been established by the lay worshipper Hariswamini, the noble lady wife of Sanasiddha.
(Line 11)-The year 100 (and) 30 (and) 1; (the month) Asvayuj; the day 5.
Ref
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
PC- website
The author with a 200 rupee note, on which this Stupa is printed.
STUPA No. 3 -(SECOND
CENTURY B.C.)
This Stupa No. 3 is in front of Stupa No. 1 without an outer wall. Only an arch/ Gateway is on the South Side. This Stupa is very small compared to Stupa No. 1. A single umbrella is on the top of the stupa, which indicates that this stupa was constructed for a disciple of Buddha.
Stupas and monasteries
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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