Thursday, November 24, 2011

Great Stupa of Sanchi

If one is in Bhopal, not a single opportunity to visit the 'Great Stupa' at Sanchi should be missed. It was commissioned by the emperor Ashoka in the third century BCE. It is one of the oldest stone structures in India.

It is a simple hemispherical brick structure measuring 36.5mts in diameter and 16.4 mts high. built over the relics of the Buddha. It is crowned by a parasol-like structure symbolizing high rank. Inside the Stupa there are relics of the Buddha. The dome which is flattened near the top is crowned by three superimposed parasols within a square railing. It is a symbol of the Dharma, the Wheel of the Law.

There are four monumental gateways (toranas) facing the cardinal directions.
The gateways carved out of stone are covered with narrative sculptures. They showed scenes from the life of the Buddha. They show scenes from the life of Buddha. The gateways were erected c. 35 BCE. The four gateways are the finest works of art at Sanchi and are among the finest examples of Buddhist art in India.

On these stone carvings the Buddha was never depicted as a human figure as it was thought to be too confining for the Buddha. The artists choose to represent him by certain attributes, such as the horse on which he left his father’s home, his footprints or a canopy under the Bodhi Tree at the point of his enlightenment.

55 comments:

magiceye said...

wonderful structures!

Ramakrishnan said...

Monument of astonishing beauty & intricate & exquisite carvings ! Wonderful pics.

Cloudia said...

interesting points!


Aloha from Honolulu

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Urmi said...

Very beautiful pictures. I have been to Sanchi long long back and was thinking about it while seeing your post.
You are welcome at my new post-
http://urmi-z-unique.blogspot.com/

Anuradha Shankar said...

nice pics! another place on my to-go list!

Zuzana said...

I find it always amazing when a structure curries a round cupola - it is a miracle of architecture.;))
xoxo

joo said...

Another gorgeous place!

Jeevan said...

Interesting facts and details about the Great Stupa. Simple marvelous how it build on quite stones!!

sappy said...

This Sanchi stupa is really very very grand.The architecture is simply amazing.

Ash said...

Fabulous architecture and photographs.

Teamgsquare said...

Wonderful monument .

Al said...

I can't imagine how they would carve those stone gateways, they're incredible.

Anonymous said...

Wow - love the grandeur and the details!

Mildred said...

Wonderful shots and amazing architecture!

***
Happy day****

Sylvia K said...

Marvelous post, Rajesh! Such fascinating carvings and structures and history! Lovely blue skies, too! Hope you have a great weekend!

Sylvia

Unknown said...

As always. Incredible!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Travel France Online said...

This is a very interesting building, very different from all the others but i guess it would be!

Wenche said...

Wow, thats a powerful and great monument. Great shot :0)

eileeninmd said...

Hi Rajesh, wonderful photos of the gateways and the carvings are amazing. Happy skywatching!

Sridharan said...

Very nice..!

Carver said...

Looks like a fascinating place to visit.

Kim, USA said...

Wow awesome!

SWF

Liz said...

Amazing structures! Happy sky watching.

Skywatch

Indrani said...

Great! Hope to be there some day.

http://graceolsson.com/blog said...

the last one is simply wo0nderful....love it.
congrtas and have a nice day

Rakesh Vanamali said...

Imposing.

Leovi said...

I love the 'Great Stupa' at Sanchi, another highlight more of the architecture of your beautiful country.

Pearl Maple said...

How cool to think this is one of the oldest, sure stands up well to the test of time. Thanks for adding your pictural tours to Sky Watch Friday.

RIZALENIO said...

Very interesting. So lucky of you to have seen these beautiful places and genius craftsmanship. Happy weekend!

thomas said...

Beautiful gateways.

Pietro Brosio said...

So interesting, amazing, Rajesh. Wonderful images too.

genie said...

This is one awesome stupa. This is one of those special sites that I would really like to see in person. It is beautiful. genie

eden said...

Beautiful carvings. Great shots.

Kalyan said...

Simply beautifully captured shots...lovely!

Magia da Inês said...

º°❤
Olá, amigo!

Passei para uma visitinha.
Os monumentos e templos do seu país são fabulosos, arquitetura maravilhosa.

Bom fim de semana!
Beijinhos. º° ✿
♫° Brasil
·.♪
❤♥

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

I never knew that about representations of the Buddha. Thanks for the lesson!

SHADOWY DELIGHT

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Shadows beside me, wherever I go;

Shadows each morning, shadows at night—
Shadows, O shadows, you’re my delight!


© 2011 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Shadows here and shadows there

Pat said...

Fabulous structure!

Sarah said...

That dome is amazing and the gateways beautiufl. I love the idea of representing someone by depicing their footprints rather than their actual person. I can see how that is freeing.

Unknown said...

great photos :)

happy Shadow Shot Sunday!

http://point-shoot-vhen.blogspot.com/2011/11/365291.html

Firas said...

Great shots from where the history sleeps!
I guess these monumental gateways are one of the most unique type.

Chubskulit Rose said...

Beautifully captured shadows!

Shadow at my page, please come and see.

Rajesh said...

Thank you all for appreciating this ancient structure.

Dinah said...

What an interesting piece of work! thanks for sharing them to us :-)


Boracay

Cafe au lait said...

Beautiful pics!


My Blue and Mellow Yellow Monday.

My Unfinished Life said...

i have been here...very nice place and very interesting!!!

http://sushmita-smile.blogspot.com/

Leah H. said...

Nice photos..Great shots!

Visiting for BM! Hope you can visit me too:)

http://www.heavenly-dreams.com/the-fish-game/

Jayashree Srivatsan said...

Very Nice pics...Have read a lot about it in history but never got a chance to visit so far :D

A Homemaker's Utopia said...

What an architecture !!! Great pics..:-)

Panchali said...

Amazing architecture :) Brilliant shots....

Unknown said...

wow ,would love to see it in real.

Unknown said...

WOWsome~

Akshay Kumar G said...

Beautiful structure.

Ranjana's craft blog said...

I had heard about this from many of my friends...Thanks for sharing the pics...

Megha Bansal said...

always wanted to go there. hopefully soon. great pics!

Rajesh said...

Thank you all appreciating the grand architecture.