Sanchi Great Stūpa

📖 Stories

• Emperor Ashoka and the Building of Sanchi
  **Sanchi Stūpa** — built by Emperor **Aśoka** in the 3rd century BCE — is the oldest stone structure in India and one of the most important Buddhist monuments. According to Buddhist tradition, Aśoka originally ruled cruelly but after converting to Buddhism following the Kalinga war, he became a great patron of the faith. He built 84,000 stūpas across his empire. The Sanchi stūpa was one of the most significant. The original stūpa was a simple hemispherical dome built over Buddha's relics. In the 1st century BCE, four elaborate **toraṇa** (gateways) were added, covered with intricate carvings depicting scenes from Buddha's life and 547 previous lives (Jātaka tales). These gateways face the four cardinal directions. The carvings show Buddhist cosmology, the Buddha's previous lives as bodhisattva, scenes from the Buddha's life (including the Great Departure from Kapilavastu), and various mythological creatures. Notably, the Buddha is depicted symbolically (as a tree, footprint, umbrella, wheel) rather than anthropomorphically in early carvings. Chinese pilgrims **Faxian** (5th century) and **Xuanzang** (7th century) both visited Sanchi and left detailed descriptions of the site's magnificence. Faxian described it as "most magnificent" while Xuanzang noted its precious stones and beautiful carvings. The site was excavated and restored by Sir John Marshall (1912-1919). The famous **Lion Capital of Aśoka** — originally at Sanchi — was taken to Delhi in 1818 and later moved to Sarnath Museum, where it became India's national emblem. Today Sanchi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and major tourist destination. While not an active place of worship, it receives Buddhist pilgrims from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, and other countries who come to honor this sacred monument.
  — Buddhist tradition + Ashoka legends + archaeological evidence