In this guide
On a small hill in Raisen district, about 45 km from Bhopal, stands one of the oldest stone structures in India: the Great Stupa of Sanchi. Its hemispherical dome was begun in the time of Ashoka, in the third century BCE, and enlarged over the following centuries. Its four stone gateways (toranas), carved with scenes from the Buddha's life and the Jataka tales, are among the masterpieces of early Indian art. Sanchi was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989 — and it is one of the most important topics in MP's cultural history for MPPSC.
Why Sanchi?
The Buddha never visited Sanchi. But the site was close to Vidisha, a prosperous trading town, and — according to Buddhist tradition — to the family of Devi, Ashoka's wife from Vidisha. Wealthy merchants, guilds and ordinary devotees funded the monuments, as hundreds of donor inscriptions show.
Phases of construction
| Period | Development |
|---|---|
| Mauryan (3rd century BCE) | Ashoka built a brick stupa over relics of the Buddha and erected a polished sandstone pillar with an edict warning against schism in the sangha |
| Sunga (2nd century BCE) | The stupa was enlarged and encased in stone; a stone railing and terrace were added |
| Satavahana era (1st century BCE – 1st century CE) | The four elaborately carved gateways were added |
| Gupta and later | Temples (including Temple 17, an early Gupta temple) and monasteries |
The gateways (toranas)
- Four gateways face the cardinal directions, each with two square pillars supporting three curved architraves.
- Carvings show the Jataka tales, events from the Buddha's life, and scenes of daily life, animals, trees and yakshis.
- An inscription records that the ivory-carvers of Vidisha worked on one of the gateways.
- The Buddha is not shown in human form; he is represented by symbols — the Bodhi tree, the wheel of dharma (dharmachakra), an empty throne, footprints, and the stupa itself.
The relics of Sariputta and Mahamoggallana
Stupa 3 at Sanchi contained relics of Sariputta and Mahamoggallana, the Buddha's two chief disciples. The relics were taken to Britain in the nineteenth century and returned to India in the mid-twentieth century; they are enshrined in the Chetiyagiri Vihara at Sanchi.
Rediscovery and restoration
- 1818 — a British officer, General Taylor, recorded the site.
- Treasure hunters and amateur excavations damaged parts of it in the nineteenth century.
- 1912–1919 — Sir John Marshall, Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India, carried out major restoration.
- 1989 — UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Other Buddhist sites in MP
| Site | District | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Satdhara, Sonari, Andher | Raisen–Vidisha region | Stupa groups; together with Sanchi they form the "Sanchi group" of Buddhist sites |
| Bharhut | Satna | Sunga-period railings with early narrative reliefs; many now in the Indian Museum, Kolkata |
| Bagh caves | Dhar | Rock-cut Buddhist caves with paintings of the Gupta period, comparable in style to Ajanta |
| Dhamnar caves | Mandsaur | Buddhist rock-cut caves, with a later Hindu temple nearby |
| Deur Kothar | Rewa | Mauryan-period stupas |
Significance for MPPSC
- Art history — early Indian sculpture and the aniconic tradition.
- Religious history — the spread of Buddhism under Ashoka and later patrons.
- Social history — donor inscriptions reveal merchants, artisans, women and monks as patrons.
- Heritage and tourism — one of MP's three UNESCO World Heritage Sites (with Khajuraho and Bhimbetka).
- Diplomacy — Buddhist sites strengthen India's ties with Buddhist countries of Asia.
Practice
Prelims-style:
- In which district is Sanchi located?
- In which period were the gateways of the Great Stupa carved?
- Who restored Sanchi between 1912 and 1919?
- Whose relics were found in Stupa 3?
- Where are the Bagh caves, and what are they known for?
Mains-style (short): Why is Sanchi described as belonging to the aniconic phase of Buddhist art?
Mains-style (long): Discuss the historical and artistic significance of the Great Stupa at Sanchi.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission website .
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