Stupa in sanchi description. Big stupa in sanchi - india

In India, there are many tourist sites of various kinds - natural, cultural, religious, historical, aesthetic. You can travel on it for months, and never cease to be surprised by more and more new sights.

In the village of Sanchi, there is one of the objects that Indians consider to combine everything - the oldest stupa in India with the remains of the Buddha. We decided to check if this was so, and the three of us went to Sanchi - me, my husband and my husband's sister.

Why visit Sanchi?

Because it's beautiful. A harmonious smooth structure on a hill about 100 meters high, and around - green forests and fields. And, most importantly, beautiful sculptures decorating the gate (the first photo of the post).

Stupa Sanchi. Madhya Pradesh. India.

Because it's spiritual. Inside the stupa are the remains of the Buddha. Even if you don’t believe in it, thousands of pilgrims do, who come here with prayers and good thoughts, creating a “prayerfulness” of the place.

Stupa Sanchi. Madhya Pradesh. India.

Because it's steeped in history.

Stupa Sanchi. Madhya Pradesh. India.

Yes, even just in the traveler's piggy bank - as the oldest of the surviving Buddhist sanctuaries, which was the main center of Buddhism in India until the 12th century. By the way, it is listed in UNESCO.

Stupa Sanchi. Madhya Pradesh. India.

A bit from the history of the period of the emergence of the Sanchi stupa.

The first stupas appeared in India even before the Buddha. At first they were just tombstones, and gradually turned into buildings in which the remains were placed. According to legend, the Buddha himself asked his disciples to place his remains in a stupa. After his death, a dispute broke out - where such a stupa should be erected. Rulers, relatives, disciples of the Buddha - all wanted to get his remains. As a result, the brahmin Dona proposed a variant that suited everyone. The remains were divided into 8 parts and placed in 8 stupas throughout India, the ashes from the funeral pyre were placed in 9, and Don himself asked for the vessel in which the Buddha was cremated, and based on it he also created his own stupa. 200 years after the death of the Buddha, in the 3rd century BC, Emperor Ashoka ordered the remains to be redistributed among many stupas. The oldest known surviving stupa of Ashoka is just our Sanchi stupa

Stupa Sanchi. Madhya Pradesh. India.

For those who are interested, more about stupas: http://stupaman.org/asia-india.shtm I didn’t even know that there are fans of stupas who created a whole site about them :)

Before going to Sanchi, I read about the history of India of the corresponding period, and Emperor Ashoka made an indelible impression on me. Therefore, I will give him half a page.

Prince Ashoka was born in the harem of Bindusara, the ruler of the Indian Mauryan empire. The boy had a low status - his mother was poor, and in the harem there were many sons from more noble wives. But the mind, courage, energy and talent for management eventually made Ashoka the heir to his father. The first thing he did was to expand the empire. Having killed hundreds of thousands of people during the conquest of Kalinga (modern Orissa), at some point Ashoka was horrified by what he had done. Feeling that he was on a bad path, he began to turn more deeply into Buddhism, which he studied from his youth among other religions and sciences. Buddhism changed the life of the young emperor and the life of the entire empire.

Ashoka decided to rule justly and with all his strength to do the world happier. He paid much attention to the construction of roads, free hotels, irrigation systems, and wells. Ashoka brought order to medicine, organized the supply of medicines and opened veterinary clinics. Forced labor, aimless burning of forests and senseless extermination of animals were prohibited. The emperor also created the institution of human rights defenders and introduced the inspection of prisons. He even compiled a list of protected animals: parrots, wild ducks, the bats, turtles, fish, squirrels, fallow deer, wild and domestic pigeons and all four-legged creatures not fit for food; lactating goats, sheep and pigs; cubs under six months old. Ashoka himself forgot his youth passion - hunting, and preferred pilgrimage to holy places, reflections and travels around his state for the purpose of inspection and control. Ashoka paid the greatest attention to the correction of morals. This was his ultimate goal. Emperor Ashoka did as much for the spread of Buddhism as no ruler on earth has done.

The emperor called for respect for any religion and promoted Buddhism gently. Not only in India, but also outside of it. Only in last years Ashoka's reign was skewed: he engaged in a more rigid introduction of Buddhism, the persecution of representatives of other religions and the donation of colossal treasures from the royal treasury to Buddhism. As a result, he was practically removed from the board.

IN best years Ashoka erected many Buddhist structures: stupas, temples, monasteries and the so-called columns of Ashoka. These are columns with a message engraved on them - the edicts of Ashoka. They were installed all over the country. There was usually a Buddhist nearby, explaining the meaning of the text to people. This is the earliest surviving monument of writing in India and the first reliable evidence of the existence of Buddhism.

... Along the roads I planted a banyan tree to give shade, and laid out mango groves. Every eight crosseshe built wells and hotels, and in various places water reservoirs for people and animals. But these are only small achievements. Similar blessings were created by former kings. I did it so that people would follow the dharma...

Stupa Sanchi. Madhya Pradesh. India.

Stupa Sanchi.

Ashoka erected the famous stupa 45 kilometers from the city of Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, near the village of Sanchi. In the stupa were the remains of the Buddha, and next to it was a monastery and a column with one of the emperor's instructions.

Stupa Sanchi. Madhya Pradesh. India.

What we see today is strikingly different from the first version of Ashoka. His stupa was made of brick and much smaller. Now that ancient one is also there, it is inside. You can not see, but, most importantly, know that it is there.

Stupa Sanchi. Madhya Pradesh. India.

Later, in the 2nd-1st c. BC, the stupa was enlarged and decorated. A fence was completed, forming between the stupa and outside world path for pilgrims. Four gates appeared, symbolizing the 4 cardinal directions. There are new stupas and monasteries around.

Stupa Sanchi. Madhya Pradesh. India.

In the 4th century, under the rule of the Gupta dynasty, new monasteries, temples, columns appeared around the stupa. Until the 12th century, the sanctuary was maintained and restored, and from the 14th century it was completely abandoned. The Brahmins, who did not like either Buddhism, which forbade sacrifices, or Ashoka himself, who pushed them out of their leading roles, did everything so that his name was forgotten by history.

Stupa Sanchi. Madhya Pradesh. India.

During the reign of Muslims, the monuments of Buddhism and Hinduism were actively destroyed, images of animals were erased. But the sanctuary was able to survive to this day, although it fell into decay. The stupa itself had to be seriously restored. Around there were more stone debris than buildings. The first wooden monastery where Ashoka's wife Devi used to spend time has long since disappeared. This is where I came before great trip with the aim of spreading Buddhism, Ashoka's son, Mahendra. Bypassing the stupa, he went on a mission to Ceylon, from where Buddhism was then spread to Java, Thailand, Burma, Sumatra and other countries.

Stupa Sanchi. Madhya Pradesh. India.

Today the stupa looks very nice. It has been restored and covered with sandstone. Some of the sculptures covering the most beautiful thing in this complex - the gates - have been transferred to museums, but replaced with high-quality copies. Gate four. They symbolize the four directions of the world. They depict scenes with the Buddha, real and mythical animals, symbols of Buddhism - the wheel of dharma, a tree, elephants washing the mother of the Buddha - a symbol of his birth, scenes with Ashoka. Such a dense amount of sculpture was previously placed on wooden gates, and on stone gates it looks slightly massive and risky. Nevertheless, the gate lived for more than 2 thousand years. These sculptures - one of the oldest surviving in India to this day - have become a model for posterity. For example, the image style of busty women.

Stupa Sanchi. Madhya Pradesh. India.

Detailed photos of sculpture fragments with descriptions can be viewed on the website of the archaeological community of India: http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_sanchi_images.asp#

A well-groomed park is laid out around the stupa. Here and there you can see the remains of ancient temples, monasteries, columns, just stone blocks.

Stupa Sanchi. Madhya Pradesh. India.

Many stupas have grown where one used to stand.

Stupa Sanchi. Madhya Pradesh. India.

Pilgrims from all over the world tend to Sanchi to go around the stupa in a circle, in the direction of the sun. 1 time, 108 or even several days to wind circles. Buddhists and Hindus believe that such a bypass improves karma. J You can bring harmony into your life, cleanse yourself of various vices and develop virtues in yourself. The destruction of the stupa is considered an act similar to one of the "five sins of immediate retribution", namely, shedding the blood of the Buddha, and entails an inevitable rebirth in hell immediately after this life. Therefore, basically the stupas were not destroyed, but rebuilt.

Stupa Sanchi. Madhya Pradesh. India.

As for our trinity - me, Anjula and Anjuli, we arrived in Sanchi by taxi from Bhopal. Bhopal - Big City, the capital of the state, after all. I don't think travelers should stay there unnecessarily. It was a joy for us, savages, to walk through civilized shops, eat at McDuck and visit a couple of malls.

Mcduck. Bhopal. Capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh.

By the way, there is a good entertainment place in Bhopal - the open People's mall - a large shopping mall + outdoor entertainment center. It is located next to the university, whose students erected impressive copies of Indian monuments in the park - the Taj Mahal, forts, caves, etc. There are cafes, shops, even a water park. Indian youth and families with children like to walk there.

People's mall. Bhopal. Capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh.

As tourists, we swept through the city, looked at famous lake. Nice, but nothing special. We couldn't get out, as parking is prohibited absolutely everywhere. We passed many mosques, old districts, modern malls. Only a long fence sunk into the soul, each block of which was decorated with graffiti. Very high quality and bold for India. Against smoking, drug addiction, prostitution, etc. I'll find it next time and take a picture.

Bhopal. Capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh.

The most convenient way to visit Sanchi from Bhopal. There are regular trains, buses, the same taxi. Depending on the transport - no more than 2 hours of travel for sure, this is if on the most seedy. It is quite possible not to stay in Sanchi for the night, but to visit it in one day.

We arrived early in the morning, and walked with pleasure to the crowd and to the heat. It took 2-3 hours to explore and rest in the park. It remained only to drink tea in a small cafe, delve into meaningless souvenirs, and you could go. We just couldn't get into the museum. It didn't open, and we still had a 6-hour drive home to Khajuraho.

Stupa Sanchi. Madhya Pradesh. India.

Now Sanchi is a small village, and at one time it was a flourishing center of trade, it was located on the caravan route, and thanks to monetary contributions the richest people India became famous and remarkable place in the region. The wealth of the once prosperous city is described in many chronicles. During the decline of Buddhism, the village quickly fell into disrepair, and by the 12th century it was completely drowned in sand and bushes. It was discovered quite by accident by the British General Taylor in 1818.

The village is located in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, forty-six kilometers from Bhopal, and attracts tourists every year thanks to the well-preserved architectural monuments of early Buddhism - temples, monasteries and stupas.

The history of the creation of the stupa in Sanchi

Stupa - the first and oldest Buddhist building, considered a symbol sacred mountain Meru. In the III century BC, King Ashoka came to power, under his rule Buddhism became the main religion. It was from here that his son went to Sri Lanka to spread the teachings of the Buddha. During the reign of Ashok, many such structures were built, more than eight thousand. The Great Stupa is considered the first of them; it is the prototype of all other shrines; both Indians and people in Greek attire are depicted on its facade. It was conceived as an illustration of the Wheel of Dharma (the Indian teaching on liberation from rebirth).

Initially, the main stupa was built in the form of a hemisphere of brick and was surrounded by a wooden fence. In the 2nd century BC, it was enlarged, a tabernacle with a stone spire and three small harmiks - the celestial axis and three sacred skies - was attached to it. Harmiki, or the so-called umbrellas, symbolize the ascent of man to heaven.

During the reign of the Satavahan dynasty, the wooden gates were replaced with stone ones.

What does a stupa look like in Sanchi

Numerous images on the stupa tell about the life of the founder of Buddhism - the Buddha, his appearance on earth, subsequent rebirths and past life. You can also see how the world of people, animals and plants looks like. Buddha is depicted in the form of a man only in jataks, the rest of the drawings represent his symbolic images: lotus, footprints, hands.

The shape of the building has a symbolic meaning, a round plinth with a diameter of thirty-one meters, not including the terrace. The platform was built of brick and stone. Internal premises are not provided, but the remains of the Buddha are laid in the masonry.

An unremarkable fence made of smooth stone is installed around the building. And in the direction of the four cardinal points, gates are installed. They are two powerful and massive square columns, three beams ending in spirals serve as an overlap, which corresponds to the type of sacred texts. At the base of the columns there are figures of elephants, as well as lions and yaksha dwarfs - these are the spirits of nature that protect the Stupa, they seem to support the lower beam.

The most convenient way to get to the place is to rent a car or call a taxi, these services are inexpensive in India.

The train can be reached from Bhopal, the journey will take a little less than an hour. There is no need to book a ticket, all you need to do is come to the station early and purchase a general ticket, the cost varies from 7 to 20 rupees. There are six trains a day to and four back. The first one leaves Bhopal at 8 o'clock, the last at 20:55. If you have come to last train, you can only get back by bus or taxi, as the last one leaves at 19:10.

Another local train departs from Mumbai. Fast trains and express trains run from the station, but you won’t be able to get to Sanchi directly, the nearest stop is in the small town of Vishish. The city is only ten kilometers away, so the village can be reached by day bus or rickshaw.

You can use a regular bus that runs from Bhopal regularly, the ticket price will be 25 rupees, and the journey will take about an hour and a half.

Ticket price

Price entrance ticket in the complex for Indians 10, foreign citizens 250 rupees. The ticket is a postcard, it depicts the most interesting places which are definitely worth a look. A visit to the museum will cost 5 rupees, renting a car in Sanchi - 10. Ticket offices are located right at the railway or bus stations, so it will not be difficult to buy a ticket, if you want to arrive early in the morning, you should book a ticket the day before. A path and stone steps lead to the stupa at the end of Monuments Road, the street begins right at the ticket office.

The complex opens at 8 am and is open until 5 pm.

Going on excursions, take some cash, there is no currency exchange office in Sanchi, and the nearest ATM is in Vidisha.

Best time to visit

If you choose better time for an excursion to Sanchi, then the most suitable period is from September to March. IN given time the weather is quite pleasant for this region, not too hot, which is ideal for a tourist.

In summer, and this is from April to June, the temperature reaches 45 degrees, and it will be very difficult for people who are not used to such heat.

The Sanchi stupa is a great heritage of India, a building that delights with its architecture. If you come to this country and want to get acquainted and touch its history, a small village in the northeast will hospitably open its doors to you.

One of the iconic attractions; prototype for all subsequent stupas in Buddhism. Erected in the III century BC. during the reign of Ashoka the Great. At his insistence, the walls were painted with images not only of Buddhist mythology, but also of the ancient Greeks. The Big Stupa is included in the version of our site.

Geographically, it is located 40-50 km from Bhopal and it is best to get to it by sightseeing bus, rented car or taxi. In the II century BC. The stupa has been slightly rebuilt. A stone torana gate and a 40-ton column appeared next to it. The gates are shaped like wooden architecture, as they are decorated with exquisite carvings.

There are many other ancient structures on the territory of Sanchi. One of the most revered is Temple 17, built in the 5th century AD. For a long time, Sanchi remained an important center of Buddhist art, but with the reign of Islam, it fell into decay. The village was re-discovered and restored by the British in 1818. Today, this hemispherical building serves as a memorial monument in Buddhist architecture.

Attraction photo: Stupa in Sanchi village

The gates of the Great Stupa were installed around 35 BC, but they were all destroyed by time by the time they were found by the British. Now they have been replaced. The scenes carved on the pillars and triangular architraves are mostly from jatakas, tales of the earthly incarnations of the Buddha. During this period in the development of art, the Buddha was never depicted directly, but his presence was determined by recognizable symbols. The lotus signified his birth, the bodhi tree signified enlightenment, the wheel signified his teachings, and the footprints and throne signified his presence. The stupa itself also symbolizes the Buddha.

The north gate, topped with a broken wheel of justice, is the best preserved. Among the images is a monkey offering a bowl of honey to the Buddha. The Buddha is represented here as a bodhi tree. On the other is the miracle of Shravasti, one of several miracles depicted here, when the Buddha in the form of a bodhi tree rises into the air. Elephants support architraves over columns, on each side gracefully carved yakshas hang fearlessly. (virgins).

The amazingly carved figurative-shi hanging from the architrave on the east gate is one of the most famous images in Sanchi. One of the pillars supported by elephants depicts the Buddha's attainment of nirvana. Another scene is Maya's dream (Maya), mother of the Buddha, about an elephant standing on the moon, which she dreamed of at the time of the conception of the Buddha. Directly in the center of the main architrave is the Great Departure, when the Buddha (horse without rider) renounced sensual life and went to seek enlightenment.

Lions standing back to back on the southern gate - the oldest - form National emblem India, which can be seen on any banknote. This gate narrates the Buddhist life of Ashoka, with scenes of the birth of the Buddha and the Great Passage. It also depicts the Jataka Chhhaddantha, a story in which the Bodhisattva (Bodhisattva; Buddha before he attained enlightenment) took the form of the king of elephants with six tusks. The less beloved of the two wives of the king of elephants was so jealous of the second that she decided to starve to death and swore an oath that she would be reborn as the queen of Benares (former name of the city of Varanasi) to take revenge on her husband for not loving her enough. Her wish was fulfilled, and, becoming queen, she ordered the hunters to find and kill the king of elephants. But before the hunter killed the elephant, the elephant held out its tusks to him. This act was so noble that the queen died of remorse.

Pot-bellied dwarfs support the architrave of the western gate, which depicts some of the most interesting scenes. On the main architrave we see the Buddha in seven different reincarnations (three times its symbol is a stupa and four times a tree). On reverse side one of the columns depicts how the Buddha resists the temptation of Mar (Buddhist personification of evil, she is often called the Buddhist devil): the demons flee, and the angels triumph.

Other Sanchi Stupas

Stupa 2 is located in the middle of the western slope (turn right from stupa 1). If you were walking along the main road from the village, you can go down past stupa 2, but be prepared to climb over the fence at the bottom of the hill. Instead of a gate, the surrounding wall of the stupa is decorated with medallions, naive, but full of energy and fantasy. The stupa is surrounded by a ring of images of flowers, animals, people, many of which are heroes of myths.

Stupa 3 stands northeast of the Great Stupa (if you go through the main entrance, it will be on the left). It is similar in design to the Great Stupa, but a little smaller, and there is only one, but very beautiful gate. Once there were the remains of two important disciples of the Buddha, Sari Putghi and Mahi Moggallana. (Sari Puttha; Maha Moggallana). They were moved to London in 1853, but they were returned in 1953 and now rest in a modern vihara.

From ancient Stupa 4 (II century BC) only the base remains, located behind stupa 3. Between stupas 1 and 3 is a small stupa 5. Previously, it contained a statue of the Buddha, which now stands in the museum.

Columns in Sanchi

Among the scattered remains of columns, the most important is column 10, which was built by Ashoka and which was later destroyed. The two upper sections, perfectly proportioned and beautifully carved, lie next to stupa 1; capital (top of a column, often with sculptural elements) kept in the museum. Column 25 (to the left of stupa 1) dated to the era of the Shunga empire (II century BC), another less impressive column 35 (to the right of stupa 1) dated to the 5th century. AD

Buddhist temples

Temple 18 behind the Great Sanchi Stupa represents chaitya (hall for prayers and meetings). Its style is very reminiscent of classical ancient Greek buildings with columns. The temple dates back to the 7th century. AD, but underneath there are traces of earlier wooden buildings. On the left is Temple 17, which also resembles Greek architecture. Behind them is temple 40 dating from the Ashoka era.

Rectangular temple 31 (behind stupa 5) was built in the 6th or 7th century. It was reconstructed in the X-XI centuries. Here is a beautifully executed image of the Buddha.

Monasteries

The very first monasteries were built of wood, and they collapsed long ago. They usually consisted of a central courtyard surrounded by monastic cells. Only courtyards and stone foundations have survived to this day. Monasteries 45 and 47, standing on the east ridge to the left of stupa 1, date from the period of the transition from Buddhism to Hinduism, as there are clear elements inherent in Hinduism in the architecture. In one of the monasteries there are two statues of seated Buddhas, one of which is amazing.

Behind Monastery 51, halfway down the hill towards Stupa 2, is the Great Chalice carved in stone. Food and offerings for the monks were placed here.

vihara

Literally the word vihara (9.00-17.00) , translates as "tomb". It was built to store relics from stupa 3. They can be seen every last Sunday of the month. The museum is located on the left, immediately at the entrance to the complex.

Archaeological Museum

entry 5 rupees, free if you have a ticket for osmort stupas;
8.00-17.00 Sat-Thu

This wonderful museum has a small collection of local sculptures. The main artifact is a lion-shaped capital from column 10 built by Ashoka and dated to the 3rd century BC. BC e. Other highlights include a yakshi hanging from a mango tree and beautiful red sandstone statues of a peaceful Buddha, the earliest found anywhere in the world. There are also several interesting photos area before restoration.

Information

Ticket price:

Indians/foreigners 10/250 rupees, car 10 rupees, museum 5 rupees;
Sunrise Sunset

Sanchi Hilltop Stupas are easily accessible via a path and stone steps at the end of Monuments Road (Monuments Rd; this is a continuation of the street starting from railway station) where the checkout is located.

If you are going to the stupas at dawn, buy a ticket for the day. Remember: it is considered auspicious to walk around Buddhist monuments clockwise.

There is no currency exchange in Sanchi, the nearest ATM is in Vidisha. There are Internet cafes in several places in the market near the bus station (hour 30-40 rupees)

The road there and back

Bike

You can rent a bike in the market near the bus station (hour/day Rs 5/30).

Bus

There are regular buses between Sanchi and Bhopal. (25 rupees, 1.5 hours, 6.00-22.00), there are also flights to Vidisha (8 rupees, 20 minutes, 6.00-23.00). It is better to wait for the bus in the village at the crossroads than to go to the bus station, which is located on the right when you exit the railway station.

Train

Sanchi can be reached from Bhopal by train. The trip will take less than an hour, so there is no need to book a seat: just arrive a little early, buy a general ticket (7-21 rupees) and get on the train. There are six daytime trains from Bhopal. (8.00, 10.20, 15.15, 16.10, 18.00 and 20.55). Back - only four (8.00, 8.50, 16.30 and 19.10).

The Great Stupa at Sanchi (Mahastupa) was built much to the south of the places where the Buddha lived and preached, and does not directly correlate with his activities. King Ashoka, who came to power in the third century BC, began to revive Buddhism, which had already begun to fade by that time, making it practically the main religion of the state. He identified from the remains of buildings many places associated with the activities of the Buddha and erected many religious Buddhist buildings throughout the country, in total more than eighty thousand.

The construction of many stupas dates back to this time. Unlike other types of Buddhist buildings, living quarters - viharas, and prayer halls - chaitiyas, which had interiors, the stupa was monolithic.

The Great Stupa at Sanchi, the first building of its kind, served as a prototype for all others.

It is this stupa that is considered the oldest of all Buddhist stupas that have survived to this day.

Inside the stupa in Sanchi, in its very center, a cubic urn with the remains of the Buddha was laid. According to legend, the Buddha, when asked about the shape of his future tomb, as if instead of answering, folded his cloak several times, on which he hoisted, turning upside down, his round bowl for collecting alms and crowned it all with his staff. In this form, most of the stupas in India are built. Initially, stupas served specifically to store relics or remains, but later they began to be interpreted as a symbolic embodiment of the cosmos.

In the rather complex construction of stupas - and over time they became much more intricate than the first bowl-shaped forms - there is not a single element, from the steps of the base to the position of the hands of the sculptural images of the Buddhas or the decorations on their clothes, that would not have their own specific meaning. .

The plinth of the stupa in Sanchi, with a terrace that served for ceremonies, signifies the Earth, with all its inherent passions and temptations. The stupa itself is built in the form of an ideal hemisphere, symbolizing the vault of heaven and, corresponding to it, the world of the gods. A rod starting from the base passes through the entire dome, symbolically denoting the World Axis, the World Tree, Mount Meru. At the top of the dome, a pillar is surrounded by a harmika - a miniature copy of the main fence, hiding the "axis of the world" from indiscreet eyes.

The concealment of the central pillar is due to the ancient Indian custom of enclosing sacred objects such as a sacred tree or a temple. The central pillar at the top is decorated with three umbrellas: attributes, in Buddhism meaning highest level universe, accessible only to beings who have achieved enlightenment, the three upper heavens. In addition, the three umbrellas symbolize the three jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the monastic community, or Sangha.

In the 2nd century BC, the stupa was expanded twice as compared to its original size and surrounded by a massive stone fence - Vedika (a symbol of the protection of the shrine), devoid of any decorations.

During the Satavahan dynasty (I century BC), powerful square gates (torana) were built around a large stupa, oriented to the cardinal points “exits to the universe”. Each of the gates is a filigree work of art, they were created with a gap of decades. First, the southern gates were built, later the northern, eastern and last - the western.

The capitals of the columns are made in the form of figures of four elephants, lions or yaksha dwarfs supporting the transverse beams. Numerous images on the gates, covered with abundant carvings, tell about the life of Shakyamuni Buddha, reproduce plots of jataka, that is, stories about his previous births. The Buddha himself in numerous stories does not always appear in human form, often his presence is transmitted through symbols - a lotus, a wheel, a tree. The lotus signified his birth, the Bodhi Tree signified enlightenment, the wheel signified his teachings, and the footprints and throne signified his presence. For example, the scene of enlightenment depicts only an empty throne. Another image shows a monkey offering a bowl of honey to the Buddha (represented as the Bodhi Tree). This approach was characteristic of early Buddhism. You can spend hours walking around the stupa, studying the bizarre bas-reliefs, the plots of which tell about ways to get rid of suffering associated with the circulation in samsara.

Passing through such gates to the stupa can already be considered a sacred act in itself. But visitors have the opportunity to make a full parikarma, bypass the stupa and even climb to the second circle.

Around the large stupa in Sanchi there are two circular detours: the first is at ground level between the stupa and the fence, and the second is on the upper terrace of the platform around the dome of the stupa. The upper bypass is surrounded by a low fence, similar to the outer fence and imitating the style of ancient wooden fences. Although there are four gates in the outer enclosure leading to the lower roundabout, access to the upper level is only possible through a single entrance with two stairs, arranged on the south side of the stupa. From here, from the “second floor”, it is already easier to mentally transfer to the platform located on the dome under three umbrellas, that is, on a symbolic level, to ascend from our earthly world, full of passions, to the world inhabited by enlightened beings.

The architectural plan of the stupa fully reflects the swastika in motion. On the plan, the contours of the entrances and the geographical axes form a symbolic figure - a mandala in the form of a swastika - a solar symbol, so important for the ancient peoples. The lines connecting the cardinal directions symbolize space, and the entrances, curved entrances, repeating the direction of movement of the stars, represent time. A monk or pilgrim performing parikarma, entering the mandala, becomes part of the world order. Its energy fits into the cosmic whirlwind revolving around the world center, the center of the mandala.

Over time, a whole complex of seven stupas was built in Sanchi, of which two more have survived to our time, while the rest were almost destroyed.

The second stupa, built in 100 BC, is located in the middle of the western slope. It has curved entrances; their L-shaped shape in plan also develops in the image of a regular swastika, twisted clockwise and being a geometric expression of harmony, creation, order.

Since the ideal shape of the stupa does not allow any decorations, the early stupas could only be decorated with a fence - with geometric or floral ornaments, images of mythological animals, scenes from sacred texts. Archaeologists suggest that this place was used by the teachers of the community in order to retire from the hustle and bustle, which is why the stupa was placed half a kilometer from the main complex.

The third stupa is located to the northeast and, in terms of design, largely copies the Great Stupa, but it is much smaller in size. The path to it is marked by a single carved gate. This stupa contained the remains of the two main disciples of the Buddha: Shariputra and Maudgalyayana. In 1853 they were transported to London, but later returned to India again. Now they rest in a vihara specially built for this purpose in the park (literally, the word "vihara" is translated as "tomb").

The stupas were surrounded by wooden monastery buildings, but they have not survived to our time. The very first monasteries were built of wood, and they collapsed long ago. They usually consisted of a central courtyard surrounded by monastic cells. Only courtyards and stone foundations have survived to this day.

The Sanchi complex includes other ancient architectural sights - there is the so-called Ashoka Column, and centuries-old temples, as well as Archaeological Museum with a collection of antiquities. Interesting tiny cave temples carved into very hard rocks.

During the time of Ashoka, the Sanchi complex was a major religious center. The stupas were plastered and painted, and during festivals they were lavishly decorated with flowers and other ritual offerings. Crowded processions flocked here, consisting not only of monks, but also of the laity.

The relief on the northern gate of the Mahastupa depicts a large solemn procession with gifts and musical instruments heading towards the shrine. Elephants lead the procession. On this relief we can see what the stupa looked like, decorated with garlands and flowers. Religious life was in full swing in ancient Sanchi, and the monks constantly communicated with their secular patrons.

In the second and first centuries BC, Sanchi remained an important religious center, however, after that it was abandoned. Everything here is overgrown with jungle. main Buddhist center northern India Sanchi became already under the Gupta dynasty, in the 5th century AD. At this time, stupas are repaired, new temples are erected. At the turn of the millennium, Buddhism in India began to fade, being absorbed by Hinduism. Archaeological finds of the 13th century are already completely Hindu in nature. In the 14th century, this place finally becomes empty.

In 1818, these buildings were discovered and described by the British. Later, in 1851, the remains of two of the most famous preachers of Buddhism, Shariputra and Maudgalyayana, were discovered on Sanchi Hill by Colonel Alexander Cunningham of the English army. The whole complex was significantly damaged as a result of unprofessional attempts to open the stupas. In 1822, Captain Johnson broke open the Mahastupa, breaking a hole in one of its sides, which led to significant destruction of the monument. The monolithic column of Ashoka, split into pieces by local vandals, was used as a sugar cane press.

From 1881 to 1884, under the leadership of Major Cole, a series of restoration work was carried out. A gap in the wall of the “Great Stupa” was repaired, the destroyed gates were reinstalled and restored. In the twenties of the twentieth century, the stupas were given their present form. Now a museum has been opened on this site, and the Great Stupa complex in Sanchi is considered one of the outstanding historical and cultural monuments of the country.

According to Ashoka's plan, the complex was conceived as a place of meditation and introspection. It was supposed to be located outside the bustle of large cities and settlements of monks, but at the same time within reach for everyone. The village of Sanchi was ideal for this project. Located in isolation and at the same time not far from the city of Vidishya, it became perfect place for practice for many centuries.

Here, even those who are not adherents of Buddhism feel amazing energy and cannot help but admire the ancient buildings that have passed through the millennia, bearing the memory of world harmony, of the great cosmic order. For the sake of these sensations, for the sake of the sight of stone masses that carry the energy of the practice of many generations, it is worth going to India - a mysterious country that has saved so much valuable for us.