A report on Sanchi

Plan of the monuments of the hill of Sanchi, numbered 1 to 50.

The capital of the Sanchi pillar of Ashoka, as discovered (left), and simulation of original appearance (right). It is very similar to the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, except for the abacus, here adorned with flame palmettes and facing geese, 250 BCE. Sanchi Archaeological Museum.

by later illustrations among the Sanchi reliefs

The Great Stupa under the Sungas. The Sungas nearly doubled the diameter of the initial stupa, encasing it in stone, and built a balustrade and a railing around it.

Foreigner on a horse, circa 115 BCE, Stupa No2.

Sunga period railings were initially blank (left: Great Stupa), and only started to be decorated circa 115 BCE with Stupa No.2 (right).

Sunga pillar No25 with own capital on the side.

The Great Stupa at the time of the Satavahanas.

Temptation of the Buddha, with the Buddha on the left (symbolized by his throne only) surrounded by rejoicing devotees, Mara and his daughters (center), and the demons of Mara fleeing (right).

War over the Buddha's Relics, kept by the city of Kushinagar, South Gate, Stupa no.1, Sanchi.

King Ashoka visits Ramagrama, to take relics of the Buddha from the Nagas, but he failed, the Nagas being too powerful. Southern gateway, Stupa 1, Southern Gateway, Sanchi.

Ashoka in grief, supported by his two queens, in a relief at Sanchi. Stupa 1, Southern gateway. The identification with Ashoka is confirm by a similar relief from Kanaganahalli inscribed "Raya Asoko".

Bodhi tree temple depicted in Sanchi, Stupa 1, Southern gateway.

Temple for the Bodhi Tree (Eastern Gateway).

foreigners illustrated at Sanchi worshiping the Great Stupa

Miracle of the Buddha walking on the river Nairanjana

Procession of king Suddhodana from Kapilavastu

"The promenade of the Buddha", or Chankrama, used to depict the Buddha in motion in Buddhist aniconism.

Bimbisara with his royal cortege issuing from the city of Rajagriha to visit the Buddha

Foreigners making a dedication at the Southern Gateway of Stupa No 1

Stupas and monasteries at Sanchi in the early centuries of the current era. Reconstruction, 1900

Temple 17: a Gupta period tetrastyle prostyle temple of Classical appearance. 5th century CE

Statue of Padmapani (5th c.or 9th c.) Victoria and Albert Museum.

Pillar 26: one of the two four-lions stambha capitals at Sanchi, with lions, central flame palmette and Wheel of Law (axis, stubs of the spokes and part of the circumference only), initially located at the Northern Gateway of the Great Stupa. Sanchi Archaeological Museum.

Pillar 26: lion pillar capital at time of discovery, with Dharmachakra wheel (reconstitution). Northern Gateway.

Pillar 35 column stump (right), and bell capital with abacus, positioned upside down.

Vajrapani statue of pillar 35, 5th c. CE. Sanchi Archaeological Museum.

Temple 18 at Sanchi, an apsidal hall with Maurya foundations, rebuilt at the time of Harsha (7th century CE).

The Great Stupa as breached by Sir Herbert Maddock in 1822. Watercolor by Frederick Charles Maisey, in 1851.

Ruins of the Southern Gateway, Sanchi in 1875.

Inscribed panel from Sanchi in Brahmi script in the British Museum

The last two letters to the right of this inscription in Brahmi form the word "dǎnam" (donation). This hypothesis permitted the decipherment of the Brahmi script by James Prinsep in 1837.

General view of the Stupas at Sanchi by F.C. Maisey, 1851 (The Great Stupa on top of the hill, and Stupa 2 at the forefront)

The Great Stupa (Stupa No.1), started in the 3rd century BCE

Remains of the Ashokan Pillar in polished stone (right of the Southern Gateway), with its Edict.

Sanchi Minor Pillar Edict of Ashoka, in-situ (detail of the previous image).

Remains of the shaft of the pillar of Ashoka, under a shed near the Southern Gateway.

Side view of the capital. Sanchi Archaeological Museum.<ref name="p.25-28 Ashoka pillar"/>

Shunga vedika (railing) with inscriptions.

Lakshmi with lotus and two child attendants, probably derived from [[:File:Venus with two cupids 2.jpg|similar images of Venus]]<ref>An Indian Statuette From Pompeii, Mirella Levi D'Ancona, in Artibus Asiae, Vol. 13, No. 3 (1950) p. 171</ref>

Detail of the foreigners, in Greek dress and playing carnyxes and aolus flute. Northern Gateway of Stupa I (detail).

Foreigners holding grapes and riding winged lions, Sanchi Stupa 1, Eastern Gateway.<ref>"The Diffusion of Classical Art in Antiquity, John Boardman, 1993, p. 112 Note 91</ref>

Foreigners on horses, wearing headbands, caps and boots. Western gate of Stupa 1.

The Buddha represented by the Dharmacakra.

Bottom panel Dvarapala guardian deity or devotee.

Pillar 34 with lion.<ref>Marshall p. 52 Pillar 34</ref>

The winged lion capital of pillar 34 (lost).

Buddhist complex, famous for its Great Stupa, on a hilltop at Sanchi Town in Raisen District of the State of Madhya Pradesh, India.

- Sanchi

71 related topics with Alpha

Madhya Pradesh

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State in central India.

Physical map of Madhya Pradesh village Tumen Ashoknagar

Matang was completely developed and manufactured by Vehicle Factory Jabalpur

Mesolithic rock painting, Bhimbetka rock shelters, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Bateshwar temple complex, Padavli, Morena

Brahma statue with various deities at Amarkantak.

Langur monkey (Semnopithecus dussumieri), Orchha

Tigress with cubs in Kanha Tiger Reserve

Tickell's blue flycatcher, Bandhavgarh National Park

Male nilgais fighting, Lakeshwari, Gwalior district

The River Narmada flows through a gorge of marble rocks in Bhedaghat, Jabalpur

The Shri Ram Ghat on the Shipra River in Ujjain

Betwa in the Ashoknagar District of Madhya Pradesh

Bagh Print Traditional hand block print craft in Bagh.

A man playing flute in Orchha, with a white tilak on his forehead, and holy saffron-coloured clothes.

Sand sculpture by Sudarshan Pattnaik at Bandrabhan near Hoshangabad

Rajiv Gandhi Technical University's main gate

St. Aloysius Senior Secondary School, Jabalpur, established in the year 1868 is among the oldest schools in India

Three sites in Madhya Pradesh have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO: the Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986) including Devi Jagadambi temple, Khajuraho, Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989) and the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003).

Relics of Sariputta and Moggallana

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The relics of Sariputta and Moggallana refers to the cremated remains of the Buddhist disciples Sariputta (Sanskrit: Śāriputra; Pali: Sāriputta) and Moggallana (Sanskrit: Maudgalyāyana; Pali: Moggallāna).

Sketch made by Cunningham of the relic caskets of Sariputta and Maha Moggallana found at Sanchi, Stupa No 3

Alexander Cunningham, one of the archaeologists who made the discovery of the relics of the chief disciples

Depiction of the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1873, then called the South Kensington Museum

The National Museum of Colombo (then called the Colombo Museum), where the relics resided for nearly two years after being returned by the British

Interior of the Dharmarajika Chetiya Vihara of the Maha Bodhi Society, where the relics were first stored upon their return to India. The return of the relics was considered one of the Society's greatest accomplishments.

The Kaba Aye Pagoda, where Burma's portion of the relics are enshrined.

The Mahabodhi Society, in Colombo, where Sri Lanka's portion of the relics are enshrined.

The Chethiyagiri Vihara in Sanchi, where India's portion of the relics are enshrined.

In 1851, British archaeologists Major Alexander Cunningham and Captain Fredrick Maisey discovered relics attributed to the chief disciples during excavations of stupas in the Indian cities of Sanchi and Satdhara.

Satdhara

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Satdhara is the name of an archaeological site consisting of stupas and viharas, located 9 km west of Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Dharmachakra

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Widespread symbol used in South Asian religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, and especially Buddhism.

Ten Indus characters from the northern gate of Dholavira, dubbed the Dholavira Signboard.

Worshipers and Dharmachakra, Sanchi Stupa, South Face, West Pillar.

The original Lion Capital of Ashoka, from Sarnath. It originally supported a large dhamachakra on the top.

Wheel of the chariot of the sun, Konark Sun Temple.

The Emblem of India, featuring the Ashoka Chakra on the base panel representing the Dharmachakra

Jain illustration with dharmachakra and the motto Ahiṃsā Paramo Dharma (non-violence is the highest dharma).

Reconstitution of approximate layout of Sanchi at the time of the Mauryas, showing the pillar topped by a dharmachakra.

Sanchi pillar capital wheel reconstitution

Bharhut Stupa at the Indian Museum, Kolkata

Sandstone depiction, c. 2nd Century BCE, Bharhut, Indian Museum – Kolkata.

Illustrated reconstruction of the pinnacles at Bharhut by Alexander Cunningham

Eastern gateway of Bharhut stupa topped with a dharmachakra pinnacle

Buddha represented by Dharmacakra, Sanchi Stupa no. 3.

Dharmacakra on Pillar, Sanchi Stupa no. 3

Adoration of the pillar of Ashoka, Sanchi Stupa no. 3.

Amaravati Stupa relief at Museum in Chennai, India.

Limestone Pilaster, 2nd century CE, Amravati, Indian Museum, Kolkata.

Buddha footprints with dharmachakras, Archaeological Museum, Amaravati

Gandharan Stele illustrating the first sermon at Sarnath, 2nd century, Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A sculpture depicting the dharmachakra in the museum of Amaravathi

Taxila coin with wheel and Buddhist symbols

Coin found in Afghanistan, 50 BCE – c. 30 CE, at the latest before 50 CE.

Three Jewels, or Triratna. Eastern Afghanistan. Kushan period. 2–3 century.

Dharmachakra Pravartana Mudra, Gupta period, 5th CE.

Dhammacakka, National Museum, Bangkok, Thailand

Khao Klang Nai, Si Thep Historical Park, Thailand.

Mon dharmachakra, VII or IX century, Sandstone

Dharma wheel, Japan, Kamakura period, 1200s CE, bronze – Tokyo National Museum.

Part of a Buddha-statue, showing the first five disciples of the Buddha at Sarnath and dharmachakra.

Japanese dharmachakra, late 13th century.

Mandala Base, China, Ming dynasty, Cleveland Museum of Art.

Dharma wheel, China, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period, 1736–1795 CE.

Box with Ink Cakes: Yellow Ink Stick, China, Qing dynasty (1644–1912).

Garuda upholding the Dhammacakka, Wat Sri Suphan, Chiang Mai

Dhammacakka on Main Gable, Wat Phra Putthabat Tak Pha, Lamphun

The Emblem of Mongolia includes the dharmachakra, a cintamani, a padma, blue khata and the Soyombo symbol

The Emblem of Sri Lanka, featuring a blue dharmachakra as the crest

Emblem of the Supreme Court of India, which shows the dharmachakra on top of the Lion Capital. It was found broken during the excavations.

The Flag of India has the Ashoka Chakra at its center representing the Dharmachakra.

The flag of the former Kingdom of Sikkim featured a version of the Dharmachakra

Emblem of Central Tibetan Administration with Tibetan Buddhist style Dharmachakra

The dhammacakka flag, the symbol of Buddhism in Thailand

The seal of Thammasat University in Thailand consisting of a Constitution on phan with a twelve-spoked dhammacakkka

Colours of the National Scout Organization of Thailand

Flag used by the Indian Dalit Buddhist Movement

The insignia for Buddhist chaplains in the United States Armed Forces.

Wheel in Jain Symbol of Ahimsa represents dharmachakra

The original Lion Capital of Ashoka, from Sarnath. It originally supported a large dhamachakra on the top (reconstitution).

In the Buddhist Art at early sites such as Bharhut and Sanchi, the dharmachakra was often used as a symbol of Gautama Buddha himself.

Sonari stupa n°2 with stupa n°1 in the background.

Sonari Stupas

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Archaeological site of an ancient monastic complex of Buddhist stupas.

The main reliquary of Stupa No.2 at Victoria and Albert Museum.

The site, positioned on a hill, is located about 10 km southwest of Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Bhojpur Stupas

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The Bhojpur Stupas, also called Murelkhurd Stupas or Morel Khurd Stupas by the Archaeological Survey of India to avoid confusion with the village and archaeological site of Bhojpur, Madhya Pradesh about 45 km to the southwest, are a group of about thirty stupas located southeast of Sanchi, about at about 11 km.

Torana

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Free-standing ornamental or arched gateway for ceremonial purposes seen in the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain architecture of the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and parts of East Asia.

Toran from Gujarat, 20th Century, plain cotton weave with embroidery and mirror work, Honolulu Museum of Art. The hanging pieces are stylized mango leaves. Could be tied over a door as dvara-torana or hanged on a wall as bhitti-torana.

Hindola Torana. 9th century Torana in Madhya Pradesh, India.

The famous torii at Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Japan, where the Indian Hindu goddess Saraswati is worshipped as the Buddhist-Shinto goddess Benzaiten.

Hongsalmun, in red, at the tomb of legendary Korean Emperor Suro of Geumgwan Gaya and his legendary wife Queen Heo Hwang-ok believed to be an Indian princess and mother of all Koreans of Heo and Kim clans.

In Mauryan Empire, the archaeological evidence shows the Torana of Sanchi stupa dates back to 3rd century BCE.

Raisen district

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District of Madhya Pradesh state of India.

The Buddhist monuments at Sanchi, a UNESCO world heritage site, are located in Raisen district.

Kushan Empire

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Syncretic empire, formed by the Yuezhi, in the Bactrian territories in the early 1st century.

Yuezhi nobleman and priest over a fire altar. Noin-Ula.

The ethnonym "KOϷ ϷANO" (Koshshano, "Kushan") in Greek alphabet (with the addition of the letter Ϸ, "Sh") on a coin of the first known Kushan ruler Heraios (1st century AD).

Greek alphabet (narrow columns) with Kushan script (wide columns)

Early gold coin of Kanishka I with Greek language legend and Hellenistic divinity Helios. (c. AD 120).
Obverse: Kanishka standing, clad in heavy Kushan coat and long boots, flames emanating from shoulders, holding a standard in his left hand, and making a sacrifice over an altar. Greek legend: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΚΑΝΗϷΚΟΥ
Basileus Basileon Kanishkoy
"[Coin] of Kanishka, king of kings". Reverse: Standing Helios in Hellenistic style, forming a benediction gesture with the right hand. Legend in Greek script: ΗΛΙΟΣ Helios Kanishka monogram (tamgha) to the left.

Kushan territories (full line) and maximum extent of Kushan control under Kanishka the Great. The extent of Kushan control is notably documented in the Rabatak inscription. The northern expansion into the Tarim Basin is mainly suggested by coin finds and Chinese chronicles.

Map showing the four empires of Eurasia in the 2nd century AD. "For a time, the Kushan Empire was the centerpoint of the major civilizations".

Eastern reach as far as Bengal: Samatata coinage of king Vira Jadamarah, in imitation of the Kushan coinage of Kanishka I. The text of the legend is a meaningless imitation. Bengal, circa 2nd-3rd century AD.

Kumara/Kartikeya with a Kushan devotee, 2nd century AD

Kushan prince, said to be Huvishka, making a donation to a Boddhisattva.

Shiva Linga worshipped by Kushan devotees, circa 2nd century AD

The Ahin Posh stupa was dedicated in the 2nd century AD under the Kushans, and contained coins of Kushan and Roman Emperors.

Early Mahayana Buddhist triad. From left to right, a Kushan devotee, Maitreya, the Buddha, Avalokitesvara, and a Buddhist monk. 2nd–3rd century, Gandhara

The head of a Gandhara Bodhisattava said to resemble a Kushan prince, as seen in [[:File:KushanHead.jpg|the portrait of the prince]] from Khalchayan. Philadelphia Museum.

Greco-Roman gladiator on a glass vessel, Begram, 2nd century

$Rishti or Riom<ref>{{cite journal |quote=The reading of the name of the deity on this coin is very much uncertain and disputed (Riom, Riddhi, Rishthi, Rise....) |last1=Fleet |first1=J.F. |title=The Introduction of the Greek Uncial and Cursive Characters into India |journal=The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland |year=1908 |volume=1908 |page=179, note 1 |jstor=25210545}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |quote=The name Riom as read by Gardner, was read by Cunningham as Ride, who equated it with Riddhi, the Indian goddess of fortune. F.W. Thomas has read the name as Rhea |last1=Shrava |first1=Satya |title=The Kushāṇa Numismatics |year=1985 |publisher=Pranava Prakashan |page=29 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_1EaAAAAYAAJ}}</ref>$

Kushan Carnelian seal representing the "ΑΔϷΟ" (adsho Atar), with triratana symbol left, and Kanishka the Great's dynastic mark right

Coin of Kanishka I, with a depiction of the Buddha and legend "Boddo" in Greek script

Coin of Vima Kadphises. Deity Oesho on the reverse, thought to be Shiva,<ref name="sino-platonic.org"/>{{sfn|Bopearachchi|2007|pp=41–53}}<ref>Perkins, J. (2007). Three-headed Śiva on the Reverse of Vima Kadphises's Copper Coinage. South Asian Studies, 23(1), 31–37</ref> or the Zoroastrian Vayu.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Errington |editor-first1=Elizabeth |author=Fitzwilliam Museum |title=The Crossroads of Asia: transformation in image and symbol in the art of ancient Afghanistan and Pakistan |date=1992 |publisher=Ancient India and Iran Trust |isbn=9780951839911 |page=87 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pfLpAAAAMAAJ}}</ref>

Other areas of probable rule include Khwarezm and its capital city of Toprak-Kala, Kausambi (excavations of Allahabad University), Sanchi and Sarnath (inscriptions with names and dates of Kushan kings), Malwa and Maharashtra, and Odisha (imitation of Kushan coins, and large Kushan hoards).

Sanchi Town

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Nagar panchayat, near Raisen town in Raisen District of the state of Madhya Pradesh, India, it is located 46 km north east of Bhopal, and 10 km from Besnagar or Vidisha in the central part of the state of Madhya Pradesh.

Elephant procession to Sanchi Tope in Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh

Known for its "Sanchi Stupas", it is the location of several Buddhist monuments dating from the 3rd century BC to the 12th CE and is one of the important places of Buddhist pilgrimage.