Sanchi

Sanchi (Hindi: सांची, Sánci ) is a town in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Sanchi is known mainly because of the part from the 3rd century BC, coming Buddhist stupas, which are among the oldest existing buildings of this type. Since 1989, the entire archaeological site of Sanchi by UNESCO is on the list of world cultural heritage.

4.2.1 Architecture
4.2.2 Building Ornaments

4.3.1 Architecture
4.3.2 Building Ornaments

4.4.1 Architecture
4.4.2 Building Ornaments

Location

Sanchi is located about 48 km northwest of the city of Bhopal and about 10 km southwest of the town of Vidisha, the BC was an important trading post in the 5th and 6th centuries. Sanchi has a small railway station, to which, however, hold only regional trains; from there is located on a nearly 100 meter high hill archaeological site in about 15 minutes walking distance. At the entrance to the site is an archaeological museum with interesting exhibits ( Ashoka Capital, reliquaries, sculptures, etc.).

History

The eight most ancient stupas at Sanchi and (the old name of the place is ' Kakanaya ' or ' Kakanadabota ') and one of his famous columns were (reigned during the reign of King Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty, about 268-232 BC. ) built; his wife was from the neighboring town of Vidisha. Further stupas and other religious buildings (temples, monasteries ) were - added until the 12th century, until Buddhism was eventually displaced by the resurgent Hinduism and Islam advancing from the west almost entirely from India (see History of India - mostly in the context of foundations ). After that, the Buddhist monuments of the population were hardly observed; they were overgrown with bushes and trees and fell largely.

Restoration

In 1818 came a British colonial officer, General Taylor, on the ruins. As a result, amateur archaeologists and treasure hunters plundered the sites and directed to further damage, was started up in 1881 with professional restoration. Between 1912 and 1919 took place under the direction of archaeologist Sir John Marshall further rehabilitation or restoration measures by which the buildings were brought into the present condition.

Buildings

The archaeological site of Sanchi comprises around 50 - numbered - buildings or structures, including three major and many smaller stupas and a number of temples and monasteries. In the following, only the most important buildings are described. Many smaller Votivstupas, commemorative or honorary columns or largely vanished buildings, of which only the foundations remain will not be considered.

Stupa No. 1

Architectural History

The "Great Stupa " goes back in its oldest parts in the time of King Ashoka; but was rebuilt in the mid-2nd century BC, almost entirely, while widening the current extent. Here, a complete cladding sandstone was applied and increased handling including balustrade and a paved processional added. Around the year 75 BC was followed by four stone gates ( toranas ) with detailed reliefs executed. During the Gupta period (. 4th-6th century) it was customary to represent the Buddha in human form, not just represented by symbols such as the " Wheel of Dharma " ( Sanskrit: dharmachakra ), the "footprint of the Buddha " ( Buddhapada ), the Bodhi tree or just the stupa. During this time, four stone sculptures of seated and meditating Buddha to the stupa outside walls were erected on which the gates opposite.

Architecture

The circular current stupa has a diameter of 36.60 meters and a height - no fence ( harmika ) and screen attachment ( chhatri ) - of 16.46 meters. He is surrounded by a largely non- decor stone fence with four richly decorated doorways ( toranas ). A staircase leads to increased handling, which is externally surrounded by a stone balustrade. On two levels, the all-important for the Buddhist worship ritual circumambulation ( pradakshina ) of the stupa was thus possible, it can be assumed that the upper level was normally reserved for the monks or superscript and / or wealthy believers.

Symbolism

To mention is the fact that the early Buddhist stupas do not have square base, which should symbolize the limited ground space in later buildings of this type, while the infinite circular or dome shape was equated in many early cultures with the sky. The dome shape was seen in the Buddhist tradition as egg ( anda ) or identified with Mount Meru. The shield ( chhatri ) can be regarded as a pure territorial icon and click. Than at the end of a rod which is connected to the center of the universe and thus represents the world axis

Goals

The four stone arches ( toranas ) are oriented towards the four cardinal directions, which emphasizes the universal character of the stupa and the Buddhist doctrine; they were built in quick succession, because of different ports to find the same donor name. Each of the 8 meter high arches consists of two lateral pillars, which are connected or mortised top each with three monolithic sheets; The laterally projecting sheet member, however, were produced separately and suggest only a connection with the respective central piece. The overall construction seems of - to have been derived wooden models - not preserved.

Architectural decoration

While the pillars of the fence and balustrade with only a few jewelry reliefs (flowers and animals) and some donor inscriptions were provided, the four Toranas are very richly decorated with reliefs and fully three-dimensional figures. The reliefs tell mostly legends from the rich Buddhist tradition ( Jatakas ) with stories from the countless previous existences Gautama Buddha, who as Sage ( Bodhisattva ) lived through countless lives going into nirvana without, as it - filled with love and compassion - other wanted to help people, even to get to enlightenment. Buddha or Bodhisattva is not shown in his human form, but in different forms (as elephant, as Stupa, as a wheel, etc.). The open figures represent human ( guards, servants, riders, playmates, etc.) or animal figures ( lion ) and are thus essentially meant sovereign. Some scenes are repeated at other ports, some are unclear in their meaning.

Stupa No. 2

Architecture

The stupa 2 is more than 300 meters down the hill from the stupa 1. He has a well- preserved stone edging - but without detached gatehouses ( toranas ), but with four angled entrances. Seine - compared to the other two stupas of Sanchi - steeper proportioned or reconstructed curvature, the global restoration (one can almost speak of a rebuild) been flattened in the upper part; a screen cap ( chhatri ) is not obtained. The stupa is dated to the last quarter of the 2nd century BC. It has been restored in the late 19th century a small reliquary was with remains important Buddhist teacher of the 3rd century BC found, which makes the historical development of Buddhist cult towards a ' Heiligen' worship clearly - a way of should continue to develop in the tantric Buddhism of Nepal and Tibet, and in Zen Buddhism in Japan. Perhaps the secluded and lower position of this stupa has something to do with the less significant relics.

Architectural decoration

The balustrade is rich with flowers and animals ( griffins, lions, elephants, which are often designed as hybrid creatures, centaurs and chimeras ) decorated but also Yakshas, Makaras and Nagas come before, but it must be held that the craftsmanship of the scenes in the style of bas-reliefs - despite all its thematic originality - much less quality than the full Stupa No. 1

In addition, there is a variety of foundation inscriptions, although they do not contain any unique data at the time of the foundation, but still provide information that many Buddhist monks (and nuns ) - despite the dropped vow of possessions - made Baustiftungen and non-Buddhists funds and / or materials for the construction of buildings or in kind to supply the craftsmen set available. In addition, there were sometimes also the artisans themselves, who acted as founders for example by working for some time without pay.

Stupa No. 3

Architecture

With a diameter of about 15 meters at a height of about 8 meters ( without an umbrella structure ) of Stupa No. 3 is a reduced image of the stupa No. 1; he has only a gatehouse ( torana ). The stupa is dated to the 2nd century BC; Balustrade and gate were added later (possibly in the 1st century AD AD). It is often reported that one in excavations and restoration work in the late 19th century inside the stupa one - took chamber with two small inscribed reliquaries, where bone remains of two favorite disciples of Buddha ( Sariputra and Maudgalyayana ) as well as some gems - capped by a large stone slab and beads were; However, this story could also refer to the same time as excavation was carried out in a stupa about 10 km west of Sanchi located ( Satdhara ).

Architectural decoration

The bottom bar of the gate construction shows - playing in a rocky landscape, two Naga kings and their servants and playmates framed - scene which is interpreted as ' Indra's paradise '.

Temple No. 17

Architecture

Apart from the stupas are in the area of the archaeological site of Sanchi also several free-standing - but for the most part only preserved as ruins - Stone temple, where Buddha was also worshiped. The Temple No. 17 is one of the earliest free-standing, entirely built of stone temples of India: It belongs to the group of the Gupta temples and consists of a small, windowless Cella ( garbhagriha = ' womb chamber ') and one of four columns and two half columns based porch ( mandapa ), which is dimensioned slightly lower and smaller. An entering the sanctum or circumambulation ( pradakshina ) of the formerly existing in the interior of the cult image of the pilgrims was not possible with this form of architecture; maybe that's why this temple form has not prevailed in Buddhism. The flat-roofed with large slabs of stone temple stands on a - relatively low - platform, which protected the building and its visitors ( pilgrims) during heavy rains (thunderstorms, monsoon ).

Architectural decoration

The Bauzier limited to the pillars of the porch and the door frame of the Sanctum. The columns and half-columns of the porch are trimmed only in their cubical base area; also found eight and sixteen square - provided with Kanelluren - column parts, ending in a bell-shaped element, which in turn is surmounted by a cubical block and several fighters square plates. The upper parts of the fighter are respectively four and two lions - an emblem, which also apotropaic ( apotropaic ) can have meaning - decorated. The door frame is doubly stepped inwardly; the inner door frame shows circumferential vegetable ornaments. Figural jewelry missing; even the end of the 19th century corpus of the temple interior - seated on a lotus throne - Buddha figure has disappeared.

The architectural decoration of the pillars and the Portalgewände is somewhat simpler than that of the Kankali Devi temple in Tigawa (see Gupta Temple ); Therefore, one can start from a slightly earlier construction period (ca. 400-410 ).

Temple No. 18

From - right next to the Temple No. 17 standing on a small platform and due to its dimensions still impressive - Temple No. 18, a single-aisled apsidal hall with an open porch ( mandapa ) from the 7th - 10th Century, there are only nine monolithic pillars of more than 5 meters high and open on three sides porch ( mandapa ) with stone aufruhenden Architravbalken. The apsidal form of the temple is reminiscent of the obtained Chaitya halls of Buddhist cave temples, a circumambulation ( pradakshina ) of the cult image (in early Buddhist times always about 2 to 4 meters high anikonischer Stupa, from the 4th or 5th century - mostly sedentary - representation of the Buddha allowed in front of a stupa ) by monks and pilgrims. Probably complete construction of a wooden vault was covered, which is, however, collapsed centuries ago and initiated the construction decline of the temple.

Temple and Monastery # 45

The former provided with rich sculptural decoration of buildings originally date from the 7th or 8th century, but were renewed already about 100 years later and expanded, with older parts ( pillars, figures, etc. ) were reused as spolia; the entire complex is, however, badly ruined today. The most important part are the remains of - standing on an approximately 1.50 meters high handling platform - the temple with a structure above the cella ( garbhagriha ), which could have served as a treasury. ( Many temples had extensive financial resources in terms of money, precious stones, precious metals, etc., which could not be immediately used or installed and thus a kind of ' securing the future ' showed. ) On the side of the door portal you will find two figural reliefs of the river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna that actually come from the Hindu imagination, but are also found in Buddhist and Jain temples as a door guard. Seated on a lotus throne - - Inside the cella is the image of a Buddha has received. The former monastery area is largely in ruins.

Importance

The archaeological site of Sanchi is the only surviving of its kind in India; even if it does not include cave temple, but he documents the development of Buddhist architecture - and thus also of Buddhist thought - over a period of almost 1500 years. In addition to the archaeological site of Sarnath and the cave temples of Bhaja, Karli, Ajanta and Ellora Sanchi is undoubtedly one of the greatest Buddhist attractions of India.

For several years, Sanchi is visited again by Buddhist pilgrims and pilgrims from other countries in Asia ( esp. from Japan and Sri Lanka).

Environment

Other attractions of Sanchi and Vidisha out of reach are:

Udayagiri Cave Temple ( 400 AD)
Heliodorus column ( about 100 BC)
Gyraspur, Hindu and Jain Temple ( 1000 AD )

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