Gateways of the Great Stupa

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited the replica of the East Gate of Sanchi’s Great Stupa standing in front of Humboldt Forum museum in Berlin.

About The Great Stupa of Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh)

• The Great Stupa of Sanchi was commissioned by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE.
  • Ashoka, reigned during the 3rd century BCE, embraced Buddhism and undertook the construction of this monumental stupa as a means to enshrine the Buddha's relics.
  • The stupa represents one of the oldest and largest stone structures in India.
• The Sanchi complex saw ongoing construction and embellishments until as late as the 12th century CE.
• During the Gupta dynasty, Sanchi was expanded much further. These feature a Buddhist temple and a lion pillar.

Important Feature

• Chhatra: While the core stupa itself is a plain hemispherical structure topped with a chhatra (a parasol symbolizing the protection of the Buddha's relics), the surrounding complex includes various stupas, temples, and monasteries.
• Toranas (Gateways): The Great Stupa is renowned for its four intricately carved gateways, known as toranas, which are oriented towards the four cardinal directions.
  • They were constructed in the 1st century BCE during the reign of the Satavahana dynasty.
  • The four gateways are arranged chronologically as follows: southern, northern, eastern, and western.
  • These toranas are composed of two square pillars topped with three curved architraves (beams) that feature spirally-rolled ends.
  • Each torana is adorned with elaborate bas-reliefs and sculptures that depict scenes from the Buddha’s life, Jataka Tales (stories of the Buddha’s past lives), and other Buddhist iconography.
    • In Europe, the East Gate (one of the four toranas) is the most famous of the Sanchi toranas due to its plaster cast, made by Lieutenant Henry Hardy Cole for the Victoria and Albert Museum in the late 1860s.
    • This cast was the basis for numerous replicas displayed across Europe.

The East Gate and Its Replicas

• The Sanchi complex fell into ruin until its rediscovery by British officer Henry Taylor in 1818.
• The first formal survey and excavation were conducted by Alexander Cunningham in 1851, who later founded the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• The site was restored in the early 20th century under ASI director-general John Marshall, with financial support from the begums of Bhopal.
• Before the restoration efforts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Sanchi was frequently looted.
• The Humboldt Forum's replica of the East Gate involved advanced technology, including 3D scanning, modern robotics, and collaboration between German and Indian sculptors. The replica was crafted using artificial stone and enlarged photographs of the original torana to ensure accuracy.
• Artistic Details of the East Gate
  • Upper Architrave: Depicts the seven Manushi Buddhas, representing previous Buddhas in the lineage, with the historical Buddha being the latest incarnation.
  • Middle Architrave: Illustrates the Great Departure, portraying Prince Siddhartha leaving his palace in Kapilavastu to seek enlightenment as an ascetic.
  • Lower Architrave: Shows Emperor Ashoka visiting the Bodhi tree, where the Buddha attained enlightenment.