Page 4 - Notes
P. 4

Stupas:


                    Buddhist literature mentions several Chaityas which are places associated with
                     the Buddha’s life.
                    Stupa contained relics (bodily remains of Buddha or objects used by him)
                     regarded as sacred, the entire stupa came to be venerated as an emblem of both
                     the Buddha and Buddhism.
                    According to a Buddhist text ‘Ashokavadana’, Asoka distributed portions of the
                     Buddha’s relics to every important town and ordered the construction of stupas
                     over them.
                    By the second century BCE, a number of stupas in Bharhut, Sanchi and Sarnath
                     were built.
                    Stupas were built from the donations made by- king, guilds, common people
                     ‘bhikkhus’ and ‘bhikkhunis’.
                    The structure of stupas comprised several parts, Anda (semi circular mound of
                     Earth), Harmika (balcony-like structure), Yasthi (like mast) and Chhatri or
                     umbrella.
                    The early Stupas at Sanchi and Bharhutw ere plain but the gateways were richly
                                                                  r
                     carved and installed at the four cardinal points.

               The Great Sanchi Stupa:


                    The Great Stupa at Sanchi in the state of Madhya Pradesh is one of the most
                     wonderful ancient buildings. 19th century Europeans were very interested in the
                     Stupa at Sanchi.
                    The rulers of Bhopal, Shahjehan Begum and Sultan Jehan Begum provided
                     money to preserve the site of Sanchi Stupa.
                    John Marshall wrote important volumes on Sanchi.
                    The discovery of Sanchi has transformed our understanding of early Buddhism. It
                     stands as an example of the successful restoration and preservation of ancient
                     site by the Archaeological Survey of India.


               Amaravati Stupas:


                    In 1854, Walter Elliot visited Amaravati and collected several sculpture panels and
                     discovered the remains of Western gateway.
                    He came to the conclusion that the structure at Amaravati was one of the most
                     significant Buddhist stupas.
                    Unfortunately, Amaravati did not survive as sculptures from this site were removed
                     from the site instead of preserving things where they were found.


               Class 12 History Notes Chapter 4 Important Terms:


                    Vedic Sanskrit: A special kind of Sanskrit in which hyms and verses were
                     composed.
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