Shunga-Satvana

Art
Sopanas
 Stupa architecture
• Made of sandstones

• Narrative panels on either/both

 Vedika’s (Railings) Bharhut
 Torana’s (Gateways) Sanchi

• Narrative had two themes

 Buddha shown in aniconic (symbolic) form and never in
anthromorphic (physical) form such as
 Lotus- Birth
 Boddhivirksha/Sacred pipal tree- Enlightenment
 Dharmachakra- Sermon
 Stupa- Death
 Jataka’s (Past lives of Buddha as animal and human incarnation)-
These were stories with morals imparting lessons on virtues.
In 1873, Alexander Cunningham lead an excavation in Bharhut.

Photograhed by Joseph David Beglar in 1874.

 Ushmisha/Coping

Suchi/ Horizontal
beams

Thaba/Uprights

Terminal
pillar

Remains of a vedika, Bharhut Stupa

Indian Museum, Kolkata
 • It depicts Maya having a dream
where the Buddha took the form
of a white elephant descending
from heaven.
• He entered the womb of the
queen prophesying the birth of
Prince Siddartha who will
eventually take the world to
salvation.
• She is accompanied by her
three attendants in the resting
chamber.
• One has her habds folded in
prayer, another is holding a cauri
(fly whisk) and the other is
thought to be pressing the
queen’s leg.
• The dream is being seen at
night which is suggested by the
oil lamp on the left.
Dream of Maya • There is a water pot by the
Medallion head of the bed.
Mahakapi Jataka
Medallion
The purchase of Jetavanarama/
The gift of Anathapindaka
Medallion
 Dharma
chakra

Descent from Tavatimsa

Pillar
Sculptural figure
Pillar
Sanchi Mahastupa
 Crownings

Archi-
traves

Capitals

Rectangular
panels on
pillars
Gajalakshmi

King Ashoka
visits Ramagrama

(Six yakshas)

Southern Torana (Front View)

Rear View

Top- Manushi Buddhas

Middle- Chadanta Jataka

War of Relics
Bottom Architrave, Southern Gateway
Manushi Buddhas

Great
Departure

King
Ashoka’s
visit to
Bodhgaya

Eastern Torana (Front View)

Mahabhinishkramana or The Great Departure
Middle Architrave, Front View, Eastern Gateway
Rear View

Top- Manushi Buddha’s

Middle- Worship of Bodhi tree

Bottom- Stupas worshipped by elephants

Manushi Buddhas

Dharmachakra

Chadanta Jataka

Western Torana (Front View)

Rear View

Top- Transportation of the Buddha’s relics

Middle- Siege of Kushinagar

Defeat of Mara
Bottom Architrave, Rear View, Western Gateway
Manushi Buddhas Chadanta Jataka

(Rear View)
Manushi Buddhas
Temptation
of Mara

Vessantara
Jataka (contd)

Northern Torana (Front View)

 Vessantara Jataka
Bottom Architrave, Front and Rear Views, Northern Gateway
Ashokan lion’s, Southern Gateway Yakshas, Western Gateway
Amrabhanjikas, Eastern & Northern Gateway
 Worship of Buddha’s hair
Left pillar, Inner face, Southern Gateway
 Miracle of the River Niranjana,
Left Pillar, Front face, Eastern Gateway
 Four cardinal kings

Tavatimsa

Yama

Tushita

Nirmanarati

Parinirmita-
vashavartin

Six heavens,
Right Pillar, Front face, Eastern Gateway
 Syama Jataka
Left pillar, Front face, Western Gateway
 Yavana’s worshipping the Mahastupa
Right pillar, Inner face, Northern Gateway
Dwarpalas (guardians), Pillars