A Study of Sanchi Stupa

Abstract

The present study examines the relationship between political patronage and Buddhist architecture with special reference to Sanchi Stupa. Sanchi is not only a religious monument but also a political and cultural text through which the interaction between state power, religious authority, artistic production and public memory can be understood. The study investigates how rulers, dynasties, merchants, monks and local elites contributed to the growth of Buddhist architecture and how such patronage helped shape political legitimacy in ancient India. The central argument of this thesis is that Buddhist architecture at Sanchi developed through a continuous process of political support, religious devotion and social participation. Emperor Ashoka’s patronage gave Sanchi its earliest imperial importance, while later Shunga, Satavahana and Gupta contributions expanded the monument into a complex religious and political centre. The study also explores the symbolic content of the Great Stupa, toranas, railings, Ashokan pillar and sculptural narratives. It argues that the architecture of Sanchi communicated political ideas such as moral kingship, dhamma, social order, unity, nonviolence and legitimacy. In the contemporary period, Sanchi continues to function as a symbol of Indian heritage, Buddhist diplomacy, national identity and global cultural memory. The study uses historical, analytical and interpretative methods and relies on secondary sources, inscriptions, archaeological evidence and heritage documents. It concludes that Sanchi Stupa represents one of the clearest examples of how religion and politics were interwoven in ancient India through architecture.