Question

What do the carvings on the sanchi stupa tell us?

Answer 1

The four magnificent gateways or toranas of the stupa (a Buddhist monument consisting of a domed-shaped mound often containing sacred relics) of Sanchi were added to that monument during the first century BC. They consist of square posts, crowned with a set of four lions, elephants or pot-bellied dwarfs, supporting three curved architraves with scrolled ends. They are completely covered with relief sculptures depicting Jatakas (stories of the Buddha's earlier incarnations), scenes from the life of the historical Buddha, and Buddhist symbols. The panels in the middle of this drawing depicts the scenes carved on the front face of the left post of the north gateway. They illustrate, from top to bottom: Buddha teaching at Sravasti; Buddha in Jetavana grove; the miracle of Sravasti. The panels to the right in this drawing depict the scenes carved on the west face of the east pillar of the torana and depict, from top to bottom: the worship of Buddha in Venuvana and a 'dvarapala' or guardian figure. The panel to the left in the drawing represents the floral motifs and Buddhist symbols carved on the east face of the east pillar of the gateway. The footprints within the wheel are an iconic sympbol of Buddha.
The great Stupa of Sanchi is the finest example of monumental architecture of the Shunga era. It consists of a large hemispherical dome which was built over an already existing stupa ascribed to the 3rd century BC from the time of the Buddhist emperor Ashoka Maurya (reigned circa 269-232 BC). The stupa was later enlarged around the 1st century BC under the Shungas when the four elaborately carved

Answer 2

it tell us about buddhist culture
and the verse engraved by Ashoka