Question

what is the purpose of the sanchi stupa

Answer 1

after the death of buddha the mortal remains of buddha were buried in different places of the country to spread buddism by ashoka.in the same way some of the remains of buddha were buried among the nine stupas.and that stupa came to be known as the great sanchi stupa.this foundation was lead by ashoka and at sanchi his wife took care of the stupa

Answer 2

Sanchi, a small town in the state of Madhya Pradesh, is the location of several Buddhist monuments dating from the third century BC to the twelfth century AD. The foundation of the hilltop temple complex was laid by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka (273-236 BC) when he built a total of eight stupas, one of which became known as the Great Stupa. The present Great Stupa (120 feet/37 meters wide and 54 feet/17 meters tall) is, however, not the original one. It encases an earlier stupa of about half its current dimensions that was built of large burnt bricks and mud.

This Ashokan Great Stupa was vandalized sometime in the second century BC, but was repaired and expanded during the later period of the Sunga Empire (85 BC–75 BC). At that time, the dome was flattened near the top and crowned by three superimposed parasols within a square railing. The dome was set on a high circular drum meant for circumambulation, which could be accessed via a double staircase. In addition to their renovation of the Great Stupa, the Sungas constructed the Second and Third stupas, as well as other religious buildings.