Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c12.s3.7

c12.s3.7

1. The monuments at Sanchi may be classified as follows according to their chronology:
(i) *Aśokan Period (274-232 B. C.)*
(a) Brick-built core of the Great Stūpa (i. e. Stūpa No. 1) 250 B. C. (16' x 10' x 3').
(b) The stone umbrella or the *harmikā* of polished Chunār sandstone.
(c) Monolithic lion-pillar, near the south gateway (*toraṇa*) of the Great Stūpa.
(d) Foundations of the apsidal hall (building No 40).
(ii) *Śuṅga Period (185 B. C. -70 B. C.)*
(a) Enlargement of the Great Stūpa (No. I)
(b) Stone covering (*śilachchhādana*) to twice its original size.
(c) Larger *chhatra*, *harmikā* and stone shaft.
(d) Ground railing.
(e) The upper terrace, 14' high from the ground and 6' in width to serve as an upper procession path.
(f) Stone pavement covering the hill top.
(g) Stūpa II—ground railing (four balustrades on ground), berm, stairway, *harmikā*, relic caskets.
(h) Stūpa III—Body and balustrades of the stairway, berm, *harmikā*, relic bones.
(i) Temple 18—Lowest floor, pillared *maṇḍapa* on the ruins of the apsidal hall.
(iii) *Āndhra Period (220 B. C.—150 A. D.)*
(a) Great Stūpa (No. 1), four gateways (25 B.C.) and extensions of the ground balustrade.
(b) Stūpa III—Ground balustrade and single gateway.
(c) Temple 18—Third floor counting from the top.
(iv) *Gupta Period (4th-5th century A. D.)* Stūpa I. Four shrines in processional path. Temple 18. Second floor. Temple 31. Plinth and pedestal beneath lotus throne of image; two pillars. Nāgi statue. Monasteries 36, 46 and 47.