Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c13.s2.1

c13.s2.1

The Stūpa monument had been developed in its most elaborate form at Bharhut and Sanchi. The Mathura architects inherited the same structural traditions but of their monumental Stūpas with cylindrical drum and dome and *harmikā* no example has been preserved. We, however, know that there were an early Śuṅga Stūpa and a second Kushāṇa Stūpa built by the Jainas at Kāṅkālī ṭīlā. There was also a Buddhist Stūpa built in the time of Huvishka and another at the site of Bhūteśvara. The Stūpas were demolished but a large number of railing pillars, cross-bars and copings have been preserved. From them we know that the size of the gateways, of the horizontal architraves and of the upright posts was much reduced at Mathura. There is only one bigger example (J I) of a railing upright and of a couple of Śuṅga cross-bars which have been found; the one showing an elephant with riders in a medallion and the other with beautiful head wearing a conspicuous head-dress. [Fig. 128].