An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c19.s12.t2.3
An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c19.s12.t2.3
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v1.c19.s12.t2.3
Aśoka was responsible for the propagation of Buddhism and for several monastic establishments at sacred places like Lumbini, BODH-GAYA, SARNATH, KUŚINAGARA, SANKISA, VAIŚĀLĪ, etc. He also built innumerable *stūpas*. The brick *stūpa* inside the stone casing of Stūpa 1 at SANCHI and the core of the Dharmarājikā *stūpas* at SARNATH and Taxila may be attributed to him. Usually a monolithic column of Chunar sandstone, like the ones at LAURIYA-NANDANGARH, Lauriya-Araraj, SARNATH and SANCHI, stood in front of his *stūpas*. Aśoka also built apsidal and circular structures at SANCHI and BAIRAT respectively. Of the rock-cut caves the ones at Nagarjuni and Barabar in Dt Gaya were excavated by him for the Ājīvikas.