The Great Stupa, 3rd Century BCE, Sanchi, India. BUDDHISM

Domed reliquary for a portion of Buddha’s remains Symbol of Buddha’s final release Solid throughout, built on top of the relics Original stupa was built over and doubled in size Mud and clay was encased in stone Gateways added at the cardinal points with carvings of the Buddha’s life and teachings on them When Buddha died, his physical remains were divided among ten burial mounds, later further divided

Surrounded by a fence, interior walkway circles around dome Devotees walked around the stupa in a clockwise fashion-meant to be meditative and to symbolize the circle of life Circumambulation Stupas evolved into pagoda forms

Walkway is 16’ off ground

Buddha Preaching the First Sermon, 5th c. CE, sandstone. Sarnath, India

Yoga position, preaching hand gesture (mudra) Predella has a narrative about Buddha’s life and the Wheel, which is a symbol for teaching Boddhisattvas in nimbus Buddha often represented the same way throughout history: seated, frontal, elongated ears, symmetrical, mudras, topknot