Ashokan Era Stupa Discovery Near Ujjain (Art, Culture & Heritage of India)
Ashokan Era Stupa Discovery Near Ujjain (Art, Culture & Heritage of India)
Why In News:
Renewed archaeological attention has turned to a large Buddhist stupa mound near Ujjain, first noted around nine decades ago, which is now believed to be larger than the famous Sanchi Stupa and datable to the Ashokan period.
Source: The Indian Express, Page 12, 17 August 2026 - 'Ashoka era stupa, bigger than Sanchi: 90 years on, Ujjain mound comes under renewed focus'
About the Discovery
Site: The Buddhist mound, known as Vaishya Tekri (or Vasih Tekri), is located near Kanipura village on the Maksi–Ujjain road, around 5–7 km from Ujjain city.
It is believed to date to the Mauryan period, around 2,200–2,300 years ago.
Remarkable Scale: The mound is estimated to be around 100 feet high with a base diameter of nearly 350 feet, making it substantially larger than the present Great Stupa at Sanchi, which is about 54 feet high and 120 feet in diameter.
Comparison with Sanchi: The reported dimensions suggest that Vaishya Tekri could be around three times the diameter of the Great Stupa at Sanchi, although the exact dimensions and architectural form will need to be established through systematic excavation.
Architectural Evidence: Bricks recovered from the site indicate pre-Mauryan and Mauryan structural phases, suggesting that the mound may have undergone construction or modification over different periods.
Possible Ashokan Link: The stupa is traditionally associated with Emperor Ashoka and is believed to have been constructed or expanded during his reign in the 3rd century BCE.
Connection with Ujjain: Ujjain was an important Mauryan administrative centre, and Ashoka is traditionally associated with the city as its governor before becoming emperor. This strengthens the historical context for investigating a major Buddhist monument in the region.
Religious Significance: The site continues to attract Buddhist devotees and monks, particularly during Buddha Purnima and the Vishva Shanti Mahastupa Mahotsav, indicating its continuing religious importance.
About the Sanchi Stupa
The Great Stupa at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, was originally commissioned by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE and was later enlarged and embellished during the Sunga and Satavahana periods.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: The Sanchi complex was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989 and represents one of the best-preserved Buddhist monuments in India.
Architecture: The Great Stupa is a hemispherical dome (anda) built over a relic chamber and symbolises the Buddha and the Buddhist universe.
Religious Significance: Sanchi became an important centre of Buddhist learning, worship and pilgrimage, particularly during the Mauryan and post-Mauryan periods.
Historical Significance: The site provides valuable evidence of the development of early Buddhist art and architecture and the transition from symbolic to more elaborate narrative representations.
Sanchi Complex: The site is not limited to the Great Stupa; it contains several stupas, temples, monasteries and inscriptions, reflecting its long history as a Buddhist centre.