Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings Cultural Developments

Timeline

Year Event 468 B.C. Mahavira passed away at the age of 72 and attained Nirvana. 1st century B.C.E. Jainism enjoyed the patronage of the Kalinga king Kharavela. 4th century B.C.E. Jainism spread to Kalinga in Orissa (Odisha). 563 B.C.E. Gautama Buddha was born in a Shakya Kshatriya family in Kapilavastu. 487 B.C.E. The First Buddhist Council. 387 B.C.E. The Second Buddhist Council. 251 B.C. The Third Buddhist Council....

A Glimpse of Sanchi

In the 19th century, Europeans showed great interest in the stupa at Sanchi. The French even sought permission from Shahjehan Begum to take away the best-preserved eastern gateway for display in a museum in France. Similarly, some Englishmen entertained similar intentions. However, both the French and the English ultimately settled for carefully crafted plaster-cast replicas, allowing the original gateway to remain at the site under the jurisdiction of the Bhopal state....

The Background: Sacrifices and Debates

The mid-first millennium BCE marked a significant turning point in world history, witnessing the emergence of notable thinkers across different regions. Figures such as Zarathustra in Iran, Kong Zi in China, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle in Greece, and Mahavira and Gautama Buddha in India sought to unravel the mysteries of existence and explore the relationship between humanity and the cosmic order. This period also witnessed the rise of new kingdoms and cities, alongside transformations in social and economic life in the Ganga valley, which these thinkers endeavored to comprehend....

Beyond Wordly Pleasures- The Message of Mahavira

The fundamental tenets of Jainism predate the birth of Vardhamana, known as Mahavira, who emerged in the sixth century BCE. According to Jain tradition, Mahavira was preceded by 23 other spiritual guides or tirthankaras, who were revered for their teachings....

The Buddha and the Quest for Englightenment

One of the prominent teachers during this period was the Buddha. His teachings had a profound impact, spreading across the Indian subcontinent and beyond, reaching regions like Central Asia, China, Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia....

The Teachings of the Buddha

The teachings of the Buddha have been pieced together from stories found primarily in the Sutta Pitaka. While some narratives portray his miraculous abilities, others highlight his preference for persuading people through reason rather than relying on supernatural displays of power. For example, when consoling a grieving woman whose child had passed away, the Buddha gently guided her to understand the inevitability of death instead of resurrecting her son. These stories were conveyed in everyday language to ensure easy comprehension....

Followers of the Buddha

The Buddha established a community of monks, known as the sangha, who became teachers of dhamma, or righteous living. These monks lived a simple life, possessing only the basic necessities and relying on alms for sustenance. Initially, only men were admitted into the sangha, but later, under the persuasion of Ananda, women were also allowed entry. Mahapajapati Gotami, the Buddha’s foster mother, was the first woman to be ordained as a bhikkhuni. Many women who joined the sangha became respected teachers of dhamma, known as theris....

Stupas

Buddhist ideas and practices evolved through interactions with various traditions, resulting in the identification of sacred places. Since ancient times, certain locations, often with unique natural features or significant events, were considered sacred and adorned with small shrines known as chaityas. Buddhist literature mentions several such chaityas, including sites associated with key events in the Buddha’s life, such as his birth (Lumbini), enlightenment (Bodh Gaya), first sermon (Sarnath), and passing away (Kusinagara). These places gradually gained sacred status, with Asoka commemorating his visit to Lumbini by erecting a pillar....

“Discovering” Stupas The Fate of Amarvati and Sanchi

The history of each stupa includes stories of their construction as well as discoveries surrounding them. In 1796, a local raja aiming to build a temple stumbled upon the ruins of the stupa at Amaravati. Believing there might be treasure buried within, he began to dismantle the structure for its stone. Years later, British official Colin Mackenzie visited the site and documented several sculptures, but his reports remained unpublished. Walter Elliot, the commissioner of Guntur, later visited Amaravati in 1854 and collected numerous sculpture panels, known as the Elliot marbles, which he transported to Madras. Despite the significance of Amaravati’s stupas, sculptures from the site were gradually dispersed to various locations, including Calcutta, Madras, and London, often ending up in the gardens of British administrators....

Sculpture

The removal of sculptures from stupas and their transportation to Europe occurred because observers found them beautiful and valuable, desiring to possess them. One such sculpture depicts what appears to be a rural scene but is identified as a scene from the Vessantara Jataka, a story about a generous prince who relinquished everything and lived in the forest with his family. Sculptures often require interpretation based on textual evidence, as they frequently convey symbolic meanings rather than literal depictions....

New Religious Traditions

During the first century CE, Buddhism underwent changes in its doctrines and practices. While early Buddhism emphasized individual effort in attaining nibbana, the concept of a savior gradually emerged, suggesting that salvation could be ensured by a divine figure. Alongside this, the idea of the Bodhisattva developed, representing compassionate beings accumulating merit to aid others rather than seeking personal enlightenment. Worship of Buddha and Bodhisattva images became integral to this new tradition, termed Mahayana or the “great vehicle,” contrasting with the older tradition referred to as Hinayana or the “lesser vehicle.”...

Can We “See” Everything?

Over time, much of the rich visual heritage of the past has been lost or destroyed. However, what remains provides a glimpse into the creative vision of the artists, sculptors, masons, and architects who crafted these remarkable works. Yet, understanding their intended meanings poses a challenge. Can we truly grasp what these images meant to people who lived and venerated them around 2,000 years ago?...

Chapter 4 Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings Cultural Developments- FAQs

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