‘Ashoka-era stupa, bigger than Sanchi’: 90 years on, Ujjain mound comes under renewed focus, Pg16

Key Highlights:

• The Madhya Pradesh government has initiated a fresh excavation and restoration project at Vaishya Tekri in Ujjain.
• The site is believed to contain an Ashoka-era stupa, potentially larger than the renowned Sanchi Stupa.
• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has submitted a proposal for the excavation, which is estimated to take at least three years.
• Previous excavations in 1938-39 by the Archaeological Department of Gwalior State identified the mound as a significant stupa.
• The proposed stupa's base is estimated at approximately 350 feet in diameter, significantly larger than Sanchi's 54 feet height.
• The project is being actively supported by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, whose constituency is Ujjain.

Stupa.jpg

Detailed Insights:

• Ujjain held considerable importance in the Mauryan world, and Emperor Ashoka was traditionally associated with the city before his ascension.
• The 1938-39 excavation report described Vaishya Tekri as a "huge stupa" with an estimated original height of not less than 100 feet.
• The stupa's construction featured a unique core of rammed blackish murum, faced with exceptionally large brick masonry, indicative of the Mauryan period.
• The discovery of punch-marked coins and cast Avanti coins during the initial excavation further supports the Mauryan period dating of the structure.
• Ancient builders created a regular square moat around the stupa by quarrying murum, with evidence of a passage for worshippers from the city.
• The engineering at the stupa's base included an ingenious bowl-shaped masonry design to support the superstructure and resist oblique thrust.
• The current project necessitates the acquisition of surrounding private land, with a proposal for land acquisition already sent by the Ujjain district administration.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Stupa: A dome-shaped Buddhist monument housing relics, serving as a place of worship and meditation.
• Mauryan Period: An ancient Indian empire (c. 322–185 BCE) known for its extensive territorial control and administrative advancements.
• Ashoka: A prominent Mauryan emperor (c. 268 to 232 BCE) who championed Buddhism and is credited with constructing numerous stupas.
• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): The premier Indian government agency responsible for archaeological research, excavation, and conservation of cultural heritage.
• Punch-marked coins: Early Indian coinage, typically silver or copper, characterized by symbols punched onto their surface.