Sanchi Torana: The Great Stupa Gateway

The Sanchi Toranas are the definitive masterpieces of early Indian lithic art. While the central stupa was commissioned by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd Century BCE, these ornate stone gateways were added during the Satavahana era. The Eastern Gateway is particularly significant for depicting the Mahabhinishkramana (The Great Departure) of the Buddha. In keeping with the "aniconic" tradition of the time, the Buddha is never shown in human form, but represented through sacred symbols: footprints, empty thrones, and the Bodhi tree. The extraordinary level of detail is a result of the carvings being executed by local ivory workers from Vidisha, who applied their fine-grain precision to stone. Notable for its iconic Yakshi, the gateway serves as a protective and symbolic threshold into the sacred grounds of the stupa.