Early Buddhist Art
Artist: unknown
Title: Great Stupa at Sanchi (Stupa I), north gateway (torana)
Material: Stone
Site: Sanchi, India
Current Location: Sanchi, India
Period/Date: Sunga period (ca. 25 C.E.)
Iconography/Iconology: (Continued from previous page...) Originally
on top of all four toranas were sets of auspicious symbols
(mangala ), entrance guardians (dvarapalas), and pillar capitals
supporting the "wheel of the teachings" (dharmacakra.).
Now only the north gate comes close to having a complete set of these figures.
The wheel demarks the place of the Buddhist teachings. The guardians establish
the protected, sacred environment. The mangalas offer benefaction
to the faithful, implicitly, by means of their having followed the Dharma.
Stylistic Comments:
