The Present Work Originally Published In 1879, Describes The Stupa When It Was Originally Discovered By Alexander Cunningham And The Sculptured Scenes And Jatakas That Adorned The Railings And The Gateways Of The Stupa.

The Monograph Introduces The Remains Of A Legendary Stupa Of The Sunga Period (2Nd 1St Century B.C.) Which Once Stood Near The Village Bharhut In Madhya Pradesh . Since 1876 These Precious Antiquarian Gems Are The Prized Possession Of The Indian Museum, Calcutta. The Author In His Capacity As Director Of That Museum Had The Opportunity To Study Them Afresh And Reassess Their Cultural And Artistic Merits. The Renowned Scholar Dr. Mulk Raj Anand In His Capacity As Visitor To The Museum Suggested To Bring Out A Handy Pictorial Companion Which Could Be Useful To The Visitors To The Museum As Well As Lovers Of Early Indian Art. The Book Gives A Lucid Introduction Besides Several Interesting Interpretations About The Concept And Significance Of Stupa Tradition And Particularly The Socio-Religious And Artist Role Played By This Grand Edifice In The Pre-And Post-Christian Centuries. Important Sculptures Have Been Adequately Described And Projected Through Colour And Black And White Illustrations.

Bringing together the latest research on stupas in South Asia, this volume includes new conceptual paradigms as well as new approaches to monuments, sculpture, material culture, and textual interpretation. The collection utilizes archaeological, art historical and epigraphic evidence in broader cultural and historical frameworks to enrich our understanding, not only of stupa monuments but also ancient Buddhism and the wider history to which they pertain.