Aryan Books

THE BHILSA TOPES: Buddhist Monuments of Central India

By :- Alexander Cunningham

Price:

1500 $ 38

1200

Sale Price:

$ 30

QTY:

Available: In Stock

Pages: xxiv+248

Format: HB

ISBN-13: 978-81-7305-374-0

Place: New Delhi

Edition: 1st

Publisher: ARYAN BOOKS INTERNATIONAL

Size: 19cm x 25cm

Product Year: 2009

Add to Cart Buy Now

There are several Buddhist remains and monuments within about 20 km radius of Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh. Of these, Sanchi is the most famous and best known primarily because of the magnificence of the monuments, notwithstanding the fact that there are several other Buddhist monuments in the area which are no less important. Perhaps it could be due to their rather dilapidated condition and location in remote, out-of-the way spots. These monuments are located at Sonari, Satdhara, Murelkhurd and Bawalia-Hakeemkhedi, all in Raisen District of Madhya Pradesh. Alexander Cunningham has described these monuments in the present volume, The Bhilsa Topes, which was originally published in 1854. This work is the first serious attempt to trace Buddhist history through its architectural remains. It also provides a historical account of the rise, progress and decline of Buddhism; the life and faith of Sakya; the synods; Buddhist schisms; the reign of Asoka; the symbols of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and many other important facets of Buddhism. This reprint of The Bhilsa Topes is being presented in a new format while retaining the original text and illustrations. Another additional feature of the present volume are some recent photographs of monuments described by Cunningham. Long out of print, this seminal work remains most useful for researchers.

INTRODUCTORY NOTE PREFACE LIST OF PLATES CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Limits of Buddhism ? Decay of Buddhism ? Buddhist remains ? Cave Temples ? Viharas ? Inscriptions on Rocks and Pillars ? Topes ? Bhilsa Topes ? Description of Topes ? Origin of Topes ? Existing before Sakya?s advent ? Various Buddhist Topes ? Dedicatory Topes ? Memorial Topes ? Funeral Topes ? Intimately connected with Buddhist religion. CHAPTER 2 LIFE OF SAKYA Early Indian worship ? Elements ? Conflicting opinions at Sakya?s advent ? Doctrine of transmigration ? The Swastikas ? Their doctrine of eternal annihilation ? Swastikas, Brahmans, and Buddhists, compared ? Birth and early life of Sakya ? The four predictive signs ? Probability of the story of his conversion ? Embraces a religious life ? His asceticism ? Braves the terrors of Maro or death ? His teaching ? Sakya?s death ? Grief of his followers ? Burning of his corpse ? Division of his relics ? They are collected by Ajatasatru ? And again distributed by Asoka. CHAPTER 3 FAITH OF SAKYA Early observations of mankind ? Discrimination of the elements ? Early worship of Greece and India ? Philosophical systems ? The Pythagoreans ? Sakya?s faith; Buddha, Dharma, Sangha ? The Samadhikas (Contemplatists) and the Pradhanikas (Materialists) ? Buddhists deny the Creator?s providence ? Doctrine of Nirvritti and Pravritti, or rest and action ? The five Dhyani Buddhas, or personifications of the elements ? Similarity of the early Brahmanical and Buddhist schools ? The Sankhya doctrine of the eternity of matter ? Buddhist belief of creation of matter ? Doctrine of the Sankhya teacher, Kapila ? Doctrine of the Sankhya teacher, Patanjali ? The Brahmanical Nireswara similar to the Buddhist Swabhavika doctrine of supreme nature ? Mystic roots of the elements ? The Brahmanical Seswaras and the Aiswarika Buddhists ? All the schools agree that there is a compound of mind and matter ? The three classes of Sakya?s doctrine: Vinaya; Sutra; Abhidharma ? Called Tripitaka and Triyanika ? Their compilation in 543 BC ? Kachhayana?s Pali grammar ? Language of the Buddhist books ? Identification of Kachhayana and Katyayana ? Sakya, a social reformer ? Buddhism and Mahomedanism. CHAPTER 4 FIRST SYNOD The Buddhist community ? First Synod of five hundred monks ? Rehearsal of Vinaya ? Rehearsal of Dharma ? Buddha?s hymn of joy ? His last injunctions ? Conclusion of the Synod ? Admission of women ? Dress of the ascetics ? Srama?as ? Hylobii, or Arhats ? Iatriki, or Pratyekas ? The four classes of Kleitarchos ? Types of the Buddhist classes ? Difference between Buddhist and Christian ideas of immortality ? The Grand Lama of Tibet, a Bodhisattva and not a Buddha ? Rules for the Bhikshu ? His dress and equipments. CHAPTER 5 CHRONOLOGY Succession of teachers ? Chronological list of teachers ? Date of Sakya?s death ? 543 BC ? Chandragupta?s accession ? Possible origin of the error in Buddhist chronology. CHAPTER 6 SECOND SYNOD Ten indulgences claimed by the Vaisali fraternity ? Assembly of Second Synod ? Discussion on the indulgences ? Sentence of degradation confirmed ? Similarity of proceedings to those of English trial by jury. CHAPTER 7 BUDDHIST SCHISMS The degraded monks originate the Mahasanghika heresy ? Various sects ? The Vaibhashikas ? The Sautrantikas ? Names of eighteen schisms ? Extent of Buddhism in 443 BC. CHAPTER 8 PROGRESS OF BUDDHISM The Maurya dynasty ? Accession of Chandragupta ? He expels the Greeks from the Punjab ? He conquers India ? Palibothra, or P?taliputra ? Indian expedition of Seleukos Nikator ? Accession of Bindusara ? Embassy of Dionysios ? Asoka deputed to Taxila ? Appointed Governor of Ujjain ? Death of Bindusara. CHAPTER 9 REIGN OF ASOKA Accession and conquests of Asoka ? His conversion to Buddhism ? He erects numerous Viharas and Chaityas ? Promulgates numerous edicts ? Title of Priyadarsi doubted by Prof. H.H. Wilson ? True meaning of Dharma ? Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, mentioned in the Bhabra inscription ? Antiquity of the Pali scriptures vindicated ? Name of Asoka not mentioned in his own inscriptions ? Identity of Priyadarsi and Asoka ? Chronological difficulties removed ? Doubtful name in edicts, perhaps Ariobarzanes ? Asoka?s knowledge of the Greeks ? No mention of the Kings of Kabul and Parthia in his edicts ? Dates of the Rock edicts ? Date of the Pillar edicts ? Sincerity of Asoka?s faith. CHAPTER 10 THIRD SYNOD Heretics assume the dress of the Buddhists and enter their monasteries ? Expulsion of the heretics ? Rehearsal of Vinaya and Dharma ? Mission to foreign countries ? Relics of the missionaries found in the Bhilsa Topes ? Relics of Kasapa and Majhima ? Relics of Gotiputra ? Explanation of the term dayada ? Gotiputra, the missionary to Dardabhisara ? Other relics ? The zeal of Asoka anticipated Christianity in religious missions ? Kunala, son of Asoka ? Asoka?s death. CHAPTER 11 RISE AND FALL OF THE INDO-SCYTHIANS Division of Asoka?s empire ? Fall of the Mauryas ? Conquests of Menander in India ? The Scythian Mauas expels the Greeks ? He is succeeded by Azas ? Rise of the Yuchi or Tochari under Kadphises ? Kanishka, a zealous Buddhist ? Milinda, Raja of Sakala ? Nagarjuna: Buddhism extended into Tibet ? Mention of Buddhists by Apollonius of Tyana ? By Klemens of Alexandria ? By Porphyrius ? By Palladius and Scholastikos ? In the Hindu dramas. CHAPTER 12 THE GUPTA DYNASTY ? DECLINE AND FALL OF BUDDHISM Rise of the Gupta dynasty?Gupta era ? Gupta era dates from establishment of dynasty ? Gupta kings mentioned by the Chinese ? Chronological table of the Guptas ? Data for chronology ? Mr. Thomas?s chronology ? He dates the rise of the Guptas from AD 78 ? Reasons for adopting a later date ? Silver currency of Gujarat copied from the drachmas of Apollodotus ? Inscription of Chandragupta at Udayagiri ? Sanakanika, name of the kingdom of Bhilsa ? Vaishnava faith of the princes of Sanakanika ? Inscription of Chandragupta at Sanchi ? Illustrations of the meaning of Prajna ? Prajna is nature deified ? Chandragupta?s gift to Sanchi Tope ? Chandragupta, lord of Ujjain ? Chandragupta not an orthodox Buddhist ? Buddhism prevalent in Pataliputra ? Buddhism paramount in the Punjab and Northern India ? Religious belief of the earlier Guptas ? Tantrika belief of Skandagupta ? Extravagance of the Tantrists ? Their charms and incantations ? Spread of Tantrika doctrines ? Lokaditya ? Budhagupta ? Toramana ? inscriptions at Eran and Gwalior ? Conquests of Siladitya ? Decline of Buddhism ? Fall of Buddhism ? Causes of the decline and fall of Buddhism. CHAPTER 13 BUILDING AND DEDICATION OF TOPES Account of the building of a Tope from the Mahava?sa ? Memorial pillar recording the builder?s intentions ? Topes usually built by forced labour ? Foundations ? Laying the foundation stone ? Ceremonies attending it ? Form of the Chaitya ? Construction of the relic-chamber ? Procession of the relic-casket ? Ceremonies on closing the relic-casket ? Ceremonies on placing it in the relic-chamber ? Completion of the Tope ? Cornices or copings added to it ? Other additions by subsequent kings ? The same description applies to the Great Sanchi Tope ? Different positions of the relic-chamber ? Consecration of the ground ? Various shapes of Topes ? Their age ascertained approximately from shape. CHAPTER 14 SANCHI TOPES Position of Sanchi Hill ? Description of Sanchi Hill ? Group of Topes at Sanchi ? Sanchi, the same as Sha-chi of Fa-hien ? Name of Sanchi ? Story of the holy nettle at Sha-chi ? Village of Sanchi ? Situation of the Great Tope No.1 ? Other ruined Topes ? Shape of the dome ? Upper enclosure ? Pinnacle, chatta ? Height of the Tope ? Colonnade or Buddhist railing ? Pillars of colonnade ? Rails of colonnade ? Architraves ? Prevalence of Buddhist railings ? Four gateways ? Pillars of gateways ? different capitals ? Architraves of gateways ? Symbols of Buddha and Dharma ? Variety of bas-reliefs ? Figures of the four Buddhas ? Hariswamini inscription ? Lion pillar with inscription ? Capital of pillar ? Height of pillar ? Style of sculpture in the lions ? Statue pillar ? Capital of pillar ? Description of statue ? Height of pillar ? Shafts of pillars cut into pieces for sugar-mills ? Eastern pillar ? Broken pillar of Hariswamini Gosha ? Flight of steps, and statues at entrance CHAPTER 15 DESCRIPTION OF THE SANCHI BAS-RELIEFS EASTERN GATEWAY Right Pillar ? Front Face Palace scene ? Audience Hall ? Palace scene ? Women dancing before the king. Right Pillar ? Inner Face Adoration of tree ? Dream of Maya. Left Pillar ? Front Face Adoration of symbol of Dharma ? Boat scene ? Sakya?s Nirvana ? Prince in chariot leaving Kapila. Left Pillar ? Inner Face Kitchen scene ? Worship of Buddha as flame ? Tope dedicated to the Supreme Buddha. Architraves ? Front Worship of Topes ? Procession of Buddha?s feet ? Worship of tree. Architrave ? Rear Worship of trees ? Worship of trees by animals ? Worship of Tope by elephants. SOUTH GATEWAY Right Pillar ? Front Face Triple symbol of Dharma ? Scene in palace ? Casket scene in palace. Architraves ? Front Worship of Topes ? A siege and relic-procession. WEST GATEWAY Right Pillar ? Front Face Trial of the bow ? Worship of tree ? Lions. Right Pillar ? Inner Face Gateway ? Worship of tree ? Worship of tree surmounted by chatta. Left Pillar ? Front Face Social scene ? Love scene. Left Pillar ? Inner Face Ascetic life ? Archers ? Festival of the tree ? State barge. Architraves ? Front Faces Procession escorting a relic-casket ? Worship of symbol of Buddha ? Worship of tree by elephants. Architraves ? Rear Faces Worship of Topes ? Triumphal procession ? Temple worship. NORTH GATEWAY Right Pillar ? Front Face Tree, with staircase. Right Pillar ? Inner Face Worship of tree. Left Pillar ? Front Face Worship of tree ? Reverence paid to a boy ? Simple adoration ? Procession ? Domestic scenes at fountain. Left Pillar ? Inner Face Cave Temple ? Procession ? Worship of tree CHAPTER 16 INSCRIPTIONS ? NO. 1 TOPE ? SANCHI On colonnade ? old ? On southern pillar ? Later inscriptions from gateways. CHAPTER 17 OPENING OF THE SANCHI TOPE NO. 1 Manner of opening the Tope ? Brick Tope ? No discovery made ? Probable age of the Tope ? 500 BC ? Probable date of the colonnade ? 250 BC ? Date of the gateways ? 19 to AD 37 ? Gateway inscriptions in a more recent character ? Old inscription hidden by pillar of gateway ? Tope probably dedicated to the Supreme Buddha. CHAPTER 18 NO. 2 TOPE ? SANCHI Position of Tope ? Dimensions of dome ? Pinnacle ? Colonnade, or Buddhist railing ? Ornaments of pillars ? Bas-reliefs of entrance pillars ? Bas-reliefs of Tope and wheel pillar ? Wheel pillar ? Sangha, or the united symbols of Buddha and Dharma ? Probable age, about 220 BC. CHAPTER 19 INSCRIPTIONS ? NO. 2 TOPE ? SANCHI On colonnade. CHAPTER 20 OPENING OF NO. 2 TOPE ? SANCHI Present appearance of the Tope ? Position of the relic-chamber ? Relic-box with inscription ? Remarks on inscription ? Inscriptions on the steatite boxes ? Remarks on the enshrined relics ? Relics of ten Buddhist teachers in 240 BC ? Tope originally intended for relics of two only ? Intimate connection between the principal Buddhist leaders ? Value of genealogies derivable from other Topes. CHAPTER 21 NO. 3 TOPE ? SANCHI Present appearance, and former size ? Buddhist railing ? Pillars of Buddhist railing ? Square enclosure ? Relic-chamber with two relic-boxes ? Relic-box of Sariputra ? Seven precious things in relic-casket ? Series of seven precious things according to the Chinese ? The seven precious things in this Tope ? Relic-casket of Maha Mogalana ? Initial letters of names written in ink ? Relative position of relics to right and left ? Sariputra?s career ? Sakya?s account of Sariputra ? His death and cremation ? Origin of Mogalana ? Relics of both found at Satdhara ? Date of Tope uncertain ? between 550 and 250 BC ? Date of Tope, perhaps 500 BC ? of railing, 250 BC ? Other Topes at Sanchi. CHAPTER 22 SONARI TOPES Position of Sonari ? meaning of name ? Wheel pillar at Sravasti ? Situation of Topes ? No. 1 Tope ? Sonari ? Dimensions of Tope ? Surrounded by a Buddhist railing ? Probable date 250-200 BC ? Opening of Tope ? stone boxes. CHAPTER 23 NO. 2 TOPE ? SONARI Position of No. 2 Tope ? Dimensions of Tope ? Opening of Tope ? Large steatite relic-vase ? Flat crystal relic-casket of Gotiputra ? Steatite relic-casket of Majhima, Kasapa Gota, Kosiki-putra and Alabagira ? Date of Tope about 220 BC ? Other Topes at Sonari. CHAPTER 24 TOPES OF SATDHARA Position of Satdhara ? Tope, No.1, of brick ? Buddhist railing ? Opening of Tope ? Massive foundations of Temples ? No. 2 Tope ? Steatite relic-caskets of Sariputra and Mogalana ? No. 7 Tope, Satdhara ? Relics of No. 7 Tope ? Other Topes at Satdhara. CHAPTER 25 TOPES AT BHOJPUR Ruins of Bhojpur ? Position of Bhojpur ? Situation of Topes ? No. 1 Tope, A ? No. 2 Tope, B ? Opening of No. 2 Tope, B ? Relic-casket, a crystal Tope. No. 3 Tope, C ? No. 4 Tope, D ? Remains of other Topes, upper stage ? No. 7 Tope, a; second stage ? Opening of No. 7 Tope ? Relic-jar of Patito, the ?degraded? ? Relic-jar of Upahitaka ? Probable date, 250-200 BC ? No. 8 Tope, b ? No. 9 Tope, c ? No. 10 Tope, d ? No. 11 Tope, e ? Other Topes on the second stage ? Third stage of Topes ? Fourth stage of Topes ? Bhojpur Topes, mostly opened before. CHAPTER 26 ANDHER TOPES Position of the Topes ? No. 1 Tope ? Buddhist railing ? Opening of No. 1 ? No. 2 Tope ? Opening of No. 2 Tope ? Flat earthenware relic-box ? Tall steatite relic-casket ? Large steatite relic-vase ? Probable date, 200 BC ? No. 3 Tope ? Opening of No. 3 Tope ? Relics of Haritiputra ? Relics presented by Aswa Deva ? Ink writing. CHAPTER 2 SYMBOLS OF BUDDHA, DHARMA AND SANGHA Symbols on Sanchi gateways and caves ? Triad of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha ? The wheel, a symbol of universal dominion ? Crowns the summits of the Sanchi gateways ? Various forms of wheel ? Quadruple symbol of Buddha ? Symbols of Dharma ? Symbol of Sangha ? Different spellings of Sangha ? Triple symbol of Dharma ? Symbol of Dharma the same as Jagannath ? Probable Buddhist origin of Vithoba ? Fair at Besnagar ? Origin of the fair ? Another account ? Rukmangada, the same as Lohangada ? Besnagar probably included in Vidarbha ? Foundation of Besnagar ? Foundation of Bhilsa ? Position of the various groups of Topes ? Appearance of the Tope hills in ancient times. APPENDIX DESCRIPTION OF ANCIENT ARMS, &C. PLATES INDEX

Sir Alexander Cunningham, KCIE, CSI (1814-1893), British army officer and archaeologist who excavated many sites in India, including Sarnath and Sanchi, served as the first Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India. Cunningham joined the Bengal Engineers at the age of 19 and spent the next 28 years in the British service in India, retiring as Major General in 1861. Soon after arriving in India in June 1833, a meeting with James Prinsep sparked his lifelong interest in Indian archaeology and antiquity. In 1837 Cunningham excavated at Sarnath, outside Varanasi (Benares), one of the most sacred Buddhist shrines. In 1850 he excavated Sanchi, site of some of the oldest surviving monuments in India. In addition to a study of the temple architecture of Kashmir (1848) and a work on Ladakh (1854), he published The Bhilsa Topes (1854), the first serious attempt to trace Buddhist history through its architectural remains. In 1861 he was appointed to head the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and remained with it until it was dissolved (1865). He resumed his post when the Survey was restored (1870) and during the next 15 years carried out many archaeological explorations among the ruins of northern India. He published The Ancient Geography of India (1871), Inscriptions of Asoka (1877) and The Stupa of Bharhut (1879). Another major contribution of Cunningham are the 24 volumes of ASI Reports, better known as Cunningham Reports, containing accurate and objective description of various monuments and sites explored by Cunningham and his team. An archaeologist of repute, B.M. Pande retired as Director from Archaeological Survey of India after 38 years of distinguished service.

No review available. Add your review. You could be the first one. Please Login