Who funded the construction of the Buddhist stupa at Bharhut?
King Dhanabhuti stands out as the major donor who funded this massive project. He is explicitly identified in the inscriptions associated with the site.
Questions about Bharhut
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When were the stone railings and gateways at Bharhut built according to scholars?
Scholars date the railings to between 125 BCE and 100 BCE based on artistic comparisons with Sanchi Stupa No.2. The great gateway was built later around 100 BCE to 75 BCE based on artistic analysis.
Where did the foreign artists who worked on the Bharhut gateways originate from?
Kharosthi marks indicate that some builders came from the north specifically Gandhara where the script was used. These Kharosthi marks appear on the gateway bases and capitals while Indian letters appeared on the railings.
What does the inscription mentioning the rule of the Sugas refer to regarding the Bharhut site?
The phrase could mean Shungas or a northern Buddhist kingdom called Sughanas which creates further ambiguity. No other instance of the name Shunga appears in the epigraphical record of India and King Dhanabhuti does not appear on any known Shunga regnal lists either.
How many inscriptions serve as labels for panels depicting Jatakas and events in the life of the historical Buddha at Bharhut?
Eighty-two inscriptions serve as labels for panels depicting Jatakas and events in the life of the historical Buddha. An unusual feature of these panels is the inclusion of text often identifying individuals within the scene.