Renewed archaeological focus on large Ashoka-era stupa mound at Ujjain
2-minute summary
Archaeological attention has resurfaced on 'Vaishya Tekri', a massive Mauryan-era stupa mound located in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. Excavated first in 1938-39 by the Archaeological Department of the princely Gwalior State, the mound revealed a stupa with an estimated base diameter of 350 feet and an original height of at least 100 feet—nearly double the height of the Great Stupa at Sanchi (54 feet). The site reflects sophisticated Mauryan engineering: its core is built from rammed blackish murum, while its exterior facing used massive Mauryan-standard burnt bricks (up to 22¼ inches long) bound with mud mortar. The foundation features an ingenious bowl-shaped masonry design to counteract the oblique thrust of the superstructure. Surrounding quarries formed a functional moat with a western entry passage for pilgrims. Archaeological findings, including punch-marked and cast Avanti coins, firmly tie the structure to the 3rd century BCE. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has submitted proposals for fresh scientific excavations and land acquisition to systematically restore the site.
Why it's in the news
The Madhya Pradesh government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have initiated plans for fresh scientific excavations at Vaishya Tekri in Ujjain after an almost 90-year gap, aiming to document and restore what could be one of the largest Ashoka-era stupas.
Background and context
Ujjayini (modern Ujjain) was the capital of the ancient Avanti Mahajanapada and served as a vital administrative and commercial hub at the intersection of major trade routes like Dakshinapatha and Uttarapatha. Before ascending the throne of the Mauryan Empire, Ashoka served as the viceroy (Kumara) of Ujjayini. Buddhist traditions and the Mahavamsa note his marriage to Devi (also known as Vedisa-Mahadevi), who belonged to a merchant (Vaishya) family from Vidisha, after whom the mound 'Vaishya Tekri' is traditionally named. The initial 1938-39 excavation confirmed that Vaishya Tekri was an engineered stupa rather than a natural formation, yielding punch-marked coins, Avanti cast coinage, and distinct Mauryan-period large bricks.
Constitutional provisions
- Article 49 — Directs the State to protect monuments, places, and objects of artistic or historic interest declared to be of national importance.
- Article 51A(f) — Fundamental Duty of every citizen to value and preserve the rich heritage of the country's composite culture.
Government schemes
- Adopt a Heritage 2.0 / National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) — Efforts under the ASI to document, conserve, and develop visitor amenities at historical archaeological sites.
Previous UPSC questions on this theme
- Mains GS-1 2016 — Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives successfully expounds Buddhist ideals. Elucidate.
- Prelims GS-1 2023 — With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements : 1. The concept of Stupa is Buddhist in origin. 2. Stupa was generally a repository of relics. 3. Stupa was a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None
Mains practice: Mauryan architectural engineering went beyond stone monolithic pillars to include sophisticated brick-and-earthen stupa constructions. Discuss with reference to recent archaeological discoveries.
Mauryan architecture is predominantly celebrated for its monolithic polished stone pillars, rock-cut caves (e.g., Barabar), and the Great Stupa at Sanchi. However, structural remains like Vaishya Tekri in Ujjain demonstrate that Mauryan engineers also developed advanced earthen and brick structural systems.
• **Core Engineering and Soil Mechanics:** Unlike solid stone structures, monuments like Vaishya Tekri utilized a core (hearting) of local murum rammed hard to withstand structural loads. The ingenious bowl-shaped masonry at the foundation level was designed specifically to resist the lateral and oblique thrust of the massive core.
• **Standardised Brick Masonry:** The exterior facing utilized large, fired bricks (typically measuring over 22 inches in length), a hallmark of 3rd-century BCE Mauryan urban construction, laid in mud mortar to ensure external weatherproofing.
• **Landscape Integration and Quarry Moats:** Ancient builders integrated civil works with material acquisition; quarrying earth for the stupa core created a regular surrounding moat, featuring dedicated causeways/bridges for worshipper circumambulation.
• **Scale and Urban Linkages:** The sheer scale—spanning a diameter of ~350 feet and an original height exceeding 100 feet—highlights the imperial mobilisation of labor and resources along provincial administrative hubs like Ujjayini.
Such archaeological evidence underscores that Mauryan architecture represented a sophisticated synthesis of structural engineering, local resource optimization, and religious monumentalism.
Prelims practice questions
Q1. With reference to the ancient site of 'Vaishya Tekri' recently seen in the news, consider the following statements: 1. It is a Mauryan-period stupa mound located in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. 2. The architectural core of the mound is constructed using monolithic sandstone blocks. 3. Archaeological findings at the site include punch-marked and cast Avanti coins. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: C. Statement 1 is correct as Vaishya Tekri is an ancient stupa mound in Ujjain dating to the Mauryan era (3rd century BCE). Statement 2 is incorrect because the core (hearting) is made of rammed blackish murum with brick facing, not monolithic sandstone. Statement 3 is correct as the 1938-39 excavation recovered punch-marked and cast Avanti coins.
Q2. During the Mauryan Empire, Prince Ashoka served as the viceroy (Kumara/governor) of which of the following provincial capitals before ascending the imperial throne?
- Tosali
- Suvarnagiri
- Ujjayini
- Taxila and Ujjayini
Answer: D. According to historical and Buddhist literary sources (such as the Mahavamsa and Divyavadana), Ashoka served as viceroy in both Taxila (to quell a revolt) and Ujjayini (as governor of the western province of Avanti) during the reign of his father, Bindusara.
Q3. In the context of ancient Indian numismatics, 'Avanti coins' discovered in Central India are typically associated with which of the following?
- Lead and potin coins of the Satavahana dynasty
- Gold dinars issued by the Kushana empire
- Bilingual silver drachms of the Indo-Greeks
- Cast and punch-marked copper/bronze coinage of the Malwa region
Answer: D. Avanti coinage refers to the local punch-marked and cast bronze/copper coins minted in the ancient Avanti (Malwa) region around Ujjayini during the pre-Mauryan and Mauryan periods.
Revision flashcards
- What is Vaishya Tekri and where is it located? A massive 3rd-century BCE Mauryan stupa mound located in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, traditionally linked to Ashoka and his queen Devi.
- How does the estimated size of Vaishya Tekri compare to the Great Stupa at Sanchi? Vaishya Tekri has an estimated diameter of ~350 feet and height of ~100 feet, significantly larger than Sanchi Stupa (~54 feet in height).
- What unique structural engineering technique was discovered at the base of the Vaishya Tekri stupa? A bowl-shaped lower masonry design with slanting sides that counteracts the oblique thrust of the rammed murum core.
- What chronological evidence tied the construction of Vaishya Tekri to the Mauryan period? Exceptionally large brick dimensions (approx. 22¼ × 18¼ × 3¾ inches) and the discovery of punch-marked and cast Avanti coins.
- Which Constitutional Article mandates the State to protect monuments of national importance? Article 49 (Directive Principles of State Policy).