As time passed, new Stupas were added. Ashoka himself is supposed to have built eight of them. A monastery and a school for Buddhist discipline too were established. Sanchi was an active seat of Buddhism from the 3rd century to the 11th century. But later it lay neglected and almost forgotten. In 1818, General Taylor revealed his 'discovery' of these magnificent ruins. Unfortunately, during the decades that followed, some enthusiastic officers tried to find what the Stupas contained and explored them in an unscientific manner, thereby causing irreparable damage to the monuments. Alexander Cunningham found caskets containing the sacred relics in the 2nd and 3rd Stupas only. It was Sir John Marshall, Director General of Archaeology in India, who undertook restoration and preservation of the monuments.
Significant Symbols: The sculpture of Sanchi has a remarkable feature. It shows no image or figure of the Buddha. He is revealed through symbols. For example, the lotus represents the Buddha's birth and the tree his enlightenment. The wheel indicates his first sermon, and the stupa stands for his Nirvana—the liberation.
The Stupas: Of the three stupas, the first one or the Great Stupa is 36.5 metres in diameter and 16.4 metres high. The second one stands on the edge of a hill, surrounded by a balustrade. The third stupa, adjacent to the Great Stupa, has its dome surrounded by an umbrella. In this Stupa were found the relics of Sariputta and Mahamogallana, two famous disciples of the Buddha.
The Gateways: The four gateways are profusely carved with scenes from the Jatakas. The eastern gateway depicts Prince Gautama leaving his father's
palace; his mother's dream before his birth; and some of the miracles. The western gateway depicts seven incarnations, of the Buddha. The northern gateway has on its top a
broken Wheel of Law. Its pillars depict the legends of miracles. The southern gateway depicts the birth of Gautama.
Besides, the middle architrave shows the preaching of the Buddha's first sermon in the Deer Park at Sarnath. The ruins also include the Ashoka Pillar, the Gupta Temple adjoining the first or the Great Stupa dating back to A.D. 4th century, the earliest known structural temple in the country, and the Great Bowl, carved out of one piece of stone, meant for collection of food and its distribution among the monks.