BHARHUT

village, 120 miles (190 km) southwest of Allahabad, in northeastern Madhya Pradesh state, India. Bharhut is famous for the ruins of a Buddhist stupa (shrine) discovered there by Major General Alexander Cunningham in 1873. The stupa's sculptural remains are now mainly preserved in the Indian Museum, Calcutta, and in the Municipal Museum of Allahabad. The stupa was probably begun in the time of Asoka (c. 250 BC). It was originally built of brick, and it was enlarged during the 2nd century BC, when a surrounding stone railing with entrances on the four cardinal points was constructed. This railing bears a wealth of fine relief carving on its inner face. Around the beginning of the 1st century BC four stone gateways (toranas), each elaborately carved, were added to the entrances. An inscription on these gateways assigns the work to King Dhanabhuti in the rule of the Sungas (i.e., before 72 BC). The sculptures adorning the shrine are among the earliest and finest examples of the developing style of Buddhist art in India. See Bharhut sculpture.