Monasteries, Monasticism, and Patronage in Ancient India: Mawasa, a Recently Documented Hilltop Buddhist Complex in the Sanchi Area of Madhya Pradesh

A recently documented hilltop Buddhist complex, Mawasa, located near the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh, India, offers significant insights into early Buddhist monasticism and architecture. The site, part of the Sanchi Survey Project, includes well-preserved structures such as a stūpa, an early Brahmi donative inscription, and platformed monasteries with detailed internal features, all dating to Phase II (c. 2nd - 1st century BC). These findings challenge existing chronologies and shed light on the nature of patronage during this formative period of Buddhist propagation. Additionally, an enigmatic structure at Mawasa may represent a hitherto unstudied early temple form, potentially redefining our understanding of temple architecture in ancient India.

Shaw, J. (2011). Monasteries, Monasticism, and Patronage in Ancient India: Mawasa, a Recently Documented Hilltop Buddhist Complex in the Sanchi Area of Madhya Pradesh. South Asian Studies, 27(2), 111–130. https://doi.org/10.1080/02666030.2011.614409