🔆 Stupa Worship & Bharhut Stupa 📍 Historical Significance ✅ Period: Mauryan/Sunga era (3rd century BCE) ✅ Location: Bharhut, Madhya Pradesh ✅ Patronage: Initially by Mauryas, later Sungas expanded it. 📍 Architectural & Artistic Features ✅ Renowned for intricate carvings depicting: • Life of Buddha & early Buddhist traditions • Jataka tales (stories of Buddha’s previous births) • Narrative reliefs with inscriptions identifying donors & events ✅ One of the earliest examples of narrative sculpture in India. 📍 Religious & Cultural Impact ✅ A key monument in Buddhist art, influencing later stupa architecture. ✅ Reflects the shift from aniconic to iconic representation in Buddhism. ✅ Demonstrates early community patronage & devotion in Buddhist worship. #art_and_culture