Great Bowl

The Great Bowl at Sanchi is a large vessel carved from a single stone block, positioned within the monastic complex near the Great Stupa. It served as the communal grain store from which food was distributed to the monks residing at the site. The bowl is notable for its scale, the precision of its carving and the absence of any join in the stone, making it a notable example of Mauryan-era masonry. It is pointed out to every visitor as an illustration of the practicalities of monastic life at ancient Sanchi.