Final answer:
Early Buddhist stupas like Sanchi were characterized by their dome-shaped mounds, circumambulatory paths, and intricately carved gateways. Monks had a deeper engagement with these sacred spaces through meditation and scholarship, while lay worshippers interacted with these spaces primarily for devotion and merit-gaining activities. The Gupta period saw a fusion in architectural designs, with significant influences on the Buddhist landscape.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main spatial characteristics of an early Buddhist stupa, such as the one at Sanchi, include a hemispherical dome representing the universe and the mound of the earth, a circumambulatory path where devotees could perform pradakshina (circumambulation), and the presence of decorative gateways (toranas) with intricate carvings that mark the entrance to the sacred space.
The stupa itself was often surrounded by a railing, separating the sacred space from the secular. Within the complex, there may be additional structures such as monasteries, temples, and smaller stupas, all laid out to create an environment conducive to devotion and meditation.
Monks and popular devotees experienced these spaces differently. Monks would often reside in nearby viharas or monasteries, engaging in scholarly study, meditation, and performing rituals within the stupa complex. They had deeper access to the teachings represented in the spaces and reliefs.
Popular devotees, on the other hand, would come to the stupa primarily for worship, to perform rituals, and to gain merit through acts of devotion and by circumambulating the stupa. The reliefs and carvings served as a visual narrative of the life of the Buddha and conveyed religious teachings to the lay visitors.
The architectural innovation of the Gupta period is also notable. With constructions like the Nalanda University, combining red brick construction with intricate sculptural work, there was a fusion of architecture, sculpture, and paintings. During this period, Buddhism heavily influenced the landscape with soaring wooden towers and rock-cut temples, epitomized by the grandeur of structures like the Mahabodhi Temple and the Konpon Daito Pagoda, showcasing the vast power and piety of the ruling elites.