Yakshi "Chandra" the famous stone relief is from:

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Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:
The famous stone relief of Yakshi "Chandra" is unequivocally associated with the railings and gateways of the **Bharhut Stupa** in Madhya Pradesh, a monument primarily dated to the Sunga period (c. 2nd-1st century BCE). Bharhut sculpture represents a foundational stage in early Indian art, distinguished by its flat, frontal, and descriptive style, where figures are depicted with strict frontality and an emphasis on the entire composition filling the available space. Yakshi Chandra, along with other similar figures like Yakshi Sudarshana, is an iconic example of this early style, frequently shown grasping the branch of a tree (the *shalabhanjika* motif), and is crucial for understanding the transition from wood to stone carving in ancient India.

The incorrect option is 1:
**Sanchi** is another monumental Buddhist site in Madhya Pradesh, but its sculptural work, mainly on the *toranas* (gateways) of the Great Stupa (Stupa 1), belongs to a slightly later phase of the Sunga/Satavahana period (c. 1st century BCE onwards). While Sanchi also features Yakshis, their carvings are significantly deeper, the compositions are more dynamic, and the figures are often more sensuously rendered with greater three-dimensionality compared to the archaic linearity of the Bharhut style. Sanchi is celebrated for its elaborate Jataka tales and narrative panels, rather than the specific, frontal *Yakshi Chandra* relief.

The incorrect option is 3:
**Amravati** represents a major school of art in South India, belonging to the later Satavahana period (c. 1st to 4th century CE), and is stylistically far advanced from Bharhut. The art from Amravati, characterized by its white limestone reliefs, is known for its intense narrative quality, slim and elegant figures, and a strong sense of movement and drama. The Amravati Yakshis and other figures are shown in complex poses with intricate drapery, which stands in stark contrast to the comparatively stiff and robust figures found at Bharhut.

The incorrect option is 4:
**Sarnath** is most famously the site where the Buddha gave his first sermon and became the premier center for Buddhist art during the Gupta period (c. 4th-6th century CE). Sarnath sculptures are characterized by their smooth, polished finish, serene facial expressions, and the iconic *dharmachakra pravartana* mudra. This style is one of refinement and idealism, representing the peak of classical Indian sculpture, and is aesthetically and chronologically distant from the robust, archaically styled, and early stone relief of Yakshi Chandra from Bharhut.