What is stupas

From the earliest times, people considered the Stupas as sacred. These Stupas had special tress, unique rocks and inspiring beauty. They also had small shrines attached to them. They were sometimes called as Chaityas.

WHY WERE THEY BUILT – The Stupas were the mound the bodily remains or objects used by the Buddha were buried, so all these Stupas were regarded as sacred. Though Stupas have been there even before Buddha, yet, they are mainly associated with Buddhism. They are venerated as emblems of Bhuddhism as they contain the sacred relics of the Bhuddha. According the Ashokavadana, a Bhuddhist text, Ashoka distributed portions of the Bhudha’s relics to all important cities. He ordered the construction of Stupas over all relics. The important Stupas of Barhut, Sanchi and Sarnath had been built.

COMPLEX STURCTURE OF STUPAS – The Stupa is a Sanskrit word meaning a heap. It is a simple semi circular mound of earth. Later on it was also called Anda. Slowly structure became complex because an attempt was made to balance the round and square shapes. Above the Anda, it had the Harmika, a balcony like structure. These balconies represented the abode of the god. Near the Harmika, was a mast called the Yashti. It was often surmounted b a Chattri or umbrella. Around the mound, there was a railing. It circulated the sacred place from the secular world. The Stupas at Sanchi and Bharhut have stone railing. This railing was like a bamboo or wooden fence. It had four gateways, the worshippers mostly entered from the eastern gateway. They walked around the mound in a clockwise direction.