What is a Stupa?

Stupa (Sanskrit for heap) is a mound-like or hemispherical burial structure containing relics of Buddhist monks.

Examples: Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh is the most famous of the Ashokan stupas.

Piprahwa stupa in Uttar Pradesh is the oldest one.

Does the concept of stupa has Buddhist origin?

Stupas were burial mounds prevalent in India from the Vedic period. It is a conventional representation of a funeral cumulus in which relics and ashes of the dead were kept.

The concept of stupa does not have Buddhist origin. The word Stupa is mentioned in the Rigveda, Atharvaveda, Vajasaneyi Samhita, Taittriya Samhita, etc.

Rigveda refers to a Stupa raised by the King Varuna above the forest in a place having no foundation .The word ‘estuka’ is also used in the same sense in Rigveda, probably by then anything raised on the ground like a heap/pile might have been known as Stupa.

However the Pali word ‘thupa’ is quite similar to the term ‘Stupa’. Thupa means a conical heap, a pile or a mound or a conical or bell shaped shrine containing a relic.

Why Stupas are generally linked with Buddhism?

Although a Vedic tradition, stupas were popularised by the Buddhists.

After the death of Buddha, nine stupas were erected. Eight of them had the relics of Buddha at their medhi while the ninth had the pot in which the relics were originally kept.

During the period of which ruler the art of stupas reached its climax?

During the period of Ashoka, the art of stupas reached its climax. Almost 84,000 stupas were erected during his period.

What is the structure of a Stupa?

The core of the stupa was made of unburnt brick while the outer surface was made by using burnt bricks, which were then covered with a thick layer of plaster.

The medhi and the toran were decorated by wooden sculptures.

Devotees walk around the pradakshina patha or open ambulatory passageway as a token of worship.

The location of the nine stupas built after the death of Buddha are Rajagriha, Vaishali, Kapilavastu, Allakappa, Ramagrama, Vethapida, Pava, Kushinagar and Pippalivana.

How Stupa gradually got ritualistic and commemorative and bound by aspects of social- economic life?

Stupa is regarded as a monument for veneration. But as Stupa seems to be associated with votive and commemorative and offering purposes; Stupa thus gradually was related to the ritualistic and commemorative with sectarian affliation to school of philosophical thought and was bound by aspects of social- economic life.

The Buddhist texts like the Avadana Satakam, Mahavadana and Stupavadanam mentions about the commemorative aspects of the Stupa even the Jaina literature like Raya Pasenaiya Sutta refers to it.

Probably in the later period, due to deep desire of the common mass to worship the lord for the sake of salvation, Stupa acquired its votive character as well.

Famous Stupas

1 . Chaukhandi Stupa, Sarnath

2 . Ramabhar Stupa, Kushinagar

3 . World Peace Pagoda (Viswa Shanti Stupa), Rajgir

4 . Great Stupa of Sanchi

External link: https://www.mptourism.com/destination-sanchi.php

5 . Dhamek Stupa in Sarnath

Must read: Prominent Buddhist centres of ancient India

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUES . With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements: UPSC 2023

1. The concept of Stupa is Buddhist in origin.

2. Stupa was generally a repository of relics.

3. Stupa was a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Show Answer