The Stupa

Summary

The script explores the significance of the stupa in early Buddhism, serving as a burial mound for the Buddha's relics and symbolizing sacred spaces. Originating in India, stupas evolved architecturally across Asia, with the Great Stupa at Sanchi exemplifying early design. Worshipers circumambulated these mounds, and gateways featured intricate carvings, including auspicious fertility deities and symbolic representations of the Buddha. The stupa's form and decoration have adapted over time, maintaining its role as a relic chamber and a symbol of Buddhist teachings.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The stupa is the central focus of early Buddhist monastic complexes, symbolizing the burial mound of the Buddha and housing his relics.
• 🌕 Stupas are typically hemispherical mounds, but can also be small containers or reliquaries for the ashes of the deceased.
• 🙏 Stupas serve as a focal point for worship in Buddhist rock-cut sanctuaries such as Ajanta and Ellora.
• 🏞️ The Great Stupa at Sanchi, India, is an example of an early stupa, surrounded by monastic ruins and smaller stupas, dating back 2,000 years.
• 🚶‍♂️ Worshipers at the Great Stupa enter through cardinal direction gateways and circumambulate the stupa in a clockwise direction.
• 🎨 The gateways of the stupa are intricately carved with scenes and figures, while the hemispherical mound itself remains undecorated.
• 🍎 Fertility deities and auspicious symbols are incorporated into stupa art to appeal to popular taste and sanctify the site.
• 🚫 The Buddha is not depicted in human form in stupa reliefs; his presence is indicated by symbols such as the umbrella, footprints, or the wheel.
• 📚 The stupa's shape and decoration have evolved with the spread of Buddhism, adapting to regional architectural styles.
• 🏙️ In East Asia, stupas developed taller bases and multiple levels, resembling towers, while still functioning as relic chambers and symbols of Buddhism.
• 🌏 The stupa's architectural evolution reflects the cultural assimilation of Buddhist teachings across different regions in Asia.

Q & A

What was the main focal point of a monastic complex in early Buddhism?

The main focal point in early Buddhism for a monastic complex was the stupa.

What is the general form of a stupa?

A stupa usually takes the form of a hemispherical mound.

What does a stupa represent and what might it contain?

A stupa represents the burial mound of the Buddha and may contain his relics, or the relics of great Buddhist teachers and monks.

In what form can stupas also appear?

Stupas can also appear as small containers or reliquaries, such as stone or metal stupas.

Where are stupas considered a focal point of worship?

Stupas are considered a focal point of worship in Buddhist rock-cut sanctuaries at Ajanta and Ellora.

Where can one of the best examples of an early stupa be seen?

One of the best examples of an early stupa can be seen at Sanchi, in central India.

How many gateways were added to the Great Stupa at Sanchi and what do they signify?

Four gateways were later added to the Great Stupa at Sanchi, marking the cardinal directions.

In which direction did worshipers traditionally walk around the stupa?

Worshippers traditionally walked around the stupa in a clockwise direction.

What is the significance of the carvings on the gateways of the stupa at Sanchi?

The gateways were elaborately carved with scenes and figures, which may have served to delineate the transition between sacred and secular space, as well as sanctify the site.

How is the Buddha's presence indicated in the reliefs of the stupa at Sanchi if he is never depicted in human form?

The Buddha's presence is indicated by symbols such as the umbrella above the horse, his footprints, or the image of the wheel or the stupa itself.

How did the shape and decoration of the stupa evolve as Buddhism spread throughout Asia?

As Buddhism spread throughout Asia, the shape of the stupa and its decoration evolved, with East Asian stupas, for example, having a taller base and more levels, resembling a tower.