Stupas

Stupas, derived from the sanskrit root “stu” meaning “to praise/worship”, are Buddhist pieces of architecture usually containing relics created for a variety of religious purposes. Originally, stupas were simply burial mounds made out of stones and dirt for people of king-like importance, but Shakyamuni Buddha’s death changed the purpose of Stupas from beings burial mounds to religious monuments. There are multiple types of stupas, each having a different function. Stupas have great religious significance, and it is said the owner and builder of a stupa will reach a greater understanding. There is even karmic benefit from simply seeing a stupa.

In the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, the Buddha’s disciples cremated his remains and split his ashes into eight parts to be distributed to all the kingdoms the Buddha lived in at locations important in his life. The kingdoms each built a stupa to house his ashes, and subsequently the importance of stupas in the Buddhist religion was established. A few locations of these eight stupas are Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Deer Park in Sarnath, and Kushingara, each location being where an important event in the Buddha’s life took place. From circa 269-232 B.C.E., King Ashoka, the first king to convert to Buddhism, allegedly opened those stupas so as to spread the Buddha’s ashes even more. He built 84,000 stupas all over what is now India and is said to have distributed the Buddha’s ashes in all of them. King Ashoka is the cause of stupas erected all over Northern India, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.

Stupas can range in size from being hand-held to over 100 feet tall. The basic structure of most stupas consists of a square base symbolizing the crossed legs of the Buddha, a hemispheric middle symbolizing the Buddha’s body, and a spire to symbolize the head of the Buddha. Often there will be a pole running down the middle of the stupa to symbolize the spine. Additionally, many stupas will have a fence around them as well. However, this structure is the most basic form, and many stupas are more complicated and represent more of the Buddha. As seen from above, a stupa’s shape is akin to a 3-dimensional rendering of a mandala, and is always oriented in accordance with the cardinal directions.

Depicted above is the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, located in Fort Collins, Colorado. This stupa is very intricate in its structure, with each feature being a different representation. From the bottom up, the structure features three steps to represent the three jewels, upon rests the square base that is the throne. The structure then protrudes outward and goes back inward with four steps to represent the four immeasurable motivations. Starting in the four steps and running upward to the top of the structure is the Sokshing (the life-force pole), that symbolizes the Buddha’s spine. Next is the bumpa, a vase-like figure to represent the seven elements of enlightenment that hold up the harmika, which represents the Eight-fold Path. On the harmika starts the spire, which is adorned by 13 bhumis (13 powers of the Buddha). Overhanging the spire is the parasol to represent compassion, and on top of it all are the moon, sun, and the jewel to represent compassion, wisdom, and finally enlightenment. This stupa is very intricate and a massive installation.

One of the main functions of a Stupa is to venerate relics of the Buddha, his disciples, or other religious figures of similar importance. The Buddha’s belongings are also venerated through stupas as well as Buddhist scriptures, life events of the Buddha, and Buddhist concepts. Small votive stupas can be built as offerings, and are frequently found at larger stupas. Votive stupas are often made and given by lay people as a means of accumulating merit or showing good faith.

Stupas are some of the principle holy objects involved in Buddhist practice, and there are very specific rituals that are practiced. The method of worship around a stupa is called circumambulation, which is walking around the stupa in a clockwise fashion, often while reciting a mantra. Doing this practice ensures that one will be reborn in a more favorable realm. Stupa Burial is another practice that has very specific rituals, and is only available to Buddhists of the highest caliber.

Stupas can be made out of many different materials that can signify the importance of what is placed in the stupa. Gold, silver, wood, and clay are all materials that can be used depending on what the stupa is for. Gold stupas are reserved for burials of such people as the Dalai Lama or Panchen Lama, and are stored in the halls of monasteries. 

Building a stupa has great karmic benefit and is talked about extensively throughout the Buddha’s teachings. One sutra says building a stupa accumulates more merit than filling the universe with the seven precious metals. Another claims that building a stupa will give the builder the eighteen benefits such as a perfect body and wealthy, long life. The Noble Lotus Sutra says whoever makes a stupa while thinking of the Buddha will reach enlightenment. Making a stupa will cleanse even the worst five obscurations. Even being near a stupa is beneficial; humans and wild animals just the same will not be reborn into a lower realm if the shadow of a stupa is touched.

References

• Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Circumambulating Stupas. Nepal: Kopan Monastery, 2019. [An extract from a talk with a Buddhist scholar about how to circumambulate and why circumambulating is beneficial.]
• Chelsey Parrott-Sheffer. Stupa. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2019. [Gives lots of general information about stupas. Lists some different uses for stupas.]
• Lion’s Roar Staff. What is a Stupa? Halifax: Lion’s Roar Foundation, 2017. [Describes the basic shape of a Buddhist stupa and talks about the different types of stupas.]
• Yudron. Stupa Burial. Lhasa: Tibet People’s Broadcasting Station, 2011. [The practice of stupa burial is talked about. Who is put in the stupa, how they are put in it, how the body is prepared, and what the stupa is made out of are described in detail.]
• Dr. Karen Shelby. The Stupa. Khan Academy, 2019. [Mentioned is King Ashoka and his contribution to the spread of stupas throughout the subcontinent. Shelby also writes about the functions of stupas and their karmic power.]
• Padmasambhava Buddhist Center Teachers. The Importance of Stupas. Padmasambhava Buddhist Center. [A collection sutras talking about the benefits from building stupas and from being around stupas.]

External Links

• Linked is a video of someone performing circumambulation while monks chant Buddhist prayers in the background.
• Linked is a video courtesy of the Asian Art Museum explaining the meaning of the different architectural aspects of the Swayambhunath Stupa in Kathmandu.
• This is a diagram of the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya explaining what each element means.

Further Readings

• Shambhala Mountain Center. History of Stupas. Shambala USA, 2019. [Gives a history of stupa from before the Buddha’s death to modern stupas. Gives a basic overview on the shape of a stupa and western views of stupas.]
• Cristian Violatti. Stupa. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 2014. [Talks about the architectural development of stupas throughout the countries they are located in.]
• Patricia Bauer. Great Stupa.Encyclopedia Britannica, 2018. [Speaks on the Great Stupa in Sanchi, one of the oldest stupas believed to have ashes of the Buddha. Has a description of the stupa and a brief history.]