Buddhist Stupa: Dome of Enlightenment and its Types
The stupa, as an object of veneration, is considered a physical embodiment of the enlightened mind of a Buddha, having originated historically from the chaitya (funerary mounds) and metaphorically from the ushnisha (crown of the Buddha's head). Stupa existed even before it became popular in Shramanic traditions such as Jainism and particularly in Buddhism and now, it is a distinctive style of Buddhist architecture. To begin with, stupa was created as a cosmic emblem in response to one of the major human conditions, death. Eventually, apart from being an important repository of sacred relics in Buddhism, it evolved with time and with the spread of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent and beyond. In Tibet and in places such as Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal where Tibetan Buddhism is practiced, stupa is known as chorten.
Saririka Stupa or Relic Stupa: It houses the body relics of the Buddha and his principal disciples, often enclosed in a casket. It can also have the ashes of the cremated bodies of prominent Buddhist saints. This was the earliest type of stupa as stupas in the beginning were raised over the ground where the dead body was cremated on chita (चिता) or funeral pyre. Since, stupas began as a simple earthen burial ground, therefore, they were also called chaityas. The term chaitya was also used for the peepal tree under which the Buddha meditated and attained nirvana or enlightenment. However, later chaitya came to be denoted as a prayer hall or a kind of temple which has a stupa and a pathway leading to the stupa, adorned with a number of pillars on each side of the pathway. Saririka stupa originally built to conserve the buried bodily remains of the Buddha after his mahaparinirvana. Gradually, the purpose of building this form of stupa was expanded and it started to store the corporeal relics of his significant disciples too.
The Mahaparinibbana Sutta informs that following the death of the Buddha and his cremation at Kushinara, a dispute broke out. In the light of the fact that the Buddha belonged to the Shakya clan, the Shakyas were to receive the ashes of the Buddha after his cremation. But soon the reigning Magadhan ruler, Ajatshatru, and some other clans such as the Licchavis of Vaishali, the Shakyas of Kapilvastu, the Bulis of Allakappa, the Koliyas of Ramagrama, the Mallas of Pava, the Mallas of Kushinagar and the Brahmin chieftain of Vethadipa (a Brahmin settlement) too demanded the relics of the Buddha. Drona, a Brahmin in order to settle the matter divided the ashes into eight portions which were in a vessel in which the body of the Buddha had been cremated. Much later, the Moriyas of Pipphalavana too arrived to claim a share of the relic but, they received the ashes of the funeral pyre. Stupas were created to preserve the received relics of the Buddha. The Sujata Jataka and the Bahiya Sutta mention the employment of clay for the construction of these early Buddhist stupas. They were plain earthen mounds. Archaeological findings indicate that it was from Ashoka's reign that stupas were generally being made of other building materials such as bricks and stones. The relics of the Buddha's two chief disciples, Sariputta and Moggallana were found in Stupa 3 at Sanchi (in the present-day Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh) in 1849 by Captain Fred C. Maisey and Alexander Cunningham who were entrusted with the task of preparing reports on the Buddhist stupas of Sanchi. The relics were sent to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and were displayed in the museum till 1947 when they were sent back to Sanchi. A portion of the relics was given to Myanmar and another portion, to Sri Lanka.
Paribhogika Stupa or Object Stupa: The second category of stupa is of paribhogika stupa. It is constructed over personal items which are revered as sacred objects used by the Buddha or his disciples. These objects could include anything from the Buddha's robes, his begging bowl to items used by his disciples during their spiritual practices.
Uddeshika Stupa or Memorial Stupa: It is built to commemorate major events in the life of the Buddha such as the attainment of nirvana, his deliverance of the Dharmachakrapravartana Sutta, and Maha Parinirvana. The Kesariya Stupa in the East Champaran district of Bihar, which is one of the largest and tallest stupas in the world, contains the alms bowl of the Buddha which he gave to the Licchavis before he went to Kushinara where he attained mahaparinirvana. Thus, the stupa can be called a paribhogika stupa as well as an uddeshika stupa. The Dhamekh Stupa at Sarnath, Varanasi is where the Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. Parinirvana Stupa at Kushinagar is where he attained mahaparinirvana and hence, it marks the final moment of his earthly life.
The above-mentioned types of stupas are its primary categories. Other than these, there are symbolic stupas which are built to symbolize various aspects related to the philosophy of the Buddha. Then, we have votive stupas. Votive stupas are erected by Buddhist devotees as acts of religious merit (since in Buddhism, constructing a stupa is seen as a meritorious deed, believed to accumulate positive karma) or as expressions of devotion and reverence towards the Buddha, the Dharma (teachings) and the Sangha (community of monks and nuns) and frequently serve as offerings or commemorations of important events, personalities or individualized spiritual experiences. They are comparatively much smaller in size. The devotees often make offerings such as flowers, incense and candles at votive stupas, accompanied by prayers and meditation, promoting a sense of spiritual connection and mindfulness. They are built at important Buddhist pilgrimage sites. They are also found in ancient Buddhist universities such as the Nalanda Mahavihara, the Vikramashila Mahavihara (both in Bihar), etc.
Comments
Post a Comment