Buildings
EngWhat Is a Buddhist Stupa?
The word stūpa is translated from Sanskrit as top, summit. It is a spherical building without inner space. The architecture of stūpa may vary in different countries; however its main shape is invariable: the foundation, stairs, dome, and peak. There are different interpretations of these parts. According to one of the legends they are associated with natural elements – Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space. There is also another legend which says that a stūpa is like the levels of purification – the foundation is the darkened mind, the next level is the beginning of the path, the spire is for the bodhisattva state (the state of a person, who decided to become a Buddha for the sake of all people), and the roofing symbolizes the utmost state of enlightenment, Buddha’s state.
After the end of Buddha’s terrestrial life his body was cremated, divided into 8 pieces and sent to different countries as a relic. There is little known about the first stupas. Originally there was built of a simple mound of mud or clay to cover relics. In III century B.C. in the village of Sanchi (state of Madhya Pradesh, India) first stone stūpa - the Great Sanchi Stupa (reliquary) in the world was built which was commissioned by king Ashoka the Great. Afterwards the king “redistributed” original 8 shares into many little pieces and in the sequel another 84 thousand stūpas were built. In India stūpas are called “pagodas” and in Sri Lanka – dagobas.
Stupas became one of the main symbols of Buddhism. The brick foundation is identified as the world’s axis or with Meru hill (according to the mythology the Meru hill is situated on the place of axis mundi – world axis, where all the worlds and Gods meet). In the center of the stūpa Buddha’s relics are kept on a crystal reliquary. The dome symbolizes the space. The reliquary with a dome is called dagoba.
They were built in the places where people often gathered and parties were being organized. Generally stupas decorated with sculptures and stone engravings. Among the most “popular” engravings were the ones describing Gautama’s birth, his reincarnation into Buddha, his wanderings around the world, as well as the “enlightenment tree” (the one under which Siddhārtha Gautama made up his mind to become Buddha).
In the early Buddhist culture the tradition of imaging Buddha didn’t exist: it appeared only in 1st century AD in India, Middle and Central Asia. According to many sources it happened due to influence of Greek masters that came here during Alexander Macedonian’s military campaigns.
In different stūpas three images of Buddha can be seen: standing, sitting and lying. Sitting Buddha symbolizes meditation and the state of enlightenment. Standing Buddha spreads knowledge and light to people. Lying Buddha represents the time when he is on his deathbed: he is lying on his right side with his arm under his head. Monks and laymen are engraved around Buddha.
By Sona Gasparian, www.biulding.am
After the end of Buddha’s terrestrial life his body was cremated, divided into 8 pieces and sent to different countries as a relic. There is little known about the first stupas. Originally there was built of a simple mound of mud or clay to cover relics. In III century B.C. in the village of Sanchi (state of Madhya Pradesh, India) first stone stūpa - the Great Sanchi Stupa (reliquary) in the world was built which was commissioned by king Ashoka the Great. Afterwards the king “redistributed” original 8 shares into many little pieces and in the sequel another 84 thousand stūpas were built. In India stūpas are called “pagodas” and in Sri Lanka – dagobas.
Stupas became one of the main symbols of Buddhism. The brick foundation is identified as the world’s axis or with Meru hill (according to the mythology the Meru hill is situated on the place of axis mundi – world axis, where all the worlds and Gods meet). In the center of the stūpa Buddha’s relics are kept on a crystal reliquary. The dome symbolizes the space. The reliquary with a dome is called dagoba.
They were built in the places where people often gathered and parties were being organized. Generally stupas decorated with sculptures and stone engravings. Among the most “popular” engravings were the ones describing Gautama’s birth, his reincarnation into Buddha, his wanderings around the world, as well as the “enlightenment tree” (the one under which Siddhārtha Gautama made up his mind to become Buddha).
In the early Buddhist culture the tradition of imaging Buddha didn’t exist: it appeared only in 1st century AD in India, Middle and Central Asia. According to many sources it happened due to influence of Greek masters that came here during Alexander Macedonian’s military campaigns.
In different stūpas three images of Buddha can be seen: standing, sitting and lying. Sitting Buddha symbolizes meditation and the state of enlightenment. Standing Buddha spreads knowledge and light to people. Lying Buddha represents the time when he is on his deathbed: he is lying on his right side with his arm under his head. Monks and laymen are engraved around Buddha.
By Sona Gasparian, www.biulding.am
