{"id":3054,"date":"2026-06-11T12:04:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T12:04:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-06-15T15:05:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T15:05:32","slug":"stupas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aboutyou.name\/?p=3054","title":{"rendered":"Stupa Temples"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In ancient Indian art, Buddha Shakyamuni was not represented as a being but as a stupa, a reliquary containing the relics of an individual associated with great spiritual power and insight, most often (since the 3rd century BCE) with the Buddha himself.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The shape, a hemisphere topped by a spire and surrounded by a gate and walkway, originated in India during the reign of King Ashoka the Great (268-232 BCE). Before Buddha, stupas were associated with ascetics, saints, teachers of Hinduism. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Buddha requested that his ashes be interred in one stupa. His followers, instead, divided his remains and built 8-10 stupas in various places in India where important events in the Buddha’s life took place.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When Ashoka converted to Buddhism, he had the Buddha’s remains taken from these stupas and decreed that thousand\u2019s more be constructed throughout his empire (84,000 of them?), each to contain a small amount of the sacred relics.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A stupa must house some relic associated with the being it is dedicated to, for it to be spiritually energized. Ashoka’s vision was to fill his land with the Buddha’s energy, thus influencing\/elevating the lives of his people.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

To spread Buddhist thought, he sent missionaries to other countries who carried with them the concept of the stupa, and<\/span><\/span>\u00a0some relic of the Buddha to consecrate the structure. First country was <\/span>Sri Lanka<\/span><\/a>, then China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, and across South Asia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, the thousands of stupas all around the world serve as sacred sites for worship, meditation, and, as most important aspect, to emanate positive\/high-vibratory\/spiritual energies to their visitors, and the ones they then interact with.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\nRuwanwelisaya Stupa, Sri Lanka<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

A stupa may take the famous form of the hemispherical mound on a base standing alone, or be coupled with a spired temple complex, monastery, learning center, religious retreat center, or religious community, or assume other shapes.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The above Spired Stupa shapes represent the Buddha, crowned and sitting in meditation posture on a lion throne: His crown is the top of the spire. The head is the square at the spire\u2019s base. The body is the vase shape. The 4 steps of the lower terrace represent the legs. The base is his throne. The square base represents earth.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A hemispherical dome or vase represents water. The conical spire is fire. The upper lotus depicts a parasol. The crescent moon equals the air and the sun. The dissolving point acts as the element of space.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Building a stupa is a very powerful way to purify negative karma and hidden aspects of yourself. It also accumulates extensive merit, and often offers realizations on the path to Enlightenment. It can also liberate other suffering beings.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\n8 different shaped Buddha Stupas<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Lotus Blossom Stupa (\u0f56\u0f51\u0f7a\u0f0b\u0f42\u0f64\u0f7a\u0f42\u0f66\u0f0b\u0f58\u0f46\u0f7c\u0f51\u0f0b\u0f62\u0f9f\u0f7a\u0f53\u0f0d Dheshey Chorten
\nThe Stupa of Heaped Lotuses or Birth of the Sugata Stupa refers to the birth of the Buddha. \u201cAt birth Buddha took 7 steps in each of the 4 directions\u201d. In each direction lotuses sprang, symbolizing the 4 Immeasurable: love, compassion, joy, and equanimity. The 4 steps of the stupa’s basis are circular, and are decorated with lotus-petal designs.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Enlightenment Stupa (\u0f56\u0fb1\u0f44\u0f0b\u0f46\u0f74\u0f56\u0f0b\u0f58\u0f46\u0f7c\u0f51\u0f0b\u0f62\u0f9f\u0f7a\u0f53\u0f0d Shangchuk Chorten<\/span>)
\nThe Stupa of the Conquest of Mara. It also symbolizes the 35-year-old Buddha\u2019s attainment of enlightenment under the bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, where he conquered worldly temptations and attacks, manifesting in the form of Mara.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Stupa of Many Doors (\u0f46\u0f7c\u0f66\u0f0b\u0f60\u0f41\u0f7c\u0f62\u0f0b\u0f58\u0f46\u0f7c\u0f51\u0f0b\u0f62\u0f9f\u0f7a\u0f53\u0f0d Chokhor Chorten<\/span>)
\nThe Stupa of Many Gates. The series of doors on each side of the steps represent the Buddha’s first teachings: the 4 Noble Truths, the 6 Perfections, the Noble 8-fold Path and the 12 Links in the Chain of Dependent Origination.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Stupa of Great Miracles (\u0f46\u0f7c\u0f0b\u0f60\u0f55\u0fb2\u0f74\u0f63\u0f0b\u0f58\u0f46\u0f7c\u0f51\u0f0b\u0f62\u0f9f\u0f7a\u0f53\u0f0d Chotrul Chorten<\/span>)
\nThe Stupa of Conquest of the Tirthikas. This stupa refers to various miracles performed by the Buddha when he was 50 years old. Legend claims that he overpowered Mara and heretics by engaging them in intellectual arguments and also by performing miracles.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Stupa of Descent from the God Realm (\u0f63\u0fb7\u0f0b\u0f56\u0f56\u0f0b\u0f58\u0f46\u0f7c\u0f51\u0f0b\u0f62\u0f9f\u0f7a\u0f53\u0f0d Lhaba Chorten<\/span>)
\nAt 42 years old, Buddha spent the summer in a retreat in Tushita Heaven, where his mother was reincarnated. In order to repay her kindness, he taught her the dharma. Followers built this shape stupa in Sankasya in order to commemorate this event. This type of stupa has a central projection at each side containing a triple ladder or steps.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Stupa of Reconciliation (\u0f51\u0f56\u0fb1\u0f7a\u0f53\u0f0b\u0f5f\u0fb3\u0f74\u0f58\u0f0b\u0f58\u0f46\u0f7c\u0f51\u0f0b\u0f62\u0f9f\u0f7a\u0f53\u0f0d Yidum Chorten<\/span>)
\nThis stupa commemorates the Buddha\u2019s reconciliation of the disputing factions within the Sangha. Then the locals constructed a stupa in this design. The reconciliation stupa is characterized by its 4 octagonal steps with equal sides. The 4 levels of 8-sided steps, totaling 32, have symbolic meaning.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Stupa of Complete Victory (\u0f62\u0fa3\u0f58\u0f0b\u0f62\u0f92\u0fb1\u0f63\u0f0b\u0f58\u0f46\u0f7c\u0f51\u0f0b\u0f62\u0f9f\u0f7a\u0f53\u0f0d Namgyal Chorten<\/span>)
\nThe main body of the stupa is characterized by 3 circular steps, symbolizing the prolongation of the Buddha’s life by 3 months, at the request of his disciples. The celestial beings are said to have erected a stupa of this design.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Stupa of Nirvana (\u0f58\u0fb1\u0f44\u0f0b\u0f60\u0f51\u0f66\u0f0b\u0f58\u0f46\u0f7c\u0f51\u0f0b\u0f62\u0f9f\u0f7a\u0f53\u0f0d Nyadek Chorten<\/span>)
\nThis stupa refers to the death of the Buddha at the age of 80. It symbolizes the Buddha\u2019s complete absorption into the highest state of mind. The Nirvana stupa is characterized by its circular bell-shaped dome.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\nSanchi Stupa<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

The Sanchi Stupa is the oldest stupa in India, probably in the world. Its construction was decreed and overseen by King Ashoka the Great. It stands 17 m. high and 37 m. wide, with a spire (yashti) at the top of the dome surrounded by a railing (harmika). The base of the dome is encircled by a walkway that visitors and pilgrims use in a ritual clockwise circumambulation while reciting prayers and mantras.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Going clockwise is to symbolically trace the path of the sun, giver\/sustainer of life and natural order. Going counter-clockwise is to resist all the good energies of life.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\nSwayambhunath Stupa, Nepal<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Swayambhu, meaning ‘self-sprung’, occupies a central position in the lives of many Tibetan Buddhists. It is second only to the Boudhanath stupa:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\nBoudhanath Stupa, Nepal<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a>
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Also known as Kh\u0101sa Chaitya, located in Boudhanath, near Katmandu, this stupa is seen as the embodiment of the enlightened mind of all the Buddhas. This stupa gave birth to the origins of Tibetan Buddhism. It is filled with consecrated substances. Its massive mandala space makes it the largest spherical stupa in Nepal, and one of the largest in the world:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\"\"\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

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\nBorobudur, Java<\/span><\/a>:<\/span><\/span><\/strong>
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The world’s largest Buddhist monument was constructed between 780 – 840 AD, built as a place of Buddhist worship and pilgrimage. It is divided into 3 zones:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Zone 1 is called Kamadhatu.
\nThis zone illustrates the Karmawibhangga Sutra, explaining the law of cause and effect. The relief carvings depict human traits, such as robbery, murder, rape, torture, and slander.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Zone 2 is called Rupadhatu.
\nIt consists of galleries of stone reliefs and Buddha statues.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Zone 3 is called Arupadhatu.
\nIts 3 circular terraces lead up to the central dome\/stupa, symbolizing the ascent from the earthly realm. It lacks ornaments\/decorations, which signifies the highest purity.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The temple has 6 square and 3 circular platforms, topped by a central dome. It is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and had 504 Buddha statues. The dome is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues, each seated inside a perforated stupa.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The monument guides pilgrims through an extensive system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the walls and the balustrades:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\nBorobudur Temple<\/span><\/a> as an ancient pilgrimage destination<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

read more …<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In ancient Indian art, Buddha Shakyamuni was not represented as a being but as a stupa, a reliquary containing the relics of an individual associated with great spiritual power and insight, most often (since the 3rd century BCE) with the Buddha himself. The shape, a hemisphere topped by a spire and surrounded by a gate…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3384,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3054","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aboutyou.name\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3054","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aboutyou.name\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aboutyou.name\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aboutyou.name\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aboutyou.name\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3054"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/aboutyou.name\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3054\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3998,"href":"https:\/\/aboutyou.name\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3054\/revisions\/3998"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aboutyou.name\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3384"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aboutyou.name\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3054"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aboutyou.name\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3054"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aboutyou.name\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3054"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}