Buddhist Architecture: Stupas

Buddhist Architecture
STUPAS
BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE | STUPAS
Stupas | probably derivatives of the practice of raising a circular tumulus over

skeletal remains & demarcated with a circle of stones
Practice of raising a tumulus over tombs is evident even in western world since
pre-historic times
Patan stupas of similar origin (Slusser)
Tradition of corporeal stupas probably existed long before Buddha’s time
Supposed to contain relics of Buddhas, Boddhisattvas or saints

Ashoka is believed to have broken up the original 8 stupas over the remains of
Buddha & distributed the remains to construct over 84000 stupas in India
Nepali stupas distinguished as-

i) Dhatu stupa (mortal remains of Buddha)
ii) Paribhog stupa (things belonging to Buddha such as garments, bowl etc.)
iii) Dharma stupa (text of his teachings)
iv) Udeshya stupa (amulets, mantras, jewel etc.) – usually Chaityas &
Mahachaityas
Elements of Nepali stupa:
Original mound represented by the egg (anda), womb (garba) and pot (kumbha)
Stupa consists of a drum pedestal (medhi), the drum & the finial
Drum or medhi
Indistinguishable consisting simply of a drum of varying height slightly larger in
diameter than the mound it supports
Set in a modest circular platform or sometimes on a square platform composed of a
number of superimposed terraces (Pimbahal, Chilancho of Kirtipur &
Bouddhanath)
Dome or anda
Varying shape, hemispherical in the early times to vertical or flattened dome during
the transitional & early Malla period
Oldfield | construction of stupa commenced with the construction of square

masonry chamber of 9 equal parts in the centre of the medhi
Precious wood, grains, images & scenes from Buddha’s life & human relics placed
in the outer 8 chambers
Central 9th chamber served as a mortise for the yasti, a great central timber mast
piercing the stupa & to which the finial is attached
Chambers filled after the ceremony
Over it a mound of brick, earth & clay was constructed
Outer rounded surface was faced with bricks, plastered & whitewashed
4 chapels facing the 4 cardinal points then joined to the dome
These contained the images of Dhyani Buddhas (Akshobhya-E, Amitabha-W,
Amogsiddhi-N & Ratnasambhawa-S representing different aspects of the activities
of Buddha)
5th called Vairochana | thought to reside in the centre of the stupa, represented by
the eyes of the Harmika
Painting of the eyes | unique Nepali practice | began during the Malla period after
the 15th century
Design of the finial varies | Consists of 3 principal parts-

i) The cube
ii) The tapered mid-section
iii) The crowning parasol
The cube or Harmika is derived from the pavilion that surmounted the early Indian
stupas which was supposed to be the home of the gods
The eyes of Harmikas | eyes of Adibuddha but sometimes believed to represent the
Lokpalas who survey the quarter of the universe
Tapering 13 stages symbolizes the 13 stages to perfection or

The 13 Buddhists heavens
Is capped by the parasol
The 13 stages became standard during the transitional period after the 11 th cen
Conical or pyramidal spire | Chura Mani

Earliest Indian stupas, these consisted of flattened stone discs, 3-7 in numbers,
Attached to the yasti symbolizing the parasol provided to respected personages
Finial | either simple or elaborately gilded along with the parasol
Earliest stupas might be

Stupa at Deupatan (Arjika
Bihara of Lichchhavi days)
Mahachaitya at Swayambhu
Mahachaitya at Baudhha
Dando Chaitya | Chabahil

Established about the middle of
the 5th century by king
Dharmadeva
Numerous miniature Lichchhavi
chaityas cluster around the
prestigious monument
Swayambhu
One of the earliest stupas | Vrisadeva
Has been repaired & extensively changed during the later renovations
Difficult to imagine the earlier structure
Hemisphere constructed of brick, plastered & whitewashed

Dome is flattened at the top
Harmika elongated to correct for this shape
Harmika would have been a cube if the dome had followed its regular curve
Gilded toranas placed over the eyes of the harmika
13 layers of the finial made of circular metal discs supported on the timber pole,
yasti
Above it is the decorative parasol & the gajur
At the circumambulatory level, the dome has chapels with the images of 4
Adibuddhas in the 4 cardinal points & 4 Taras in the diagonals
An additional chapel dedicated to the vajra built in the east
A mandala with a vajra is placed in front of it
All chapels believed to have been added during the Malla period
Swayambhu Dhando Chaitya

Boudhanath Stupa
Largest stupa in Nepal & holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet
Probably built in the 14th century after Mughal invasions
Aerial view | looks like a giant mandala or diagram of the Buddhist cosmos
4 Dhyani Buddhas mark the cardinal points with the 5th, Vairochana, enshrined in
the center (in the white hemisphere of the stupa)
5 Buddhas personify the 5 elements (earth, water, fire, air & ether) | stupa
architecture
At bottom, stupa surrounded by irregular 16-sided wall, with frescoes in the niches
Closely associated with the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshwara whose 108 forms are
depicted in sculptures around the base
Mantra of Avalokiteshwara – Om Mani Padme Hum – carved on the prayer wheels
around the base of the stupa
Boudhanath Stupa
Instead of a nose – a question-mark type symbol – symbolizing unity & the one
way to reach enlightenment – through the Buddha’s teachings
Above this is the 3rd eye, symbolizing the wisdom of Buddha
Square tower topped by a pyramid with 13 steps, representing the ladder to
enlightenment
Triangular shape is the abstract form for the element of fire
At the top of the tower is a gilded canopy, the embodiment of air, with above it a
gilded spire, symbolic of ether & the Buddha Vairochana
Prayer flags tied to the stupa flutter in the wind, carrying mantras & prayers
Main entrance to the upper platform of Boudhanath Stupa is on the north side

Buddhist Architecture: Stupas

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Buddhist Architecture

Stupas | probably derivatives of the practice of raising a circular tumulus over

Supposed to contain relics of Buddhas, Boddhisattvas or saints

Nepali stupas distinguished as-

Elements of Nepali stupa:

Oldfield | construction of stupa commenced with the construction of square

Design of the finial varies | Consists of 3 principal parts-

Tapering 13 stages symbolizes the 13 stages to perfection or

Conical or pyramidal spire | Chura Mani

Earliest stupas might be

Dando Chaitya | Chabahil

Hemisphere constructed of brick, plastered & whitewashed

Swayambhu Dhando Chaitya

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