Keyword #1 Stūpa
Reliquary
Dear Enlightenment Legacies Reader,
You are invited to join our digital vihāra. This week’s keyword is “Stūpa.” Let me begin with an expansion of our keyword in three major Buddhist languages.
Sanskrit: stūpa स्तूप
Chinese: ta 塔
Tibetan: mchod rten མཆོད་རྟེན།
Definition
In Sanskrit, “stūpa” refers to a reliquary or a sacred mound-like structure containing the relics or possessions of the Buddha or a saint. Often housed in a container, these relics are enshrined within stūpas, which serve as focal points for veneration, reflecting the Buddha’s presence in the landscape.
Significance
The stūpa, originally a simple hemispherical mound, evolved into a complex and symbolically rich architectural form across the Buddhist world. Rooted in the Buddha’s instruction in the Mahāparinibbānasutta to enshrine his relics after his death at a crossroads, the stūpa embodies reverence and remembrance. Disputes over relic distribution after the Buddha’s passing led to the initial construction of stūpas in key locations, including Kapilavastu and Kuśinagarī. Emperor Aśoka’s significant role in the third century BCE expanded their reach, reputedly commissioning eighty-four thousand stūpas. Architectural variations emerged, notably the Sri Lankan dagoba and the East Asian pagoda. Stūpas evolved beyond relic containers to embodying the essence of the Buddha’s qualities and teachings and serving as centers for social, economic, and spiritual activities in Buddhist societies.
With gratitude for your presence. I will see you next week.
All the best,
Martino