Meaning

A Stupa (literally “heap” or “pile”) is a reliquary, a shrine containing the remains of a holy or sainted person and artifacts (relics) associated with them. So far, stupa architecture in Nepal has been recorded since the 5th century BCE, as tombs of holy men evolved into sacred places dedicated to the Buddha. At present, stupa has two meanings: Sacred place as a temple and symbolic tomb of Buddha.

“Stupa, Buddhist commemorative monument usually housing a sacred relics associated with the Buddha or other saintly person. The hemispherical form of the stupa appears to have derived from pre-Buddhist burial mounds.”

Origin of the stupa

In the early days, stupa architecture in Nepal was a real tomb. People used to burry dead bodies by making a mound of earth and fixing the stone erected as the pinnacle. The mound was constructed to cover the body, with a wide base tapering up toward the head. The heap of earth structure was used to cover the cremated remains of the individual or their corpse, which was buried in a seated, meditative, position. This shape was used even in cases where the person had been cremated in order to symbolize the meditative posture assumed by enlightened sages.

Present stupas followed the earlier shape but were more elaborate and more carefully constructed to represent the seated Buddha in the lotus position. Every stupa is made up of two parts: the closed dome is the body, and the upper section with the Buddha’s face is the head. The sites of these stupas were chosen to correlate to the most important events in the Buddha’s life, including Lumbini (his birthplace), Bodh Gaya (where he attained enlightenment), the Deer Park at Sarnath (where he preached his first sermon), Kushingara (where he died). Buddhist adherents would make pilgrimages to the individual sites or, depending on their ability or level of devotion, to all of them along a sacred route.

“Stupas may have originated from pre-Buddhist tumuli, where mystics, ascetics, and teachers were buried in a seated position called chaitya or stupa and are now erected over their remains.”

Later, stupas were also raised to honor Buddhist arhats (saints), bodhisattvas (enlightened ones), other saintly figures, or local deities. A stupa is a hemispherical structure, with a spire at the top, sometimes situated on a base that varies in shape and size (depending on the designated purpose of that particular stupa) surrounded by a walkway for visitors. Bouddhanath and Swayambhunath Stupa at Kathmandu, Nepal, are large and ornate structures, while others are more modest. Every stupa structure and their purpose is always the same. Stupa provides a sacred space for people to center themselves on higher thoughts and revitalize themselves spiritually.

Religious Belief

“Buddhism: The ultimate goal of the Buddhism is Nirvana. It means the eradication of all distracted thoughts from the mind and attain the Absolute Understanding.”

Throughout the country of Nepal, the devotional act of building a stupa is thought to bring one good luck, health, good karma, and assure one of an escape from the cycle of rebirth and death (samsara). If not, at least have a good rebirth in another life on earth in which one will attain this goal. Destruction of a stupa, conversely, brings bad luck, bad karma, and condemns one to repeated life cycles in order to atone for the sin. Stupas are, therefore, important sacred sites and highly regarded around the world. So, wherever they are constructed, it draws visitors.

Badhanath Stupa

A stupa in Nepal is regarded as a great mansion of Lord Buddha. The supa has mainly two parts. The upper part is considered the head and the lower part is the body of the Buddha. The stupa symbolizes that Buddha is in a sitting meditational posture. It is related with five elements. The base of the stupa is land; the closed dome is a bobble of water, thirteen golden steps are fire, after there is air and the sky (space). Above the face of the Buddha, there are thirteen steps. Each step shows the way to enlightenment attending the different level of consciences.  Let us see the architecture of Bouddhanath Stupa from the base and what it symbolizes.

• Mandala: Mansion of Buddha
• Dome: Symbol of the Universe or Vase of great treasure
• Two Eyes: Symbol of method and wisdom
• Harmika: Symbol of Noble paths, four square parts of Stupa
• Nose-like: symbol of Nirvana.
• Thirteen Steps: 13 Steps of Bodhisattva’s ground for complete Enlightenment.
• Lotus: Symbol of Compassion and Purity
• Umbrella: Protector of three jewels; Buddha, Dharma and Sangha
• Pinnacle: Symbol of Mt. Sumeru (King of all Mountains)

Dimensions: 100 ft. in diameter, 1 hector in width, 43.25 m in height, and Area 6,756 square meters. Believed to be built during the Kashyapa Buddha’s end period and the beginning period of Shakyamuni Buddha. It is also known as “Stupa of Enlightenment or Bodhi Stupa. It was enlisted on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1979.

If you are planning to visit Nepal, including this Stupa, Feel free to contact us Shangri-La Voyages: [email protected]