Comparing the Stupas of Different Countries - Essay Example

Stupas across the World Order No: 484005 Stupas date back to ancient times when Buddhist monks constructed them to house the cremated remains, sacred or holy relics and even important possessions of saintly personalities. However, initially during the prehistoric times, stupas were just heaps of stones and earth, but gradually they were constructed as architectural monuments, usually semi- spherical in shape and came to be revered and respected as a religious monument that was used as a place for pilgrimage and prayer. However, as time went by, the Stupa evolved from just being a burial place for kings, that was located away from the village, to being a sacred architectural monument. This historical change was initiated after Buddha died. He humbly requested his followers to place his relics and sacred remains in a Stupa which should be constructed at the crossroads, to remind people of the enlightened path or the seed of enlightenment. Therefore, the stupa can be considered as an architectural shrine that is erected to remind people of the sacred teachings of an enlightened teacher. When comparing the different kind of stupas built in different countries, we come to understand that basically, Stupas are built for three primary purposes- Firstly, burial stupas are erected to house the relics from the funeral pyre when a saintly person passes away. Secondly, Commemorative stupas are built to mark a special event, occasion or place in the life of Buddha. Thirdly, stupas are built as a place of dedication and goodwill where the common man could make a connection with the enlightened path of the Buddha. Fundamentally, there are two main shapes for these stupas and they are the hemisphere and the spire, but as Buddhism spread across the globe, so did the concept of the stupas that were adopted. As time passed, the different places that erected stupas had each its own unique variations and style of architecture and decoration depending on its geographical layout. In this essay the salient comparisons and contrasts of four chosen regions would be discussed to show the historical and architectural differences between them. Srilanka The beautiful island of Srilanka primarily has Theravada Buddhism as its major religion, ever since it was introduced officially by Emperor Ashoka’s son, Mahinda during the 2nd century B.C. King Ashoka, an ardent follower of Buddhism, had a daughter, Sanghamitta, who is known to have brought the southern branch of the ancient Bodhi tree, where Buddha is believed to have received Enlightenment originally. Srilanka holds a lot of historical significance, especially where the spread of Buddhism is concerned. During the 16th century, Srilanka was conquered by the British and Buddhism began to gradually decline as missionaries flooded the country. However, a major movement and revival began as the flames of Nationalism grew and therefore, very quickly Buddhism came to be given its rightful and revered position. Srilanka and India had always shared a very close relationship due to its geographical proximity and hence one can see a lot of influence from the Pallava and Chola Kingdoms of South India. In fact, historians say that many relics such as the Buddha alms bowl, hair, a tooth and collar – bone were taken from India and housed in their religious stupas. Sri Lanka’s “Great Stupa” also known as Ruwanweliseya is quite impressive in structure and therefore, it is known to be Srilanka’s most coveted and important stupa which is located at Anuradhapura in North- central Sri Lanka. The Ruwanveli Stupa is magnificent in appearance and stands at a height of 91.4m. Some of the other important stupas in Sri Lanka are the Tissamaharama Stupa, the Mirisaveti stupa and the Jetavana stupa to name a few. The stupa is considered to be the most important structure for the Buddhists and holds great significance for them since it houses the relics and teachings of their religious leader Buddha. Initially, the stupa had a more Indian form and style of architecture, but gradually, as time passed, they began changing their shape and architectural design to a more Sri Lankan style of design. Ruwanweliseya or the “Great Stupa” stands at a height of 300ft. Image courtesy (www.buddhanet.net) The architectural design of the stupa comprises of a circular construction over a square base. Circling this structure is a lengthy array of umbrellas that give rise to a conical spire that is surrounded by a box or square shaped design called the harmika. Inside the square chamber there is a cylindrical column that carries one or more umbrellas that shelter the stupa from the rain. At the base of the dome, one, two or three cylindrical terraces are constructed from which the dome rises at the centre. (Dampegama, 2001) The magnificent stupas that were built since the 3rd century BC gradually came to a close by the latter end of the 13th century because of foreign invasions, wars and the shifting of Capitals. Most of the stupas were left in shambles and were totally neglected as the kingdoms declined. However, much later, many of them were restored by the ruling kings as well as the Sri Lankan Government. India In India, stupas are considered to be one of the most important and symbolic monuments of Buddhism, and it was King Ashoka, the Mauryan Emperor who became an ardent follower of Buddha who helped spread Buddhism across the country. According to (Violatti, Cristian, 2014) these architectural wonders served to house the sacred cremated remains and possessions of saintly people which helped to remind the common man of the saintly life and teachings of Buddha. India is a land of diverse cultures and languages and each region has its own distinct culture and style of living. The basic architectural style of the stupa comprised of a semi- spherical structure that was bordered by a fence. However, as history has it, these stupas changed their shape gradually thereby reflecting the artistic essence and culture of the region where it was situated. The concept of the stupa did not begin with Buddhism, but was an Indian practice much before the emergence of Buddhism. In fact, since the pre- historic times, it was traditional funerary practice among certain societies of India to bury the remains and possessions of the holy person in burial mounds and it was common for the lay people to visit and pay homage to them. The “Mahaparinirvana Sutra”, an ancient sacred Buddhist text gives a vivid description of the final days of Buddha and states that after Buddha’s death, the cremated remains was divided into 8 equal parts and each part was given along with some relics to one of the eight kingdoms where Buddha had lived. Stupas were constructed over them and they became a commemorative symbol for the people who believed that the stupa reflected the living presence of the great leader. The relics in the stupas were highly venerated by the common man as well as the religious clergy and this close relationship enkindled in them the hope of gaining spiritual enlightenment. The “Great Stupa” at Sanchi Photo courtesy – (www.ancient.eu/stupa) The Sanchi Stupa is considered to be one of the most extraordinary specimens of the art and architecture of Buddhism that was built during the 3rd century B.C. Among all the monuments at Sanchi, the “Sanchi Stupa” is considered to be the most important as it holds great significance in history. This stupa is located in Central India and comprises of huge hemispherical domes such as the stupas found in Sri Lanka, and houses a square chamber at its center where the sacred relics of Buddha are safeguarded. Surrounding the hemisphere is a railing along which are four beautifully carved gateways that face towards the four directions. The gates and the railings are decorated exquisitely with intricate designs and rich motifs featuring interesting incidents that occurred in the Buddha’s life. There are also symbolic representations such as the Buddha’s footprints, thrones and wheels that are used instead of his real image. These symbolic representations make it unique and rare and this is one of the reasons that the UNESCO has nominated it as one of the Heritage sites of the world. The Sanchi Stupa is a remarkable example of Buddhist sculpture and architecture in ancient India from the 3rd to the 12th century B.C. Indonesia The majestic Borobudur Temple dates back to the 8th and 9th century AD and is situated in the Kedu Valley in Central Java within the Borobudur Temple Compounds. Unlike the single stupas found in India and Sri Lanka, this stupa holds great significance of the Buddhist cosmology as they believed that our universe is compartmentalized into three major spheres – 1) Kamadhatu- sphere of desires, 2) Rupadhatu – sphere of forms and 3) Arupadhatu – sphere of formlessness. The Temple also bears historical significance as it was constructed during the Syailendra Dynasty when they had ruled Java for about five centuries and is looked upon as a sacred dynastic monument. Each of these spheres is represented by different parts of the building. i.e. the base represents the Kamadhatu sphere, the five square terraces represent the Rupadhatu sphere and lastly, the huge stupa with its three circular platforms represent the Arupadhatu sphere. The artistic splendor of the Borobudur Temple lies in its elaborate construction that spreads over a large expanse of land. Unlike the other stupas, this stupa is constructed with three tiers built around a hill. Its five concentric terraces which are square arise from a pyramidal base. The topmost square bears the cone or spire, while all the balustrades and walls are intricately decorated with motifs and low reliefs. The boundary along the circular platforms comprise of 72 open stupas, each bearing Buddha’s statue. (UNESCO) The entire layout is in the form of Buddha’s sacred flower the Lotus and reflects the concept of ancestor worship and the attainment of Nirvana. Since its restoration in the 20th century, this stupa is utilized as a Buddhist pilgrimage Centre. (UNESCO) The Borobudur Temple Compounds Image courtesy -UNESCO The locals share a deep relationship with the Buddhist concept of ancestor worship and lofty ideas of reaching Nirvana. Since its construction, it was used as a temple where regular prayers and rituals used to take place. The Borobudur Temple Compounds is looked upon as extraordinary example of the beautiful art and architecture of Indonesia and this greatness served to help in the architectural revival during the 13th and 16th century. The office of the Borobudur Heritage Conservation regularly conducts many training programs and community enhancement programs for the youth such as the making of traditional handicrafts which serve to empower the local community. Thailand The Phra Pathom chedi is located in one of the oldest cities called Nakhon Pathom in Thailand and is one of the most important centers for Buddhists. This very unique ‘chedi’ or stupa which stands at an imposing height of 120 meters is the biggest in the world. This stupa holds great historical significance, since Thailand was initiated to Buddhism during the 3rd century BC. Once again, it was the Indian king Ashoka, an ardent follower of Buddhism, who sent monks across Asia and to Thailand to spread the teachings of Buddha. The Phra Pathom chedi is modeled along the lines of the Great Sanchi Stupa, located in Central India. King Ashoka ordered this impressive stupa with its orange roof to be built and he even sent some of the Buddha relics there to be enshrined in the stupa. Nakhon Pathom was situated along the Gulf of Thailand, but due to sedimentation and the drying up of the local river, it ceased to be a coastal city and very soon its inhabitants moved to the other areas. As a result of this abandonment, the stupa was badly neglected and became overgrown by jungle and was in a very poor state that needed large scale restoration in order to be saved. However, during the 19th century, this majestic stupa was restored to its glory by King Mongkut after he ascended the throne in 1851. The Phra Pathom chedi Image courtesy –http://www.tourismthailand.org The restoration of the stupa was completed during the rule of King Rama VI, on a large scale because a bigger stupa was built over it. The height of the stupa is about 120 meters while the base of the stupa is 233 meters and skirting it is an expansive courtyard with four viharns, each having the image of the Buddha in various postures. The shape of the stupa is like an upside down bell, just like the stupas found in Sri Lanka and India. On completion it became the King’s royal temple and later even his relics were enshrined in the stupa. Conclusion The stupas around the world are magnificent archaeological manifestations of the greatness of the past. On comparing the stupas of different countries, we understand that they share many similarities such as the basic shape of the monument and its artistic layout. For example, most of them comprise of a huge dome or bell shape, with a square top that houses the sacred relics and possessions of the holy leader and finishes with a tall spire at the top. Buddha and his teachings form the essence of the stupas. All the stupas hold great historical and religious significance and the primary concept is to bring awareness of God’s presence through the teachings of the Buddha. However, what makes each one a little different from the other is the decoration and style adapted by the different countries and this is what gives each one their own uniqueness and beauty. References Ancient Stupas in Sri Lanka. Taken from the web in March 2016 from www.stupa.org.nz/imagine/CHSPaper.pdf Borobudur Temple Compounds – UNESCO World Heritage. Taken from the web in March 2016 from www.whc.unesco.org/en/list/592 Dampegama, S.D.P.J., (2001) Final Report of the Abhayagiriya Stupa Survey, Institute of Surveying and Mapping, Diyatalawa. History of Stupas. Shambala Mountain Center. Red feather Lakes, CO. Taken from the web in March 2016 from www.shambhalamountain.org/great-stupa/history-of-stupas Images for Buddhist Stupa Architecture in Sri Lanka. Taken from the web in March 2016 from www.buddhanet.net Phra Pathom chedi in Nakhon Pathom. Taken from the web in March 2016 from https://www.renown-travel.com/temples/phra-pathom-chedi.htm Phra Pathom Chedi. Tourism Authority of Thailand www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/Phra-Pathom-Chedi- Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Taken from the web in March 2016 from www.buddhanet.net Violatti, Cristian, 2014. Stupa. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Taken from the web in March 2016 from www.ancient.eu/stupa Read More