What is a stupa?

A stupa is a Buddhist monument, usually a solid dome or tower, built to hold relics and to honour the Buddha and other awakened beings. The word comes from Sanskrit stūpa; in Pali it is thūpa. Stupas are among the oldest Buddhist structures and are found wherever Buddhism has spread.

Origins

Before the Buddha's time, mounds were raised in India over the remains of important people. In the account of the Buddha's last days, he says that his remains should be treated like those of a great king, and that a stupa should be built at a crossroads. After his cremation, the relics were divided among several groups, who each built a stupa.

According to Buddhist tradition, the Emperor Ashoka later redistributed relics and built many more stupas across his empire. The Great Stupa at Sanchi in India, which developed from his time onwards, is one of the best-known early examples.

Forms across Asia

The basic form is a dome on a base, crowned by a spire or umbrella-like discs. Over time, regional styles developed:

• In Sri Lanka, the large white bell-shaped stupa is called a dāgoba or chaitya.
• In Myanmar and Thailand, tall gilded stupas are called pagodas or chedi. The Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon is a famous example.
• In Tibet and the Himalayas, the stupa is called a chörten.
• In China, Korea and Japan, the stupa developed into the multi-storey pagoda tower.
• Borobudur in Indonesia is a vast stupa built as a stepped monument.

What a stupa means

A stupa is more than a tomb. It stands for the Buddha's presence and for the awakened mind. In Tibetan tradition, the parts of a stupa are said to represent elements and stages of the path to awakening. Some stupas hold relics of the Buddha or of later teachers, while others contain texts, images or other sacred objects.

How people show respect

The most common act of respect is to walk around a stupa clockwise, keeping it on your right, often three times. This is called circumambulation. As they walk, people may chant, recite a mantra or reflect on the qualities of the Buddha. They may also bow, light candles or incense, and leave flowers.

Visitors are welcome at many stupas. If you visit one, it is respectful to dress modestly, remove shoes where asked, and walk around in a clockwise direction.