Initial Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk themes and stories, magnificently illustrated Buddhist ideals. Explain.

1. Initial Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk themes and stories, magnificently illustrated Buddhist ideals. Explain. (250 words)

Why the question:

On this Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, or Vesak — India’s largest statue of the Reclining Buddha was to have been installed at Bodh Gaya. The ceremony has been put off due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Key Demand of the question:

Discuss the significance of initial Buddhist Stupa art and explain in what way they depicted Buddhist ideals.

Directive:

Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction:

Stupas are one of the world’s oldest temples that host mortal remains of Buddhist monks. The structures of the Stupas are designed in a unique manner that depicts the underlying Buddhist philosophy and message.

Body:

Firstly discuss the timeline of the use of Buddhist Stupas.

Comment on the Buddhist philosophy depicted on Stupas. Anda -Anda is the spherical dome that encloses the mortal remains of Buddhist monks preserved for worship by followers. The anda represents the world mountain, which rises through the center of the Buddhist universe. Yasti – The yasti, which rises through the top of the anda, symbolizes the axis mundi, the point at the center of the universe that connects heaven and Earth.

Harmika- The yasti is surrounded by a small fence called the harmika. In Buddhist tradition, fences are used to gate off sacred areas. Torana – The toranas provide the main instructional areas, because they are covered with carvings of religious scenes and tales of the Buddha. Chhatra – The three stone disks on the yasti, called chatras for short, represent the three jewels of Buddhism: the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama), the Dharma (the Law) and the Sangha (the monastic community). They’re sometimes also called the Teacher, the Teaching and the Taught.

Conclusion:

Thus, Stupas can be considered as teachings of Buddha depicted in structural form, which not only acts as religious place of worship but helps in propagating message of Buddhism.