Buddhist stupa: names, cult significance. Culture of Buddhism

Since ancient times, all nations have a special burial ritual and special places for them. People come to the graves of their ancestors, paying tribute to them. In many cultures, after the death of a famous person, a mound was buried over his burial so that the descendants could come to this place and bow to him, recalling the achievements of the person buried here. In India, this function is performed by the Buddhist stupa. We suggest you get to know her better. After reading this article, you will learn that the Buddhist stupa, the sacred hill and the mound are related concepts. Also we will tell about the most famous monuments of Buddhism, connected with the founder of this teaching.

The first stupas

In India, the first stupas arose in pre-Buddhist times. Originally they were monuments, which in ancient India were placed on the graves of rulers. The word "stupa" is of Sanskrit origin. In translation it means "crown", "knot from hair", "a pile of stones and earth" or "upper part of the head". The tradition of cremating remains led to the fact that in India at that time there were no burials in the usual sense of the word. Only unburned remains or ash had to be preserved. It was in the stupas that they placed what was left after cremation.

Reliquaries

After a while, the stupas became reliquaries, in which the remains of persons prominent in the spiritual sense were kept. They began to be erected during the time of the Buddha also in his honor. For example, the Stupa of lotus was created by his father, King Suddhodana, in Nepal (in Lumbini, where the Buddha was born) during his lifetime. It had a cylindrical shape with seven or four levels of lotuses.

Some other stupas that were created during the life of the Buddha are also mentioned in the texts. We are talking about four reliquary stupas. The merchants of Tappus and Bhalika built two of them over the hair and scraps of the teacher's nails. The same Buddhist stupa was created by Anathapindaka. Another is known, which he also built over the remains of Shariputra.

Stupa as an object for offering

The Buddha wanted the stupa to be built over his remains after he left. He gave this monument a new meaning. Henceforth, the stupa was regarded as an object for offerings performed by the Buddha-nature, which is a symbol of the mind of the Buddha. It is believed that when making offerings, people accumulate positive qualities. Gradually they open the Buddha-nature in themselves more and in the end they come to enlightenment, to ultimate happiness.

The variety of stupas in our time

At present, reliquaries are not all stupas, as not all of them contain bodily remains. In the mortar is often placed only a part of the remains, which can hardly be called a burial. It can also contain sacred texts or objects, the clothes of an enlightened teacher. In addition, in the stupa there may be no relics at all. In this case, it serves only as a designation of a memorable place, created in memory of important events that marked Buddhism. It is not easy to talk briefly about stupas. There are many kinds. Built in honor of an important event, stupas are called memorial. They can also be built by following a vow. Within the framework of this article, we will examine the most important stupas that were created in honor of the Buddha. They belong to the relic.

8 reliquary stupas

After the death of the Buddha, the relics that remained after his cremation are believed to have been divided into 8 parts. They were placed in 8 stupas, located in different parts of India, in those that were associated with the life of a great teacher preaching Buddhism. Briefly describe each of them.

King Magadhi Ajatashatru built one of them in Rajgir, shakya in Kapilavastu, lichkhavi in Vaishali, kolii in Ramagram, buli in Allakapa, mallah in Pava. In Kushinagara, another branch of the Mullah built a stupa, and a brahmana from Wetthapida built it in her native city. These are the very 8 stupas under which the remains of the Buddha are. They are called great reliquary stupas.

4 places of pilgrimage, designated by Buddha

Also common are such concepts as "8 places of pilgrimage" and "8 sutric steps" or "8 steps of the Tathagata". They are related to the life of the Tathagata, that is, the Buddha Shakyamuni. The Buddha himself designated 4 places of pilgrimage related to his life. In the first of them he was born, in the second he attained enlightenment, in the third he gave the first lectures, in the fourth he went to parinirvana. These places are traditionally identified with Lumbini (Kapilavastu), Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinagara, respectively.

The four most important stupas

In Lumbini, the Lotus Stupa was created, which King Suddhodana (the father of Buddha) built during his lifetime. The main part of it in shape is a lotus. It symbolizes the birth of the Buddha.

In Bodhgae, the Stupa of Enlightenment is erected, otherwise - victory over any obstacles. Its creator is Dharma-king of Bimbisar. This stupa was erected after the enlightenment of the Tathagata. It is the most important of the eight, symbolizing the goal of the Buddhist path - full enlightenment, recognition of one's mind. This monument is also a symbol of overcoming all veils and obstacles.

A stupa of wisdom (or 16 gates) was built in Sarnath. In this place, the Tathagata gave his first teachings, which are known as the "Four Noble Truths."

In the place where the teacher left, in Kushinagar, the Stupa parinirvana was built. The main part of it in form is a bell, which means the perfect wisdom of the Buddha. This form symbolizes withdrawal to parinirvana.

Four stupas connected with miracles

To the above 4 places of pilgrimage were added 4 more, connected with miracles, which Buddha made. These are Vaishali, Sankasya (Shinkashi), Shravasti and Rajgir. In the latter, the Buddha pacified the mad elephant. The animal was sent to him by Devadatta, his cousin.

The Buddhist Stupa of Unity, or reconciliation, was built in honor of the reconciliation of the sangha. Here, after the departure of the Buddha, the First Buddhist Council took place. On it were recorded the texts of the Vinaya and the Sutras.

The Stupa of Wonders was built in Shravasti in honor of the victory won by the Buddha over six teachers in the Jetavan Grove, which he was presented with by the merchant Anathapindaka. These teachers were adherents of wrong views. Buddha showed a double miracle. He climbed into the air, where he let out the tongues of flame and jets of water at the same time, and then, sitting on a lotus, revealed to them in the sky a lot of Buddhas. This monument was erected by a certain Lisabi.

In the Shinkashi, the Stupa of the convergence of Tushita from heaven is built. Buddha Shakyamuni repeated the practice demonstrated by the preceding Buddhas. In accordance with it, he ascended to the Heavens of Tushita. Here the Buddha preached the abhidharma of the deceased mother, as well as the 33 deities along with their retinue. After that, he descended to the ground along the wonderful staircase created for him by the gods Indra and Brahma. The symbol of this convergence are the numerous steps presented on the monument.

The stupa of the perfect victory arose in Vaishali. Here in the time of Buddha, the plague devastated the city. He managed to stop her. This Buddha aroused the love and respect of the local people. When he again visited Vaishali, the monkeys dug a pond for Buddha, and also offered the teacher honey. At this place there used to be a mango grove, which courtesan Amrapali gave to Buddha. Here he announced to the disciples that he would soon leave. However, they asked him not to leave them. The Buddha extended his life to three months, thereby defeating death and time.

Different lists and locations of stupas

It should be noted that the places of pilgrimage described above, as well as the stupas that have arisen in them, only partially overlap with the reliquary stupas referred to in the Mahaparinirvana Sutra. In the Tibetan sources there are different lists of those of them that are related to the life of the Buddha. In addition, their locations also vary. Most likely, these lists were drawn up on the basis of oral tradition. They are connected with the existing custom of pilgrimages to memorable places. At different times, many stupas were created in these places. For example, in Sarnath, the ruins of several of them have survived these days. Scientists can not decide which of the two - Dhamekh or Dharmaraja - was erected on the site where the Buddha once gave the first teachings.

The eight sutric steps

There is an opinion that the concept of "8 steps of the Tathagata" is a reflection not of the existence of certain specific monuments, but only allows to correlate the most significant events of the Buddha's life with those places where there were many monuments of Buddhism. In the Tibetan tradition, as a result, a group of eight sutric stupas emerged, which differ in architectural details from each other.

Stupas in India and beyond

All the above-mentioned places of pilgrimage, as well as great reliquary stupas are in Northern India. It was here that the Buddha lived and spread his teachings. After in the 3 c. BC. E. These places were visited by the emperor Ashoka, pilgrimages here acquired a great social significance. Later, Ashoka built many stupas throughout India. The most ancient of those that have survived to this day are in Bharhut and Sanchi (India), as well as in Nepal and Patan. In addition, they were erected in Gandhara (the territory of modern Afghanistan and Pakistan).

The stupa in Sanchi, the photo of which is presented above, is a few kilometers from the city of Bhopal. It is considered the oldest of the architectural structures of India, preserved in our time and related to Buddhism. The stupa in Sanchi has a hemispherical shape. She does not have an inner room. This stupa is located on a round plinth, whose diameter is 31 m. In addition, there is a terrace on which ceremonies were held earlier.

The stupa of Borobudur is also interesting. Borobudur is the most ancient temple of Buddhism, created around the 7th-9th centuries. (The photo is presented above). He is on about. Java, 50 km from the city of Yogyakarta (Indonesia). Borobudur is the most visited landmark of this country. This temple, unlike the others erected on a flat surface, was built on a hill. According to one of the versions, he was in the center of the lake. There is a theory according to which Borobudur, reflected in his mirror-like surface, symbolized the lotus flower. Almost in every work of art relating to Buddhism, there are lotus flowers. Buddha often sits on the throne, which looks like a blossoming flower. On the stupas of Borobudur, as well as many other temples, the petals of this plant are visible.

As you can see, not only in India stupas were built. No wonder, because the culture of Buddhism is widespread everywhere. In our country, by the way, you can also find them. One of them is the stupa of Longsal. It was built quite recently, in October 2012. This Buddhist stupa is located in the center of Izhevsk, not far from Karlutskaya Square.