History

Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings

Question:

Discuss how and why stupas were built. Describe the structure of stupa with example.

Answer:

About 200 years after the time of Buddha King Asoka erected a pillar at Lumbini. This was to announce the visit of Buddha to this place.Stupas were the mounds put on the bodily remains of the body of Lord Buddha or of any object that was used by him. At the place of stupas such objects were buried. These were places of great respect under the tradition of Buddhism, as they had the relics of Buddha. As per the description of Asokavadana winch a famous Buddhist book, Emperor Asoka gave Buddha’s relic to all major cities. Later on such places stupas were put. The most important stupas are at Sanchi, Bharhut and Saranath.
The structure of a stupa was like a dome and hemisphere. On the top of it, there would be a balcony called harmik. This balcony represented the abode of God. The harmik was covered with an umbrella. There used to be railings around the balcony.
The construction of the stupas was made possible by the contribution of many. On the forefront were the monarchs. The Satvahan Kings offered huge amount for the construction of the stupqs. Apart from the monarchs, merchants, artisans and common men and women also contributed to the construction of the stupas.

previuos
next

Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings

Q 1.

Summarise the central teachings of Jainism.

Q 2.

Why do you think women and men joined the sangha?

Q 3.

Were the ideas of the Upanishadic thinkers different from those of the fatalists and materialists ? Give reasons for your answers.

Q 4.

Discuss how and why stupas were built. Describe the structure of stupa with example.

Q 5.

To what extent does knowledge of Buddhist literature help in understanding the sculpture at Sanchi?

Q 6.

Were the ideas of the Upanishadic thinkers different from those of the fatalists and materialists ? Give reasons for your answers.

Q 7.

Read this short inscription and answer:
In the year 33 of the maharaja Huvishka, (a Kushana ruler), in the first month of the hot season on the eighth day, a Bodhisatta was set up at Madhuvanaka by the bhikkhuni Dhanavati, the sister's daughter of the bhikkhuni Buddhamita, who knows the Tipitaka, the female pupil of the bhikkhu Bala, who knows the Tipitaka, together with her father and mother.
(a) How did Dhanavati date her inscription?
(b) Why do you think she installed an image of the Bodhisatta?
(c) Who were the relatives she mentioned?
(d) What Buddhist text did she know?
(e) From whom dicTshe learn this text?

Q 8.

Of the religious traditions discussed in this chapter, is there any that is practised in your neighbourhood? What are the religious texts used today, an how are they preserved and transmitted? Are images used in worship? If so, are these similar to or different from those described in this chapter? Describe the buildings used for religious : activities today, comparing them with early stupas and temples.

Q 9.

Discuss the development in sculpture and architecture associated with the rise of Vaishnavism and Shaivism.

Q 10.

Discuss the role of the begums of Bhopal in preserving the stupa at Sanchi.