stupa
Definition
Noun: A stupa is a dome-shaped or mound-like structure, often containing sacred relics, that serves as a place of meditation and veneration in Buddhism. It is a symbolic representation of the enlightened mind of the Buddha.
Usage
The word "stupa" is used to refer to a specific type of Buddhist architectural monument. It is a countable noun.
Examples
- Pilgrims walked clockwise around the ancient stupa as a form of meditation.
- The Great Stupa at Sanchi in India is one of the oldest stone structures in the country.
- The monastery's courtyard featured a small, whitewashed stupa.
Advanced Usage
- Relic stupa: A stupa built to enshrine the physical remains (relics) of the Buddha or other revered teachers.
- Symbolic stupa: A stupa constructed to represent specific aspects of Buddhist teachings, such as the "Stupa of Enlightenment."
- Chorten: This is the Tibetan word for stupa, commonly used in Himalayan regions.
Variants and Related Words
- Pagoda: While often used interchangeably in some contexts, a pagoda is a tower-like, multi-tiered structure common in East Asian Buddhism, which evolved from the stupa form.
- Dagoba: A Sinhalese term for a stupa, frequently used in Sri Lanka.
- Chedi: A Thai term for a stupa or pagoda.
Synonyms
- Reliquary mound
- Buddhist shrine
- Memorial mound
Related Idioms and Phrases
- To circumambulate a stupa: This is a common devotional practice, meaning to walk around the stupa in a clockwise direction. It is not an idiom but a standard descriptive phrase for the ritual action.
- Devotees circumambulate the stupa to accumulate merit.
Noun
-
a dome-shaped shrine erected by Buddhists
