UPSC Prelims 2023 Q42: Stupa Origin, Relics and Purpose — Explained

With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements:

1. The concept of Stupa is Buddhist in origin.

2. Stupa was generally a repository of relics.

3. Stupa was a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Only one
  2. Only two
  3. All three
  4. None

Answer: (b) Only two

Statement-wise explanation

  • 1: incorrect — The stupa is older than Buddhism. NCERT's Class 11 'An Introduction to Indian Art' says stupas were burial mounds in India from the Vedic period. NCERT's Class 12 'Themes in Indian History, Part I' says the tradition of building stupas may have been pre-Buddhist, and that stupas came to be linked with Buddhism later. Jains also built stupas, for example at Kankali Tila in Mathura. Buddhism took over the mound and turned it into its main monument, but did not invent it.
  • 2: correct — Most stupas were built over relics. These were bodily remains of the Buddha or his disciples, such as bone or ash, or objects they had used. The relics were kept in caskets inside the solid dome (anda). A well-known example is the inscribed casket found in the Piprahwa stupa in Uttar Pradesh in 1898. The word 'generally' makes the statement safe, because some stupas held no relics.
  • 3: correct — Buddhists also built stupas to mark events and to earn merit, not only to hold relics. Commemorative stupas mark key events of the Buddha's life at places such as Bodh Gaya and Sarnath. Votive stupas are small stupas that pilgrims and donors offered at sacred sites as acts of devotion. This means Buddhist stupas served three purposes: holding relics, commemorating events, and votive offering.

How to eliminate

Absolute or exclusive claims are a warning sign. Statement 1 says the concept is Buddhist 'in origin', which makes Buddhism the source of the idea. The word 'stupa' means a heap or mound, and a burial heap is a very old idea. Many religions also shared building forms. Both points should make you doubt that Buddhism invented it. Statements 2 and 3 use softer wording ('generally', 'in Buddhist tradition') and match what every basic text says about stupas, so they are easy to accept. Once you doubt Statement 1 and accept 2 and 3, the count is settled. Still, Statement 1 is decided only by knowing one fact: the stupa began as a pre-Buddhist (Vedic-era) burial mound and was later taken up by Buddhism and Jainism. Remember it as: Buddhism did not invent the stupa; it made the stupa famous.

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From burial mound to Buddhist monument

A stupa (Pali thupa) began as an earthen mound raised over the remains of an important person. Buddhist texts say the Buddha's cremation remains were split among several claimants, and each built a stupa over its share. Buddhist tradition also says Ashoka later redistributed relics into many new stupas. That is how the stupa became the main Buddhist monument. Jains built stupas too.

Kinds of Buddhist stupas

Type What it holds or marks Example
Relic stupa (sharirika) Bodily remains of the Buddha or his disciples Piprahwa, Sanchi
Object stupa (paribhogika) Things used by the Buddha, e.g. begging bowl or robe —
Commemorative stupa An event in the Buddha's life Dhamek stupa, Sarnath
Votive stupa Small stupas offered by pilgrims or donors to earn merit Clusters around major shrines

Parts of a stupa

Part Meaning
Anda Hemispherical dome; the relic chamber lies inside
Harmika Square railing on top of the dome, the abode of the gods
Yashti and chhatra Central mast with umbrellas, a sign of honour
Pradakshina path Walkway for walking around the stupa clockwise
Vedika Railing that marks off the sacred space
Torana Carved gateway, as at Sanchi

Regional styles

  • Bharhut (MP): early narrative relief carving on the railings.
  • Sanchi (MP): four carved toranas.
  • Amaravati (AP): marble-like limestone slabs with dense narrative carving.
  • Gandhara: taller stupas on raised square bases.

Over time the dome got taller and the umbrellas multiplied. This later form became the pagoda in East Asia and the chorten in Tibet.

NCERT Concepts to Revise

  • Stupa: All three statements test what a stupa is, where the idea came from, and what it was built to hold or mark.
  • Piprahwa relics: The Piprahwa find is the classic real-world case to test Statement 2's claim about stupas and relics.
  • Sanchi stupa: Sanchi is the best-known Buddhist stupa complex; knowing its features helps you judge claims about a stupa's purpose.
  • Bharhut stupa: Bharhut is one of the earliest surviving Buddhist stupas, useful for dating when Buddhists began building them.
  • Amaravati stupa: Amaravati shows how the Buddhist stupa form spread and changed in the Deccan.

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