Question

How and why were stupas built

Answer 1

Stupas are the semi circular mound like structures which were build to store the remains of Lord Buddha.

The word is derived from a Sanskrit word, Stup which means heap.

Explanation:

• Even before the peroid of Buddha the stupas were made, but it became sacred when the remains of Lord Buddha or the things used by him for daily purposes was placed inside these stupas as relics.
• According to the Buddhist text Ashokvadana, King Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty made provisions to distribute Buddha's relics to different towns and places and to erect a stupa to contain them.
• Stupas were generally made by the donations given by people irrespective of their caste, religion or gender.
• Various kings and rulers like King Ashoka, rules of Satvahana dynasty also made huge donations to erect these stupas.
• The stupas were generally also funded by the Bhikkus and Bhikkunis, that is male and female monks.
• Later, the art of making stupas became more complex.