A stupa (literally “heap” or “pile”) is a reliquary, a shrine containing the remains of a holy or sainted person and/or artifacts (relics) associated with them, originating in India prior to the 5th century BCE as tombs of holy men and evolving afterwards into sacred sites dedicated to the Buddha (l. c. 563 - c. 483 BCE).
More about: StupaServer Costs Fundraiser 2024
Help our mission to provide free history education to the world! Please donate and contribute to covering our server costs in 2024. With your support, millions of people learn about history entirely for free every month.
$3946 / $18000
Definition
Timeline
-
c. 600 BCE - c. 300 BCEStupas are tombs for holy men constructed of heaps of earth and stone.
-
268 BCE - 232 BCEReign of Mauryan King Ashoka the Great who decrees thousands of Stupas built across India in honor of the Buddha.
-
c. 258 BCE - 232 BCEAshoka the Great oversees the construction of the Great Stupa at Sanchi; sends Buddhist missionaries to other countries who bring the form and function of the stupa with them.
