Why In The News?

• A two-day Mahabodhi Mahotsav was held at the Great Stupa at Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh.

The Great Stupa of Sanchi:

=> A stupa is a Buddhist commemorative monument usually containing sacred relics of the Buddha or other saints.

=> The archetypal stupa is a hemispherical structure, whose origins can be traced to pre-Buddhist burial mounds found in India.

Established:

• The stupa was commissioned  in the third century BCE by Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya dynasty, who embraced Buddhism after his conversion following the Kalinga War.
• It was constructed to house relics of the Buddha and to serve as a center for Buddhist worship.

Structure:

• The Great Stupa is a hemispherical dome made of stone and brick, with a central structure that is a large, raised platform containing the relics of the Buddha.
• It is topped by a ‘harmika’ to hold the triple umbrella, or ‘chhatraveli’, which represents the three jewels of Buddhism – the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
• Above the dome, there is a pillar-like structure called the chatra, which is a symbol of the Buddha’s presence and enlightenment.

=> The Stupa is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a pilgrimage destination for Buddhists from around the world.