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Stupas: Preservation of Ancient Sites

Learn about the preservation of ancient sites and the significance of stupas in Buddhism. Explore the teachings of the Buddha and the construction of stupas in different regions. Discover the debates and discussions surrounding Buddhism and the quest for enlightenment.

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Stupas: Preservation of Ancient Sites

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  1. STUPAS Your Text Here

  2. Preservation of ancient site • The rulers of Bhopal ShahJehan Begum and her successor Sultanjehan Begum provided money for preservation of ancient site. • Sultanjehan Begum funded the museum and guest house where john marshell lived and wrote his volumes

  3. The Background • Mid first Millenium is considered turning point in world history:- Emergence of thinkers:- Zarathustra in Iran Kong ZI in China Socrates,Plato and Aristotle in Greece Mahavira and Gautama Buddha in India tried to understand the mysteries of existence and the relationship between human beings and cosmic order

  4. The Sacrificial tradition • Rigveda was compiled between c.1500 and 1000 BCE.It consists of hymns in praise of deities,Especially Agni,Indra and Soma.Hymns were chanted when sacrifices were performed,where people prayed for cattle,sons,good health and long life. • Sacrifices were performed collectively or by the head of households for well beings of the domestic units. • More elaborate sacrifices such as Rajsuya and Ashvamedha were performed by chiefs and kings who depended on priests to conduct the Ritual.

  5. New Questions • The meaning of life • The possibility of life after death • Rebirth:- Was rebirth due to past actions? • Whether or not there even was a single ultimate reality? • Significance of sacrificial tradition

  6. Debates and Discussions • The Buddha and others teachers taught orally-through debate and discussion:- • Buddha’s speeches were compiled after his death by his disciples at a council of “elders” at vaishali.These compilations are known as tripitikas:- • VinayaPitaka:-Rules and regulations for those who joined the Sangha • Suttapitaka:-The Buddha’s Teachings • Abhidhammapitaka:- It dealt with philosophical matters • Dipavamsa& Mahavamsa contained regional histories of Buddha.

  7. Debates and Discussions Debates and Discussions • The Buddha and others teachers taught orally-through debate and discussion:- • Buddha’s speeches were compiled after his death by his disciples at a council of “elders” at vaishali.These compilations are known as tripitikas:- • VinayaPitaka:-Rules and regulations for those who joined the Sangha • Suttapitaka:-The Buddha’s Teachings • Abhidhammapitaka:- It dealt with philosophical matters • Dipavamsa& Mahavamsa contained regional histories of Buddha.

  8. The Buddha and the quest for enlightenment • The life history of buddha.(page 89-90) • His teachings:- (page 91-92) • His last words to his followers were:-”Be lamp to yourselves as all of you must work out your own liberation” • Buddha tried to convince people through reason and persuation rather than display of supernatural power.eg story of grief-stricken woman. • Followers of the Buddha:- Mahapajapatigautami was first woman follower.( Page 94 source 7 Rules for monks & nuns)

  9. Why were Stupas built • They contained relics (such as his bodily remains & objects used by him were buried there)regarded as sacred. • According to a Buddhist text known as the Ashokavadana,Ashoka distributed portions of the buddha’s relics to every important town and ordered construction of stupas over them. • By 2nd century BCE a number of stupas including those at Bharhut,Sanchi and Amravati had been built.

  10. How were Stupas built? • Donations made by kings such as the satvahnas. • Others were made by guilds, such as that of ivory workers who financed part of one of the gateways of sanchi. • Donations made by women and men. • Bhikkus and Bhikkhunies also contributed towards the monument.

  11. The structure of Stupa • The stupa(heap) originated as a semi –circular mound of the earth later called anda. • Above the anda was the Hamika a balcony style structure that represented the abode of the Gods. • Arising from the Harmika was a mast called the Yashti often surmounted by a chhatri or umbrella. • Around the mound was a railing, separating the sacred space from the secular world. • Worshippers entered from eastern gateway & walked around the mound in a clock wise direction keepin g the mound on the right.imitating the sun’s course through the sky.Later on stupas came to be elaborately carved.(page 97)

  12. Home work • Mention any of the four places where we find stupas in the sub-continent? • Discuss how and why were stupas built? • Write a short note on Buddha?What do you know about Karma and Nirmana? • How did Sanchi survive and not Amravati? • Write two teachings of Buddha?

  13. Thank You

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