Question

Which of the following does NOT form a part of the structure of a Buddhist Stupa?
1. Harnika
2. Yashti
3. Anda
4. Gopuram

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : Gopuram

The correct answer is Gopuram.

• A stupa is a dirt burial mound faced with stone.
• Buddhist stupa (dagoba, Chorten, pagoda) serves as a marker for a sacred space, a symbolic representation of the Buddha’s burial mound.
• In Buddhism, the earliest stupas contained portions of the Buddha's ashes, and as a result, the stupa began to be associated with the body of the Buddha.
• The Great Stupa at Sanchi, in central India, is one of the earliest stupas; it served as an architectural prototype for all others that followed.

• The stupa has three special features found in every stupa across the world. They are
  • A hemispherical mound (anda): The anda’s domed shape (green highlights) recalls a mound of dirt that was used to cover the Buddha’s remains.
  • A square railing (harmika): The harmika (red highlights) is inspired by a square railing or fence that surrounded the mound of dirt, marking it as a sacred burial site.
  • A central pillar supporting a triple-umbrella form (chattra): It was derived from umbrellas that were placed over the mound to protect it from the elements (purple highlights).

• A Gopuram is a monumental entrance tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of a Hindu temple, in the Dravidian architecture.