Buddhist Sites and Stupas

Buddhist Sites and Stupas are the primary architectural manifestations of Buddhist faith, originating as funerary relic mounds (Śarīraka). They progressively evolved into extensive monastic-educational complexes, functioning as pivotal centres for cultural diffusion, economic networks, and the development of distinct Indian art and architecture across millennia.

Evolution of Buddhist Sites

Era

Patronage, Form and Function

Architectural Evolution & Socio-Economic Role

Ancient

Mauryan Period: Emperor Ashoka universalized the Stupa by distributing Buddha’s relics among 84,000 mounds, fundamentally shifting its role from simple burial to accessible, public veneration, significantly propagating the Dharma.

Stupa as Cetiya (Object of Worship): Early sites ....

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