Dhamek Stupa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dharmek Stupa
Dharmek Stupa

Dhamek Stupa (also spelled Dhamekh} is located at Sarnath, 13 km away from Varanasi in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It was built by the great Mauryan king Ashoka in 249 B.C.E., along with several other monuments, to commemorate his pilgrimage there. It is said to mark the the spot where the Buddha gave his first historic sermon to his five disciples after attaining enlightenment and set in motion the Wheel of Dhamma.[1][2]

Stupas are low circular funeral mounds encircle by large stones. King Ashoka built stupas to enshrine body relics in the form of small pieces of calcinated bone of Buddhist monks and holy men.[3]

Contents

[edit] Design

The Dhamekh Stupa is cylindrical in form, a 43.6 meters high and 28 meter in diameter tower solidly built of bricks and stone. It is the most massive structure in Sarnath.[4] The stone facing the lower part is chiseled with delicate floral carvings of Gupta origin. The borders are covered with exquisitely carved figures of humans and birds.[5]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Place of the Buddha’s First Sermon. Indian architecture. Retrieved on September 19, 2006.
  2. ^ Error on call to Template:cite web: Parameters url and title must be specified. Retrieved on February 8, 2007.
  3. ^ Stupas. Indian Heritage. Retrieved on November 20, 2006.
  4. ^ Dhamekh Stupa. Varanasicity.com. Retrieved on October 16, 2006.
  5. ^ Dhamekh Stupa. Retrieved on September 19, 2006.

[edit] External links

 This Buddhism-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
 This article about an Indian building or structure is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../d/h/a/Dhamek_Stupa_fd70.html"