Buddha Stupa
Introduction
Boudhanath Stupa is the largest stupa in Nepal and one of the largest stupas in the world. It is also the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. The stupa is considered to be the center of Tibetan culture in Kathmandu, Nepal and full of Buddhist symbolism. The stupa is located in the town of Boudhanath, on the eastern outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal.[1]
The first stupa at Boudhanath was built sometime after 600 AD, when the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo converted to Buddhism. In terms of grace and purity of line, no other stupa in Nepal comes close to Boudhanath. From its whitewashed dome to its gilded tower painted with the all-seeing eyes of the Buddha, the monument is perfectly proportioned. According to legend, the king constructed the stupa as an act of penance after unwittingly killing his father. The first stupa was wrecked by Mughal invaders in the 14th century, so the current stupa is a more recent construction. [2] After the arrival of thousands of Tibetans following the 1959 Chinese invasion, the temple has become one of the most important centers of Tibetan Buddhism. Today it remains an important place of pilgrimage and meditation for Tibetan Buddhists and local Nepalis, as well as a popular tourist site.[3]
UNESCO enlisted this stupa in the world’s heritage site of the Kathmandu Valley in 1979.[4]
Symbolisms
The highly symbolic construction serves in essence as a three-dimensional reminder of the Buddha’s path towards enlightenment. [5]
The base of the stupa consists of three large platforms which symbolize Earth. Next come two circular plinths supporting the hemisphere of the stupa, symbolizing water. As at Swayabunath, Bodnath is topped with a square tower bearing the omnipresent Buddha eyes on all four sides. Instead of a nose is a question-mark-type symbol that is actually the Nepali character for the number 1, symbolizing unity and the one way to reach enlightenment—through the Buddha's teachings. Above this is the third eye, symbolizing the wisdom of the Buddha. Then, the spire is air and the umbrella at the top is the void or ether beyond space. And the 13 levels of the spire represent the stages that a human being must pass through to achieve nirvana. At the bottom, the stupa is surrounded by an irregular 16-sided wall, with frescoes in the niches. In addition to the Five Dhyani Buddhas, Boudhanath Stupa is closely associated with the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Padmapani), whose 108 forms are depicted in sculptures around the base. The mantra of Avalokiteshvara - Om Mani Padme Hum - is carved on the prayer wheels beside the images of Avalokiteshvara around the base of the stupa. [6]
2015 Nepal Earthquake and its impact on the stupa
For centuries, the Boudhanath stupa was an important pilgrimage site and place of worship. However, on April 25 of 2015, a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Nepal. The devastation was enormous. Roughly 9,000 people were killed, millions lost their homes, and dozens of important religious sites were severely damaged. Boudhanath was one of them.[7] Its sprawling white dome - topped with four pairs of hypnotic eyes that stare out across the capital city - was largely spared, but the gold spire that sits atop the dome was severely damaged.[6]
2016 Reconstruction
Restoration work on the stupa began in May 2015, has cost $2.1m (£1.70m) and included more than 30kg (66lb) of gold, according to the Boudhanath Area Development Committee.[8] The reconstruction began on 3rd November 2015. Boudha Area Development Committee was responsible for the reconstruction and renovation of the stupa. Buddhist groups and volunteers donated funds for the renovation and reconstruction works.[1]
Reconstruction techniques
Processes
After the major earthquake of April 25, 2015, His Holiness Guru Rinpoche Bhupati Bazra Lama played an important role in facilitating the renovation works of The Great Boudhanath Stupa.[9]
The exertion of the board of trustees and contributors and additionally Buddha supporters finished the work rapidly. The reconstruction of the Boudhanath Stupa completed at a cost of Rs. 230 million. The reconstructing assignment of the Stupa was begun from the arch territory. The apex, umbrella, lotus, thirteen stages, two eyes, nose image and Harmika segments of the Stupa were reconstructed. A sum of 31 kilos of gold was utilized on the thirteen stages, known as Trayodas Bhawan. Of the aggregate sum of gold utilized, 26 kilograms were given by Situpa Rimpoche of Palpung Monastery of Kaangada, India. Buddha supporters contributed the rest of the measure of gold alongside money to finish the remaking undertaking.[10]
At the point when the modifying works of the Stupa began, the neighborhood individuals gave volunteer work worth about Rs. 6 million. The Boudha Ghyan Guthi, neighborhood Youth Club and Buddha adherents assumed a fundamental part in supporting the culmination of the development errand.[10]
Fundings and donations
Local and foreign donors contributed more than $2 million, said Milan Bhujel, an adviser to the Boudhanath Area Development Committee, which helped organize the effort. Donors also gave 31 kilograms of gold, which covers the structure’s pinnacle, including 13 steps that represent the Buddhist path to enlightenment.[11]
The committee had collected Rs 30 million from its members and Rs 142.2 million from domestic as well as foreign donors. According to one of the committee members, "Had we waited for the government help, we couldn't have proceeded to this level in the project. We have not got any sort of help from the government."[12]
According to the committee, around 30 kg of gold was required for the steeple."The old gold base wasn't removed and during the reconstruction gold was coated on top of it. Still 4-5 kilograms of gold might be required," says Lama. He also disclosed to Republica that 1 kilogram of gold was collected from the locals and rest 29 kg was provided by Priest Tai Situpa Rinpoche.[12]
Government Instability and its impact on the reconstruction
Nepal’s chronic political instability - 24 governments in the past 26 years - has greatly hindered rebuilding efforts. It took nearly a year for the government even to form an earthquake reconstruction authority; some 4 million people, meanwhile, spent winter homeless in the Himalayan nation.[13]
The government has been harshly criticized for its slow pace of reconstruction and its failure to repair the vast majority of the country’s heritage zones. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal praised the private restoration effort in a speech at the monument, and said it should serve as an example for the rest of the nation. It offers “proof that we can rebuild our heritage,” Dahal said. “This example puts pressure on us in government to reconstruct all the houses and temples that have been damaged.”[13]
Ethical problems
Boudhanath is a U.N. World Heritage site, but Christian Manhart, UNESCO’s representative to Nepal, said the U.N. was not consulted on the reconstruction effort. He said U.N. experts were concerned a concrete new platform on top of the stupa might be too heavy, and they would like to study it more closely.[14]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Boudhanath Stupa - Kathmandu, Nepal". www.sacred-destinations.com. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
- ↑ "Boudhanath Stupa | Nepal Attractions". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:0 - ↑ "Boudhanath Stupa | Kathmandu Valley | UNESCO world heritage site". Blogs by Nepal Travel Adventure | Travel Information Section. 2020-03-13. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:1 - ↑ 6.0 6.1 ""Proof that we can rebuild": Ordinary citizens restore historic site in Nepal". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
- ↑ "Boudhanath Stupa: History & Earthquake Renovation". study.com. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
- ↑ "Nepal earthquake: Boudhanath monastery reopened". BBC News. 2016-11-22. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
- ↑ techies (2017-05-29). "Renovation". BOUDHANATH STUPA. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Completed reconstruction of Buddha's eyes". Peregrine Treks - Everest Base Camp Trek - Annapurna Base Camp Trek - Langtang Valley Trek - Annapurna Circuit Trek - Manaslu Trekking. 2019-06-16. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:32 - ↑ 12.0 12.1 Budhathoki, Khilak. "30 kg gold used for Boudhanath Stupa reconstruction". My Republica. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:33 - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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