What is a stupa? This video answers this question by looking at a 2nd-century BCE stone relief carving from the Buddhist Stupa of Bharhut in Madhya Pradesh, India.

The relief is an example of early Buddhist art and it depicts followers of the religion worshipping at a stupa. This video explains what a stupa is, the symbolism of stupas, and how these monuments function in the Buddhist religion. It also discusses how stupas were used as aniconic symbols in early Buddhist art.

CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction to a Buddhist stupa relief from Bharhut Stupa

00:29 What is a stupa?

01:56 The function of the stupa relief and the stupa as a symbol in Buddhist art

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