UPSC CSE Prelims 2023
Statements 2 and 3 are correct.
Statement 2: Stupas primarily functioned as reliquaries (dhatu-garbha), housing the bodily remains (sarira) of the Buddha or revered Buddhist monks, or objects (paribhoga) associated with them. These relics transformed stupas into sacred sites for veneration and pilgrimage.
Statement 3: In addition to their role as relic repositories, stupas were constructed as votive structures, intended to accrue religious merit for the builder or donor. They also served as commemorative monuments, marking significant events in the life of the Buddha or important locations related to Buddhist history and teachings.
Statement 1 is incorrect.
The concept of a funerary mound, or stupa, predates the emergence of Buddhism in India. Archaeological and textual evidence indicates that such mounds were present in pre-Buddhist traditions, particularly in Vedic times, for the interment of important individuals. Buddhism adopted this pre-existing architectural form and significantly reinterpreted and elaborated upon its function and symbolism, integrating it as a central element of Buddhist sacred architecture.