Choertens
Choertens, or stupas, were originally built to house the cremated relics of the historical Buddha Sakyamuni and as such have become a powerful symbol of Buddha and his teachings. Later, choertens also became reliquaries for lamas and holy men. Larger monumental versions would often hold whole mummified bodies, as is the case with the tombs of the Dalai Lamas in the Potala. And the tradition is very much alive; a stunning gold reliquary choerten was constructed in 1989 at Tashilhunpo Monastery to hold the body of the 10th Panchen Lama.
In the early stages of Buddhism there were no images of Buddha and choertens became the major symbol of the new faith. Over the next two millennia choertens have taken many different forms across the Buddhist world, from the sensuous stupas of Burma to the pagodas which the best remaining example in Tibet is at Gyantse. many choertens were built to hold ancient relics and sacred texts and so have been plundered over the years by treasure seekers and vandals.
Choertens are highly symbolic. The five levels represent the four elements and eternal space: the square base symbolises earth, the dome is water, the spire is fire and the top moon and sun are air and space. The 13 discs of the ceremonial umbrella can represent the branches of the tree of life or the 10 powers and three mindfulnesses of the Buddha. The top seed pinnacle symbolises enligtenment and in fact the choerten as a whole can be seen as a representation of the path to enlightenment. The construction can also physically represent the Buddha, with the base as his seat and the dome as his body.
1. Symbolizing heart
2. Symbolizing sun
3. Symbolizing moon
4. "Umbrella" symbolizing wind
5. "Circlar cone" symbolizing fire
6. "Circle" symbolizing water
7. Niche
8. "Flat" symbolizing earth
9. "Stairs" symbolizing 4 steps of soul development
10. Lion sculpture symbolizing Buddha Sakyamuni
11. Symbolizing solid Foundation
Illustration on the Stupa
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