chörten

A chörten, also spelled stupa, is a dome-shaped structure that holds Buddhist relics. These monuments are found throughout the Tibetan Buddhist world, particularly in Tibet, Bhutan, Mongolia, and parts of India. The word "chörten" is Tibetan and translates to "receptacle for offerings" or "basis for worship." The form of a chörten is symbolic, representing the enlightened mind of the Buddha and the path to enlightenment. Typically, a chörten consists of a square base, a dome, and a spire. The base often represents the earth, the dome the heavens, and the spire the path to nirvana. Inside a chörten, sacred objects such as relics of enlightened beings, scriptures, or symbolic items are enshrined. Devotees circumambulate chörtens clockwise as an act of devotion and to accumulate merit. These structures serve as important pilgrimage sites and focal points for meditation and prayer. There are different types of chörtens, each with specific symbolic meanings and purposes, often classified by their function or the relics they contain. The construction and consecration of a chörten are important religious ceremonies.