harmika

Harmika is a term in Buddhist architecture referring to the small railing or balcony that crowns the dome of a stupa. The harmika marks the upper boundary of the dome and encloses the top of the central axis, or yasti, around which the monument rises. In many traditions, the harmika holds symbolic meaning as the boundary between the earthly realm of the base and the celestial realm above.

The word derives from Sanskrit, where harmika denotes a canopy, parapet, or roof. In practice, the harmika is typically a square or circular platform with a railing and sometimes lattice work, forming a protected space at the apex of the stupa.

Above the harmika, the yasti extends upward and is frequently crowned by an umbrella or chatra, a symbol of protection and the heavens. The presence and elaboration of the harmika vary by region and period; some early Indian stupas have simple, low harmika, while later monastic and temple architectures in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, and Indonesia show more ornate forms.

Notable examples include the Great Stupa at Sanchi, where the harmika supports the yasti and chatra atop the dome, and similar conventions are seen across Buddhist architecture in Asia.

See also: stupa, yasti, chatra, torana, relic.