Thupa / Sthupa

Thupa is the relic chambers which are definitely seen in every Buddhist temples. In common relic chambers are generally built out from bricks from bottom to top and centre to the outer line making its circular shape of all different styles of Stupa found in Sri Lanka. Regardless of its size it has been pilling up with small bricks over and over to uniform its unique  structure without keeping any space open inside the monument.  Sacred Relics are deposited at the centre of the monument in a special granite deposit  box right up of the 3rd circular platform which is the second elevation of the foundation underneath. The circle platforms gradually bring a shorter diameter making encircled steps like around the thupa.  On top this platform set up the chamber house. And at the top of rounded chamber house or heaped pointed chamber house building a squire shape box which dedicated for Gods (Deavata Kotuwa). On top of the heavenly box starting up the pinnacle platform pointing up for a shape of cone (Pesawalalu). And top of that place the golden pinnacle with very clear cut and polished crystal. To symbolise purity, all thupas in Sri Lanka are plastered  with white choke powder which can be painted easily.

The above described symbolic shape of the Thupa founded by Sri Lankans which are different to the ancient thupa of India. Heaven and the Pesawalalu couldn’t be seen of those tupa like Sanchi vihar. These unique structures are  very indigenous to Sri Lanka later influenced to the Buddhist countries of the world. For Buddhist devotees thupa is a special monument to venerate Lord Buddha paying their respect to Lord Buddha's relic which enshrined in all ancient thupas of all over the world.   

Apart from the religious important thupa may be have another way of using for cultivations. There I have read a news paper article written by a scholar (A professor, don't remember his name, news paper name and the date published but some where in 2011-12), in his article explains that Sri Lankan thupa architectural engineering were far more advance than common purpose of veneration. He explain that ancient engineers are planed to set huge thupa like Ruvanveliseya, Abaygiriya, Jetavanramaya, etc having another reason to help the country. According to his explains, that in many of the huge thupas were engineered for lightning absorbing power erecting metallic bar in the centre middle of the thupa found during the excavation of ancient thupas.  In his latter he claim that ancient man were aware about the nitrogen that comes down to the earth with rain after lightning,  therefore large thupa might erected for both purposes specially remarkable innovation for Buddhist agricultural civilisation.

The shapes and styles of Thupa

They can be identified in different shapes from the style of the entire building. Commonly seen styles are,

Water bubble shape     =    Bubbula kara

Paddy heap shape         =    Dhanya kara

Bell shape                         =    Ghanta kara

Pot shape                          =    Ghata kara

Other two shapes can be seen but not very common

Lotus shape                      =    Padma kara

Embolic Fruit shape      =    Amla kara

Irrespective of traditional architecture, there are modern monuments in some Buddhist temples like Kalutara where inside of thupa making as a gallery and a image house of Buddha hood.  But in the other hand in ancient world some small thupa in height has been housed in side pillared roof like WataDhage in Polonnaruwa and Madirigiriya, Thuparama and Lankarama in Anuradhapuara.

Thupas are very sacred to common people in Sri Lanka probably other Buddhist countries too.   Simply can be seen at any where for the purpose of relic container.