What is Inside a Buddhist Sthupa | Amaravathi Sthupam | Buddha Sthupa | Mahachaitya Amaravathi

In this video, we delve into the rich history of the Buddhist Stupa in Amaravati. Once a magnificent structure, this stupa holds great historical and cultural significance, though it remains relatively unknown to many. Thousands of years ago, India was home to hundreds of thousands of such stupas, but only a few remain today, many of which are in ruins or have been excavated by treasure hunters.The purpose of this video is to shed light on the grandeur of these stupas and educate the current generation about their importance. The origins of stupas date back to before the Indus Valley Civilization, with mentions in the Rigveda. Long before the rise of Buddhism, many sages and monks achieved Jeeva Samadhi (living burial) and were honored with earthen mounds where people would offer prayers. These practices were later adopted by Buddhists.According to the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, before Buddha's death, he instructed his disciples to place his cremated remains at crossroads. His relics were divided into eight parts and enshrined in stupas across India. In the 3rd century BCE, Emperor Ashoka redistributed these relics, creating 84,000 stupas worldwide, although he could not move the Ramagrama stupa in Nepal due to the protection of the Naga dynasty.Today, there are five types of stupas, some containing Buddha's relics and others preserving objects used by him. Treasure hunters often seek these artifacts, believing they include precious items used by Ashoka, thus damaging these historical treasures.The Amaravati Stupa, established during the reign of Ashoka and expanded under the Satavahanas and Ikshvakus, was a center of religious activity until the 14th century CE. It was rediscovered in 1796 when workers of the local zamindar, Chintapalli Raja, stumbled upon the ruins. British Army officer Colin Mackenzie documented it in 1797.Standing 50 meters in diameter and 27 meters tall, the Amaravati Stupa is the largest in Andhra Pradesh. Although some broken pillars remain, many sculptures from the Mahachaitya site have been moved to museums in Delhi, Kolkata, and Bangalore.Gautama Buddha, not seen as a deity but as an enlightened human, led millions towards peace and non-violence. Preserving the remains and stupas associated with him is our responsibility, ensuring future generations understand their significance.
#amaravathisthupa #buddhastupa #Mahachaitya #amaravathi #Buddhism #ancienthistory #ancientindia