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Stupas in Bodhgaya India

The stupa is a Buddhist religious monument. Originally only a simple mound built to contain relics of the Buddha.  When the Buddha passed into nirvana, and his  remains were cremated, his ashes were divided into eight parts which were then sealed and protected, thus began the tradition of the stupa.

These came to represent the eight great deeds accomplished during his lifetime.

In Tibet, stupa (mchod-rten, or chorten) is a large part of  spiritual life, and circumambulating them is a major pass time used to gain merit.

When Buddhism came to the west, the stupa came along with the tradition.

1976 in Huelo maui, Hawaii the 16th Karmapa consecrated the 1st stupa in the USA.

This is a changchup stupa, one of the 8.  These article have only just started and will later also  contain photo galleries.