Consider the following statements regarding Stupas:
1. They are mound-like structures that have been prevalent in India since the Vedic period.
2. They serve as symbolic representations of a funerary mound, often housing relics and ashes of the deceased.
3. After the death of Buddha, nine stupas were constructed to enshrine his relics.

How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Question

Consider the following statements regarding Stupas:
1. They are mound-like structures that have been prevalent in India since the Vedic period.
2. They serve as symbolic representations of a funerary mound, often housing relics and ashes of the deceased.
3. After the death of Buddha, nine stupas were constructed to enshrine his relics.

How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

ONLiNE UPSC · Accepted Answer

Statement 1 and 2 are correct: Stupas were burial mounds prevalent in India from the Vedic period. They represent conventional funerary structures where relics and ashes of the deceased were enshrined. The construction of stupas reached its zenith during the reign of Emperor Ashoka, who is credited with erecting approximately 84,000 stupas across the Indian subcontinent.

Statement 3 is correct: After the Buddha's death (around 483 BCE), his relics were distributed among his followers. Eight stupas were constructed to house his relics, and the ninth stupa contained the vessel (pot) that originally held the relics.
The nine stupas constructed after the death of Buddha were located in the following places: Rajagriha, Vaishali, Kapilavastu, Allakappa, Ramagrama, Vethapida, Pava, Kushinagar, and Pippalivana.

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M Question 1	⏱ 0
Consider the following statements regarding Stupas: 1. They are mound-like structures that have been prevalent in India since the Vedic period. 2. They serve as symbolic representations of a funerary mound, often housing relics and ashes of the deceased. 3. After the death of Buddha, nine stupas were constructed to enshrine his relics. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None