Stupa
Originally, a stupa was a mound-shaped structure which contained relics of the Buddha.
A bell-shaped Buddhist monument, a stupa (Sanskrit for 'heap') is an important form of Buddhist architecture, though it predates Buddhism. It is generally considered to be a sepulchral monument - a place of burial or a receptacle for religious objects.
At its simplest, a stupa is a dirt burial mound faced with stone.
See also Chedei.
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