UpdateBot at 20:39, 17 May 2022

2022-05-17T20:39:33Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox religious building
| building_name = Kesariya Stupa
| image = File:Kesariya-0.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Kesariya Stupa
| map_type = India
| map_size = 250
| map_relief = yes
| location = {{flag|India}}
| coordinates = {{coord|26.334140|84.854762|display=inline,title}}
| religious_affiliation = [[Buddhism]]
| rite =
| region =
| state = [[Bihar]]
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| height_max = 104ft
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'''Kesariya Stupa''' is a [[Buddhist]] [[stupa]] in [[Kesariya]], located at a distance of {{convert|110|km|mi}} from [[Patna]], in the Champaran (east) district of [[Bihar]], [[India]]. The first construction of the Stupa is dated to the 3rd century BCE.<ref name=BA>Le Huu Phuoc, Buddhist Architecture, Grafikol 2009, pp.169-171</ref> Kesariya Stupa has a circumference of almost {{convert|400|ft|m}} and raises to a height of about {{convert|104|ft|m}}.<ref name=BA/>

==History==
[[File:Bihar_-_Buddha_Statue,_Kesariya_(9239704568).jpg|thumb|Buddha Statue]]

The site's exploration reportedly started in the early 19th century, from its discovery led by Colonel Mackenzie in 1814 to General Cunningham's proper excavation in 1861–62. An excavation was conducted by archaeologist [[KK Muhammed]] of the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI) in 1998.<ref name=BA/> The original Kesariya stupa probably dates to the time of [[Ashoka]] (circa 250 BCE), as the remains of a [[capital (architecture)|capital]] of a [[Pillar of Ashoka]] were discovered there.<ref name="BAStupa">Buddhist Architecture, Lee Huu Phuoc, Grafikol 2009, p.140-174</ref>

The stupa mound may even have been inaugurated during the [[Buddha]]'s time, as it corresponds in many respects to the description of the stupa erected by the Licchavis of [[Vaishali (ancient city)|Vaishali]] to house the alms bowl the Buddha has given them.<ref name=BA/>

The current stupa dates to the [[Gupta Dynasty]] between 200 AD and 750 AD, and may have been associated with the 4th century ruler Raja Chakravarti. The local people call this stupa "Devala", meaning "house of god".

The ASI has declared the stupa a protected monument of national importance. Despite being a popular tourist attraction, Kesariya is yet to be developed and a large part of the stupa still remains under vegetation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.earthismysterious.com/kesaria-stupa-tallest-buddhist-stupa/|title=Kesaria Stupa – World’s Tallest Buddhist Stupa|website=www.earthismysterious.com|access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref>

[[File:Kesariya.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Panorama of the stupa.]]
{{BuddhasHolySites}}

==Relationship with Borobodur==
It has been noted that the Kesariya stupa shares many architectural similarities with the Buddhist temple located in [[Indonesia]], [[Borobodur]] which points to a historical connections between east India and South East Asia. Both monuments share a circular [[mandala]] form with terraces containing figures of Buddha in the niches. Like Borobodur, Kesariya is also built atop of a hill. The excavated chambers at Kesariya show a combination of statues in ''bhumisparsha'' (of [[Akshobhya]]) and ''dhyanimudra'' (of [[Amitabha]]) on the same side, whereas Borobudur houses four Jina Buddhas, displaying their respective mudras on the four sides of the monument.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chemburkar |first1=Swati |title=Visualising the Buddhist Mandala: Kesariya, Borobudur, and Tabo |journal=ndia and Southeast Asia: Cultural Discourses |date=2018 |pages=197-222 |url=https://www.academia.edu/35744060/Visualising_the_Buddhist_Mandala_Kesariya_Borobudur_and_Tabo}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Dhamek Stupa]]
*[[Chaukhandi Stupa]]
*[[Sarnath]]
*[[List of Buddhist temples]]

==Reference notes==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Stupas in India]]
[[Category:Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Bihar]]
[[Category:Tourism in Bihar]]
[[Category:Buddhist sites in Bihar]]

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Kesaria stupa - Revision history

UpdateBot at 20:39, 17 May 2022