2-2.Stūpas, Repositories of Narratives
Before entering nirvāṇa, Śākyamuni instructed his disciples to treat his remains in the manner appropriate to a cakravartin. The magnificent tumulus housing the sacred śarīra radiated grandeur with multiple layers of ornate umbrella (chattra), erected to symbolize authority and positioned at its pinnacle. Enclosed by a three-tiered railing, the stūpa provided a space for worshippers to circumambulate and offer prayers. What might the experience have been like for devotees inside this sacred enclosure? As they gazed ahead, a panoramic view of exquisite reliefs, much like those depicted here, would unfold, narrating Śākyamuni’s life story.