A stupa is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (such as śarīra/mortal remains of Buddhist monks or nuns) that is used as a place of meditation. A related architectural term is a chaitya, which is a prayer hall or temple containing a stupa. Such supas are common in places where Buddhism was in practice on a large scale. Stupas and ornamental Thoarnas are architectural features of Buddhist places of worship. The stupa in the Ymunanagar district of Haryana state is an interesting one, simple in appearance,and not ornamental. As in Hinduism in which prathakshana path (prakaram) is an important part of Hindu temples, in Buddhism, Prakaram - circumambulatory or prathakshana is equally important. Going clock-wise around the sanctum on the prathakshana path has been an important prayer ritual and devotional practice in Buddhism as well since the earliest times. Hence, stupas always have a pradakhshina path around them.
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| 3rd C entrance gate thorana, Chaneti village. yamunanagar.nic.in |
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| 3rd BC Buddhist stupa in Chanet Ymunanagar dist. Haryana tourism.ccom |
Situated 3 km away from Jagadhri, in Yamunanagar District the old Buddhist Stupa (3rd century BC) is an important Buddhist site. The 8 meter tall grand Tomb is made of bricks, covering roughly an area of 100 sq meters near the village. This mound shaped Buddhist stupa is a pretty old one built by the great emperor Ashoka who converted to Buddhism after the tragic Kalinga war held in the present day Odisha state. The great Chinese traveler Hieun Tsang and scholar confirms the name of the builder.
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| 3 BC Buddhist stupa in Chanet Ymunanagar dist. Buddhist fromcom |
When the Mauryan king Ashok was the ruler, during his heyday, the ancient city of Shrughna (modern sugh) became an important center of Buddhism. The Chinese traveler in his travelogue mentioned about this city after his visit there, He said there was a big monastery and tens of stupas adorning the city. The village Chaneti is close to Sugh, about 3 km and the Stupa at Chaneti could be on of those tens of topes referred to by the Chinese traveler. In order to build mound -shaped stupa, the builders followed a simple method. concentric layers were placed one over the other, leaving some space on the underlying layer, so that the whole structure should assume a hemispherical look. It is apparent this stpa is quite similar to the Shahpur and Dharmarajika stupas at Taxila, yet another center for Buddhism, etc. On account of long passage of time, there is no trace of stone railings around the stupa here. There is a likelihood the railings could have been made of wood that wilted due to age and weather. An interesting fact is atop the stupa the square space of about 1.5 mt. was found filled with earth. This was the place for harmika which bore the chhatravali (umbrella). The later additions perhaps during the Kushan period were the four shrines in four cardinal directions near the old Prathakshna path.
This stupa and the site are under the control of the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India.
