Materials: Copper, Cast, Inlaid with Gems, Gold-Plated

Size: 10 inches, approximately 30 cm

Description:

Overview of the Vajrasana Kadampa Stupa

The Vajrasana Kadampa Stupa, also known as the Kadampa Stupa or the Vajra Throne Kadampa Stupa, is an important stupa style in Tibetan Buddhism. Modeled after the Vajrasana in Bodh Gaya, India, it symbolizes the place where Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment and incorporates the imagery of the Five Buddhas of the Vajrayana realm in Tantric Buddhism. This stupa is not only a masterpiece of architectural art but also a symbol of Buddhist inheritance and offerings, holding a central position in Tibetan Buddhism, particularly within the Kadampa school. The following details its role in Buddhist rituals, its origins, and related stories.

Role in Buddhist Ritual

The Vajrasana Kadampa Stupa plays multiple key roles in Buddhist rituals, primarily as a vehicle for offerings, blessings, and the accumulation of merit. It is not only a physical structure but also a symbol of spirituality and lineage, often used in Tantric initiation, Homa, and prayer ceremonies.

- **Offerings and the "Mind" of the Mandala**: During a Dharma transmission and initiation ceremony or Homa ceremony, the Kadam stupa represents the "mind" aspect of the mandala, alongside the body (Buddha image) and speech (scripture), and is used to offer to the guru and the Buddhas. Devotees can place relics, sutras, and mantras inside the stupa (called "filling") to symbolize the continuity of the lineage. For example, during the Homa ceremony of Atisha of the True Buddha School, the stupa served as the central offering, surrounded by layers of tsok (offerings). After the ceremony, the blessings of the offerings were distributed to the participants, strengthening the collective blessing.

**Circumambulating the stupa and accumulating merit**: Devotees circumambulating the Kadam stupa clockwise (clockwise) is a common ritual to eliminate karmic obstacles and avert disasters (such as those caused by the four elements, earth, water, fire, and wind, as well as conflicts with the stars). This practice can increase merit, wisdom, and longevity, and is particularly effective in resolving interpersonal disputes and family discord. According to records, the merit of reverently circumambulating the stupa is immense, equivalent to offering to the Buddhas, helping practitioners strengthen the lineage's blessings. It is a core practice in daily prayers and retreat rituals.

**Prayers and Resolving Obstacles**: In Nyingma and Kadampa traditions, the stupa is often placed in the center of the altar and used for chanting mantras, meditation, and offerings. It helps participants complete the wisdom merit and the two merits (merit and wisdom). It also purifies violations of the samaya vows and dispels evil spirits and demons. It symbolizes liberation from ignorance and the attainment of the union of appearance and emptiness.

Generally speaking, a Kadam stupa is not only the physical focal point of rituals but also serves as a bridge connecting the lineage of master and disciple, emphasizing respect for the master and the lineage. In modern Tibetan Buddhist communities, it is often found within monastic buildings or personal mandalas, serving as a tool for daily repentance and prayer.

Origin and History

The Vajrasana Kadam stupa can be traced back to Indian Tantric architecture, later introduced to Tibet by Atisha and closely linked to the founding of the Kadampa school. Its legendary story embodies the resurgence of Buddhism on the plateau and the resilience of its legacy.

- **Originated from the Vajrasana in India**: The earliest Vajrasana stupa originated at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bihar, India. It was built on the Vajrasana, the site of Shakyamuni Buddha's enlightenment. Approximately three tu (4.5 meters) tall, it is likened to a diamond-like solidity, symbolizing the immovable place of awakening. The five sub-stupas on the pagoda represent the Five Buddhas of the Vajra Realm (center: Vairocana Tathagata; east: Akshobhya Buddha; south: Ratnasambhava; west: Amitabha Buddha; north: Amoghasiddhiṣṭhāna), used for worship and offerings. This style later spread to China (as seen in the Northern Wei Dynasty Dunhuang murals and the Zhenjue Temple Pagoda in Beijing), where it influenced Tibetan Buddhism.

- **Atisha's Introduction to Tibet**: In the early 11th century, Tibetan Buddhism had declined for nearly 200 years due to the persecution of King Langdarma (799-842). In 1042, the Indian monk Atisha (982-1054) was invited to Tibet to spread the Dharma. He brought with him Indian Tantric stupa design, including this bell-shaped stupa. Atisha was famous for his thirteen precious umbrellas (symbolizing the thirteen bodhisattva stages), and his spiritual status was equal to that of the Buddha. This directly influenced the design of the thirteen umbrella wheels on the pagoda's crown. The Kadam Stupa is named after the Kadampa monastery founded in 1056 by Dromtonpa (1008-1074), a disciple of Atisha. "Ka" means "Buddha's word," and "Dang" means "teaching," hence the name of the monastery.

- **Related Stories and Legends**: The story of Atisha is the most moving legend of the Kadampa Stupa. Throughout his life, he carried the relics of his root guru, Dharmakirti, with him, reverently holding them above his head wherever he went, standing, sitting, or lying down. This story symbolizes the reverence for his guru among tantric practitioners. Even in the harsh snows of Tibet, he never left them, regarding his guru as a Buddha. This "deep bond between guru and disciple, transcending time and space," became the core inspiration for the Kadampa Stupa: the guru's relics are often enshrined in the stupa, reminding future generations of practitioners not to forget the lineage. Another legend states that when Atisha entered Tibet, the thirteen steps on the stupa's vase represented the "Thirteen Heavens." The Vassa world is located on the thirteenth level of the Dharmadhatu, and the stupa serves as a bridge connecting the human world and the Pure Land. According to the True Buddha School, the "True Buddha Lineage Kadam Stupa" (7 meters high and 7 meters wide), built during the 2018 Atisha Homa Ceremony in Indonesia, houses the precious hair relic of Living Buddha Padmasambhava Lu Sheng-yen, symbolizing the continuation of a millennium of Dharma affinity and considered a "millennial promise" between Atisha's past and present lives.

These stories not only chronicle the spread of Buddhism from India to Tibet but also emphasize the stupa's role as a symbol of the three stages of "base, path, and fruition": the base is the seat of visualization, the path is profound practice, and the fruition is profound attainment.

Structure and Symbolism

The Kadam Stupa's structure is exquisite, blending the solidity of the Vajra Seat with Tantric symbolism:

- **Stupa Base**: Bell-shaped, symbolizing the Vajra Seat and the six chakras (central channel), the lotus petals below represent renunciation and the ten virtues.

- **Stupa Vase**: Like a vajra bell, it represents the union of manifestation and emptiness; the two rings of pearl curtains symbolize self-benefit and altruism.

- **Stupa Neck**: Thirteen umbrella wheels, representing the thirteen bodhisattvas or the parent wheels (wisdom and skillful means). - **Top**: A lotus throne symbolizes longevity, merit, and wisdom, like a blossoming lotus.

- **Overall**: Sixteen small pedestals on each side represent the sixteen void joys, while the twelve-cornered base represents the twelve continents and the six sense organs and six sense organs.

This design makes the Kadam Stupa not only a work of art but also a living source of blessings, helping believers awaken from ignorance through ritual.

Despite its ancient history, the Vajrasana Kadam Stupa, with its simple yet profound design, remains a treasure of Tibetan Buddhism, a reminder of the enduring themes of respect for the teacher, lineage, and awakening. To delve deeper, visit Kadampa heritage sites or related monasteries in Tibet to experience its blessings firsthand.