Crafted in Taiwan, this large stupa was filled by Khenpo Ugyen Wangchuk.

“The stupa is essentially the earliest form of the Buddha image, built to commemorate the major events in his life and to mark the sacred places where these events occurred, and to house his relics as well as those of his spiritually advanced disciples.

Shakyamuni Buddha is believed to have given the basic design for the stupa within his own lifetime.

Although the original purpose of the stupa was to enshrine relics of great spiritual teachers, they are also constructed for many other auspicious reasons. At sacred sites they commemorate major events; at crossroads, mountain passes and on pilgrimage routes they provide a focus for religious devotion. As stabilisers, removers of hindrances, illnesses and epidemics, they bring peace to strife-torn lands, longevity to the local inhabitants, and a sense of harmony to the whole environment.”

— Robert Beer, The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs

In the context of stupas, dhāraṇīs serve a function similar to physical relics.

“Just as a single bone relic is held to encapsulate the Buddha’s essence, so a dhāraṇī is believed to contain within it the entirety of the Buddha’s doctrine. … [W]hen a dhāraṇī is placed within a stūpa or buddha image, it infuses the stūpa or image with the presence of the Buddha and his doctrine.”

— Introduction to The Dhāraṇī for Secret Relics

Details

• Height: 14.25 in (36 cm)
• Width: 6.5 in (17 cm)
• Length/Depth: 6.5 in (17 cm)
• Origin: Taiwan
• Filled by Khenpo Ugyen Wangchuk
• Filled with dhāraṇī mantras