<p>There are so many stupas (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagoda" rel="nofollow">pagodas</a> as you call them which are chinese versions of stupas) which architectural meanings are never recorded, they are symbols for the viewer to interpret, especially the modern ones.</p>

<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stupa" rel="nofollow">Symbolism</a> from Wikipedia</p>

<p>"The shape of the stupa represents the Buddha, crowned and sitting in meditation posture on a lion throne. His crown is the top of the spire; his head is the square at the spire's base; his body is the vase shape; his legs are the four steps of the lower terrace; and the base is his throne."[7]</p>

<p>Five purified elements</p>

<p>Although not described in any Tibetan text on stupa symbolism, the stupa may represent the five purified elements:[8]</p>

<pre><code>The square base represents earth
The hemispherical dome/vase represents water
The conical spire represents fire
The upper lotus parasol and the crescent moon represents air
The sun and the dissolving point represents the element of space
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-20T03:16:57.773Z
2015-05-20T08:41:29.687Z
2015-05-20T08:41:29.687Z
Samadhi
<p>Sri lankan stupas has the following symbolism:</p>

<blockquote>
  <ul>
  <li>Pinnacle (Kotha) - Enlightenment</li>
  <li>Parasol (Chatra- Kothkerella) - The Whole of the Dhamma (Navalokottara Sri Dhammaskanda)</li>
  <li>The Gods Enclosure (Devatha kotuva)</li>
  <li>Square pile (Hatares kotuwa) - four noble truths.</li>
  <li>Dome (Gharbaya) - The dhamma</li>
  <li>The Three Terraces (Pesa valalu) - Seela, Samadhi, Praggna</li>
  <li>Octagonal foundation (Atapattama) - the 8 noble path</li>
  <li>Upper Terrace (Uda maluva) - bikku, Arahant</li>
  <li>Middle Terrace (Deveni maluva) - Lay Disciples (upasaka)</li>
  <li>Lower Terrace (Veli maluva) - Devotees</li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p>See: <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/20230">Buddhist architecture - Stupa/Chorten</a></p>

<p>The Burmese symbolism looks different as per this quote:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>For example, in Myanmar there are many pagodas on plateaus, with four staircases, one each from the east, west, north and south. Similarly you might start with kāya, vedanā, citta, or dhammā, but as you enter the gallery they all intermingle in vedanā, and reaching the shrine room it is the same nibbāna. Whichever staircase you start climbing, you come to vedanā and sampajañña: and if you are with sampajañña you are progressing step by step towards the final goal.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>If there is more information about this (Burmese or Thai or Other) symbolism please post and answer.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-23T03:22:47.010Z
2017-04-23T11:18:12.040Z
2017-04-23T11:18:12.040Z
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Path_to_Nirvana" rel="nofollow">This page</a> shows each feature of a pagoda symbolizing the steps to Nirvana.</p>

<p>In <a href="http://www.vridhamma.org/Discourses-on-Satipatthana-Sutta" rel="nofollow">Discourses on Satipatthana Sutta</a>,  S. N. Goenka mentions a similar symbolism on how the pagoda relates to the Maha Satipatthana Sutta:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>In every chapter the repetition of certain words indicates the importance of this sampajañña. Ātāpī sampajāno satimā applies to the observation of kāya, vedanā, citta and dhammā: sampajañña has to be present. Similarly samudaya-, vaya-, and samudaya-vaya-dhammānupassī, which apply everywhere in the Sutta, have to be with sampajañña and sensations. <strong>For example, in Myanmar there are many pagodas on plateaus, with four staircases, one each from the east, west, north and south. Similarly you might start with kāya, vedanā, citta, or dhammā, but as you enter the gallery they all intermingle in vedanā, and reaching the shrine room it is the same nibbāna. Whichever staircase you start climbing, you come to vedanā and sampajañña: and if you are with sampajañña you are progressing step by step towards the final goal.</strong></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Are there any other forms of symbolism regarding pagodas and the Maha Sattipattana Sutta and other suttas covering Samatha meditation subjects?</p>

<vipassana><art><meditation-samatha>
Pagoda's symbolism of yogi's progress to Nirvana
# Pagoda's symbolism of yogi's progress to Nirvana

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-10-01)

[This page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Path_to_Nirvana) shows each feature of a pagoda symbolizing the steps to Nirvana.

In [Discourses on Satipatthana Sutta](http://www.vridhamma.org/Discourses-on-Satipatthana-Sutta), S. N. Goenka mentions a similar symbolism on how the pagoda relates to the Maha Satipatthana Sutta:

> In every chapter the repetition of certain words indicates the importance of this sampajañña. Ātāpī sampajāno satimā applies to the observation of kāya, vedanā, citta and dhammā: sampajañña has to be present. Similarly samudaya-, vaya-, and samudaya-vaya-dhammānupassī, which apply everywhere in the Sutta, have to be with sampajañña and sensations. **For example, in Myanmar there are many pagodas on plateaus, with four staircases, one each from the east, west, north and south. Similarly you might start with kāya, vedanā, citta, or dhammā, but as you enter the gallery they all intermingle in vedanā, and reaching the shrine room it is the same nibbāna. Whichever staircase you start climbing, you come to vedanā and sampajañña: and if you are with sampajañña you are progressing step by step towards the final goal.**

Are there any other forms of symbolism regarding pagodas and the Maha Sattipattana Sutta and other suttas covering Samatha meditation subjects?

**Tags:** vipassana, art, meditation-samatha


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-05-20. Score: 1

There are so many stupas (pagodas as you call them which are chinese versions of stupas) which architectural meanings are never recorded, they are symbols for the viewer to interpret, especially the modern ones.
Symbolism from Wikipedia
"The shape of the stupa represents the Buddha, crowned and sitting in meditation posture on a lion throne. His crown is the top of the spire; his head is the square at the spire's base; his body is the vase shape; his legs are the four steps of the lower terrace; and the base is his throne."[7]
Five purified elements
Although not described in any Tibetan text on stupa symbolism, the stupa may represent the five purified elements:[8]
The square base represents earth
The hemispherical dome/vase represents water
The conical spire represents fire
The upper lotus parasol and the crescent moon represents air
The sun and the dissolving point represents the element of space


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### Answer by username_0 on 2017-04-23. Score: 0

Sri lankan stupas has the following symbolism:

> * Pinnacle (Kotha) - Enlightenment
> * Parasol (Chatra- Kothkerella) - The Whole of the Dhamma (Navalokottara Sri Dhammaskanda)
> * The Gods Enclosure (Devatha kotuva)
> * Square pile (Hatares kotuwa) - four noble truths.
> * Dome (Gharbaya) - The dhamma
> * The Three Terraces (Pesa valalu) - Seela, username_1, Praggna
> * Octagonal foundation (Atapattama) - the 8 noble path
> * Upper Terrace (Uda maluva) - bikku, Arahant
> * Middle Terrace (Deveni maluva) - Lay Disciples (upasaka)
> * Lower Terrace (Veli maluva) - Devotees

See: [Buddhist architecture - Stupa/Chorten](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/20230)

The Burmese symbolism looks different as per this quote:

> For example, in Myanmar there are many pagodas on plateaus, with four staircases, one each from the east, west, north and south. Similarly you might start with kāya, vedanā, citta, or dhammā, but as you enter the gallery they all intermingle in vedanā, and reaching the shrine room it is the same nibbāna. Whichever staircase you start climbing, you come to vedanā and sampajañña: and if you are with sampajañña you are progressing step by step towards the final goal.

If there is more information about this (Burmese or Thai or Other) symbolism please post and answer.


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