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How did the construction of stupas contribute to the spread of Buddhist teachings? Explain with examples

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i. Stupas were constructed at sites considered sacred due to their association with the Buddha's life events or relics.

ii. For example, stupas were built at Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment, and Sarnath, where he delivered his first sermon.

iii. These sacred sites became centers of pilgrimage for Buddhists, drawing devotees from distant regions.

iv. Stupas often featured carvings, reliefs, or inscriptions depicting scenes from the life of the Buddha.

v. Stupas contained Jataka tales.

vi. Sanchi identify it as a scene from

vii. The Vessantara Jataka stories of the Buddha's past lives, and important events in Buddhist history.

viii. These artistic representations served as visual narratives that conveyed Buddhist teachings to illiterate audiences. For example, the carvings on the at Sanchi like Wheels, Tree, Shailbhanjhika, Gajalakshmi, Serpents, etc.

ix. The architectural elements of stupas, such as dome representing the the Buddha's enlightenment, and principles.

x. Worshippers entered through the eastern gateway and walked around the mound in a clockwise direction keeping the mound on the right, imitating the sun’s course through the sky.

xi. Sanchi, Amaravati, and Shahji-ki-Dheri
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