Q. Which of the following statements correctly describes the difference between a Chaitya and a Stupa?
(a) Chaitya is a religious term, while S tupa is an architectural term for a mound containing a relic of the Buddha and later on of leading Buddhist Saints
(b) Chaitya is a place of prayers/worship while Stupa is a funeral monument
(c) Chaitya were constructed by the monasteries while Stupas were constructed by the kings and the rich merchants
(d) Chaityas represent Mahayanism and Stupas Hinayanism
Ans: (a) Chaitya is a religious term, while S tupa is an architectural term for a mound containing a relic of the Buddha and later on of leading Buddhist Saints
Explanation: Stupas were constructed using stones or bricks to commemorate significant events or mark important Buddhist sites, as well as to enshrine relics of the Buddha. Ashoka Maurya, who played a pivotal role in the development of these monuments, is believed to have built 84,000 stupas, many of which have been lost over time. The finest examples of stupas can be found at Amaravati, Sanchi, Barhut, and Gaya. Among them, the earliest and largest stupa at Sanchi, built by Ashoka (273-236 B.C.), stands out as one of the most remarkable architectural remnants of ancient India.
Chaitya grihas, or halls of worship, were constructed throughout the country using either bricks or rock-cut methods. In the eastern districts of Andhra Pradesh, amidst valleys, rivers, and lakes, one can find the ruins of numerous structural Buddhist chaitya grihas. Salihundam in Srikakulam, Kotturu in Visakhapatnam, Guntapalli in West Godavari, Vijayawada in Krishna, Nagajunakonda, and Amaravati in Guntur are among the sites dating back to the 3rd century BC and beyond. Among them, the largest brick chaitya hall was discovered in Guntapalli.
