CHAITYA (Stupa)

The Chaitya or stupa represents the Buddhist Universe and is the Buddhist sanctuary. It is sometimes square and sometimes round, with spires or steps on the capital. Each spire or step represents a heaven, the upper most portion being a point which is supposed to be the highest peak of Mount Sumeru, a mythical mountain where the Boddhichitta (ﾒmind of enlightenmentﾓ) loses itself in sunyata (ﾒemptinessﾓ). On the four sides of the chaitya the figures of four figures of the Dhayani Buddhas ﾑ Akshobhya, Ratna Sambhav, Amitav, Amoghasiddhi ﾑ are placed on the four sides of the stupa. The place of Vairochana is placed to the east along with Akshobhya.