[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v1.c17.s8.3 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s8.3 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s8.3 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c17.s8.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s8.3) The Buddhist \*stūpas\* may broadly be classified into four categories: (1) \*śārīrika\*, (2) \*pāribhogika\*, (3) \*auddeśika\*, and (4) votive. The \*śārīrika stūpas\* are those containing within the corporeal relics of Buddha or his direct disciples and Buddhist teachers and monks; in many cases along with the charred bones were deposited precious and semiprecious objects. The \*pāribhogika stūpas\* were erected over objects, like begging bowl, believed to have been used by Buddha. The \*auddeśika\* ones were commemorative of the incidents of Buddha's life including those of his previous births or of spots hallowed by his presence. Both Fa-Hien and Hiuen Tsang saw a good number of such \*stūpas\*. The votive \*stūpas\* were the pious dedications of pilgrims actuated by the desire of earning religious merit; within the core of many of these \*stūpas\* are found images of Buddha and Buddhist divinities, Buddhist texts, discs and tablets with the Buddhist creed with or without Buddhist figures, slabs and plates inscribed with the \*Pratītyasamutpāda-sūtra\* and plaques and slabs inscribed with \*dhāraṇīs\*. - [Previous: v1.c17.s8.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s8.2) - [Next: v1.c17.s8.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s8.4) - [Up: v1.c17.s8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s8) ## Linked texts (1) - [Pratītyasamutpādasūtra (Mahāyāna)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.pratityasamutpadasutra) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s8.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s8.3) · Pramāṇa