Round stone Buddhist monument containing relics

Literally, a "receptacle for offerings". Tibetan word for Stupa (a Sanskrit word). It may contain as an offering the ashes of the dead, jewels, food, holy writings, etc. Its rectangular base represents the earth, the rounded central section or dome represents fire and the crowning parasol represents wind. These are the elements that Buddhists believe are the components of the universe and also the elements from which man is made.

Buddhist memorial to the dead.