Not for Sale
The behavior of Buddha's cousin Devadatta led to a split within the Buddhist religious community. Buddhas settled the dispute among the participants in the Veluvana bamboo grove in Rafagriha. This inspired the inhabitants of the kingdom of Magadha to erect a stupa in honor of this significant event. This is how the reconciliation stupa also known as Yendum Chorten [dbyen bsdum mchod rten - དབྱེན་ཟླུམ་མཆོད་རྟེན] came into being
At almost 10 cm or 4 inches in diameter, this relatively large and very old Tsa Tsa is rich in symbolism. The large central Gorman stupa shown here is flanked on the right and left by two other smaller stupas. All three rest on a base of lotos petals. The two smaller ones are connected to the central stupa by stems of the lotos plant between their bases. Two lotos plants grow from them, each with a lotos flower at the end. The top is crowned by a protective umbrella. To the right and left of this are decorative garlands. In the innermost circle around the three stupas, some remnants of the original gilding can be seen on the left.
Surrounded by a beaded band, this repeated inscription can be seen around the edge. 
The characters were written in the Tibetan Uchen script. It is unusual, but not uncommon, for a Sanskrit text to be written in Tibetan characters rather than the corresponding Sanskrit script [Devanagari]. However, the language is not Tibetan, but ancient Indian Sanskrit. The text reads »sanadharas sanadharas ras«. The translation of the surrounding inscription is complicated by the fact that the Sanskrit text deviates from the classical linguistic form of that language.
It is possible that »sanadharas sanadharas ras« means »Bearer of the jewel« [The wisdom of equality that inspires compassion for all living beings]. This term is a stupa consecration text within the Dharmakaya relic mantras. This would make sense in the context of the stupa depicted in the centre, but is by no means certain.
There is one notable speciality that is only found in a few Tsa Tsas today: It's a round sealed cavity on the back which is probably still filled with mantras written on paper. A few Tibetan characters are [barely] visible on the surface of the seal.
| More details about this Tsa Tsa |
| More Informationen about Stupas |
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Measurements: | 3.6 x 3.7 x 0.6" | 9.2 x 9.4 x 1.4 cm |
| Material: | Painted burned Clay |
| Age: | 11th - 12th cent. |
| Preservation: | History |
| Weight: | 0.4 pounds | 168 Gramm |
| High resolution: | Display [0.8 MB, 2059 x 2853 px.] |
