What is a stupa?

In Buddhist countries, stupas or chortens can be found in villages as well as along trails, mountain tops and beside lakes and streams. These shrines or temples for meditating purposes, containing relics- are made lovingly to represent the stylized buddha shape. The design is broken down in into the five elements: Void, Wind, Fire, Water and Earth. Differently shaped stupas represent different goals. My stupa represents complete victory.

I have chosen the stupa as a symbol for my jewelry as I derive my designs from these elements, have a small knowledge of Buddhism from my travels in Tibet and India and aspire to victory in my goal of creating beautiful objects. Often times villagers will add layers of jewelry to the stupas they create - not necessarily high in material value, but symbolically to honor Buddha.