In Buddhist tradition, there is a structure so sacred that merely passing by one is believed to bring merit. The Jangchub Chorten, or the Stupa of Enlightenment, represents the highest ideal in Buddhist architecture: the Buddha’s conquest of evil and humanity’s path toward liberation. Now, by a Royal Initiative of His Majesty The King, 108 of these stupas will be raised in Gelephu Mindfulness City. In this story, BBS explores the meaning behind the Jangchub Chorten and why the number 108 carries the weight it does.
Among the eight classical types of stupas in Buddhism, the Jangchub Chorten holds a place apart. Known as Bodhi Stupa in Sanskrit, it commemorates not a teaching or a journey, but the single most transformative event in Buddhist history – the moment the Buddha attained full enlightenment.
“Jangchub Chorten, also known as Dhuedhuel Jangchub Chorten, symbolises the Buddha’s victory over evil. It is believed that when the Buddha was about to attain enlightenment, demons and evil spirits tried to interrupt him. However, the Buddha remained undisturbed and overcame them through focus and compassion,” said Sangay Dorji, Laytshog Lopen, Central Monastic Body.
In Bhutanese Buddhist belief, a stupa is far more than a monument. It is a living vessel, containing sacred texts, relics, prayers, and consecrated materials, whose spiritual potency extends to all who encounter it. To see a stupa, to touch it, to walk around it, each is considered an act of merit, an invisible thread connecting the devotee to the aspirations of the enlightened.
Building one is considered among the most meritorious acts a person can perform in a lifetime.
In Gelephu Mindfulness City, the 108 stupas will be raised along the Mao River, with each of them 108 meters apart.
But why 108?
Across traditions, the number 108 is seen as a number of completeness and carries spiritual significance. In Buddhism, the Kangyur or the complete collection of the Buddha’s teachings, fills exactly 108 volumes. In Hindu tradition, there are 108 Upanishads and 108 sacred names of the divine.
“We believe that humans have 108 afflictive emotions or earthly desires. A rosary also contains 108 beads, representing each of these emotions that must be overcome. Likewise, the raising of 108 Jangchub Chorten symbolises the suppression of these emotions,” said Sangay Dorji, Laytshog Lopen, Central Monastic Body.
The number 108 is also linked to the belief that the Buddha has 108 auspicious symbols on his feet.
For Bhutan, the union of 108 and a single extraordinary day of building relates to the arrival of Buddhism in the land. In the 7th century, it is believed that Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, regarded as a manifestation of the Buddha of Compassion, built 108 temples across the Himalayas in a single day. Two of those temples stand in Bhutan today, Kichu Lhakhang in Paro and Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang.
His Majesty announced the initiative, Project 108, in February this year. The feat, a convergence of sacred symbolism, national will, and a precedent unlike anything Bhutan has seen before, will be carried out on 1st November. More than 40 thousand volunteers are expected to participate.
Once complete, through its symbolic design and alignment, Project 108 will not only create a sacred site, but also a lasting spiritual presence, and a collective prayer for the world.
Sangay Chozom
Edited by Sonam Wangdi
