A Buddhist shrine or monument, especially in Tibet, Bhutan, and Nepal, typically built to house sacred relics.
From Tibetan 'mchod rten' (literally 'offering place'), the word entered English through English speakers' contact with Himalayan Buddhism. The Tibetan etymology reveals the structure's original purpose in Buddhist practice.
Chortens aren't just buildings—they're three-dimensional mandalas that guide you spiritually through their design, with each level representing different aspects of enlightenment, and circumambulating a chorten is considered a form of meditation and accumulated spiritual merit in Tibetan Buddhism.
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