Grammatical Analysis
Dhātugabbha: [m.] Relic chamber; the inner room of a stupa. Formed by dhātu (element, physical relic) + gabbha (womb, inner chamber, interior). (Sanskrit: Dhātugarbha, from which the Sinhalese word Dagoba is derived).
Orthodox Definition
The Dhātugabbha is the hidden, central, and most sacred architectural core of a Buddhist Thūpa.
When a stupa is constructed, it is not solid all the way through. A secure, sealed inner chamber is built specifically to enshrine the corporeal relics (dhātu) of the Buddha or an Arahat. Surrounding the relics within this “womb” are typically massive hoards of precious gems, gold, silver, statues, and sacred texts offered by kings and devotees.
Once the relics are enshrined and the stupa is completed, the Dhātugabbha is permanently sealed, never meant to be opened or viewed by human eyes again. Its unseen presence acts as the spiritual battery powering the sanctity of the monument above ground.
Textual References
- Historical: Mahāvaṃsa (Chapter 30) – The breathtaking, highly detailed description of the elaborate relic chamber constructed by King Duṭṭhagāmaṇī for the Ruwanwelisaya stupa, depicting scenes from the Buddha’s life in solid gold and jewels.