Read the passage and answer the following question:

The tradition of erecting stupas may have been pre-Buddhist, but they came to be associated with Buddhism. Since they contained relics regarded as sacred, the entire stupa came to be venerated as an emblem of both the Buddha and Buddhism... Asoka distributed portions of Buddha's rehes to every important town and ordered the construction of stupas over them. By the 2nd century BCE, a number of stupas, including those at Bhuhut, Sanchi and Sarnath had been built.

Which of the following structure in a 'stupa' represents abode of the gods?

Harmika

The correct answer is Option (2) → Harmika

Harmika: The Harmika is a square platform or railing at the top of the stupa. It represents the cosmic axis or sacred axis, symbolizing the link between the earthly and heavenly realms. It is not specifically considered the abode of the gods but rather a representation of the axis mundi. Stupas were constructed over the relics of the Buddha. Besides architecture, stupas are significant for the depiction of various Jataka stories and sculptural reliefs. Many of the well-known stupas are located in Sanchi, Bairat, Bharhut, Amravati, Devnimori, etc. The stupa originated as a simple semi-circular earth mound, later called anda. Gradually, it evolved into a more complex form, combining round and square shapes. The harmika, a balcony-like structure that depicted the abode of the gods, stood above the anda. A mast called the yashti, often surmounted by a chhatri or an umbrella, rose from the harmika. There was a railing around the mountain, separating sacred space from secular space.

So, the correct option is [2].