A stupa in the form of a corn cob. Which term describes this form?

• A. Fretwork
• B. Pulpitum
• C. Polychromy
• D. Viharas

Answer: (D)

In Buddhist architectural vocabulary, a stupa that is described by its simple, mound-like, corn-cob form points to a monastic setting rather than a temple hall or a decorative feature. The term that captures this context is vihara—the monastery or dwelling for monks within a Buddhist complex. This is the environment where stupa-like forms can be integrated as devotional elements within a courtyard or surrounding circulation, underscoring the functional link between living space and sacred massing. The other terms describe different features: fretwork is decorative latticework, pulpitum is a church screen, and polychromy refers to color decoration, none of which directly convey the monastic, devotional grouping suggested by a corn-cob shaped stupa.