Is Utah's Delicate Arch a Buddhist monument?

Contributor Hendon M. Harris (Chinese Discover America); Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

A dilapidated temple gateway arch or torana in Utah's Delicate Arch? (sltrib.com)

Sanchi Buddhist temple torana or temple gateway arch (रायसेनमण्डलम्), stupa in rear.

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The Buddhist torana at Sanchi, India (wiki)

The "common wisdom" is that Utah's Delicate Arch is simply the result of wind and water erosion. There is far more to the story of this beloved monolithic feature than that.

Delicate Arch is an Indian Buddhist, Hindu, Jain torana ("temple gateway arch" or vandanamalikas) carved by Buddhists, as in Sanchi, in what is today North America.

Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhists use many Hindu (ancient Vedic) symbols and customs, which were incorporated into their tradition. The torana is one such symbol as is the chatra [which may actually represent a mushroom or UFO flying saucer vimana, though most often is said to be a royal umbrella].

Delicate Arch, Arches Nat'l Park, Utah

A search engine using the term "torana" easily locates many examples. Delicate Arch is one. The side of the arch that is called "delicate" is actually the face of a mythological sea creature named Makara.

Makara is the mount (animal vehicle) that the Hindu god Varuna rides through day and night skies. The pile of rocks on the crest of the arch is the remains of the saddle on Makara's back.

• See "The Decline of Varuna"

However, in ancient times Varuna was at the top of the list of Hindu gods. In the event anyone suspects the author of getting "way ahead of himself," there is something to share.

If one were a devout Buddhist in the 5th century with a desire to build a torana to honor Varuna, it would not have been possible to find a better location to honor the god of the day and night sky.

Delicate Arch is definitely the spot where it would have been chosen to be carved. Delicate Arch is awesome during the day, when the majority of people who come see it travel to the base of the arch itself.

However, unless one has seen it at night one has not seen it at all. The splendor of Delicate Arch at night is beyond words. The Milky Way can clearly be seen between the arch supports. Fortunately, since many cannot get to it by day much less by night, there is an alternative. Put the search engine on "Delicate Arch night time images."

The work of the religious devotees/construction crew that created this monument to honor Varuna many years ago still bears witness to the strength of their belief.