Introduction
Beginning of Buddhist Architecture in India
Early Buddhist Architecture
Features of Buddhist architecture
Stupas
Chaityas
Rock-CutArchitecture
Viharas
• The Buddhist Architecture began with the
development of various symbols, representing
aspects of the Buddha's life(563BCE- 483BCE)
Fig: Sanchi Stupa
• Indian Emperor Ashoka, not only
established Buddhism as the state
religion of his large Magadh empire, but
also opted for the Architectural
monuments to spread Buddhism in
different places.
• The major features of this style are
Stupas, Stambhas, Chaityas, Viharas.
Fig: SunTemple,Konark
• Buddhist religious architecture developed in the Indian Subcontinent in the
3rd century BCE.
• Three types of structures are associated with the religious architecture of early Buddhism:
monasteries (Viharas), places to venerate relics (stupas), and shrines or prayer halls
(chaityas also called chaitya grihas), which later came to be called temples in some places.
• This religion initially did not involve making of figures or idols but graduallythe
followers started making sculptural representations of Buddha.
There are 2 phases of Buddhism:
1. HINAYANA- 2ND CENTURYBC-2ND CENTURYAD
2. MAHAYANA-3RD CENTURYAD – 7TH CENTURYAD
• Viharas initially were only temporary shelters used by wandering monks during the
rainy season, but later were developed to accommodate the growing and increasingly
formalized Buddhist monasticism(monkhood). An existing example is at Nalanda
(Bihar).
• The initial function of a stupa was the veneration and safe-guarding of the relics of the
Buddha. The earliest surviving example of a stupa is in Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh).
• In accordance with changes
in religious practice, stupas
were gradually incorporated
into chaitya-grihas (prayer
halls).
• These reached their high
point in the 1st centuryBC,
exemplified by the cave
complexes of Ajanta and
Ellora (Maharashtra).
• The Pagoda is an evolution
of the Indianstupa.
• Buddhist architecture emerged slowly in the period
following the Buddha’s life, along with the Hindu
temple architecture.
• Brahmanist temples at this time followed a simple plan – a
square inner space, the sacrificial arena, often with a
surrounding ambulatory route separated by lines of columns,
with a conical or rectangular sloping roof, behind a porch or
entrance area, generally framed by freestanding columns or a
Gupta period temple at Sanchi besides the Apsidal hall
with Maurya foundation colonnade. The external profile represents Mount Meru, the
• The basic plan survives to this day abode of the gods and centre of the universe. The dimensions
in Buddhist temples and proportions were dictated by sacred mathematical
throughout the world. formulae.
• The profile became elaborated and
the characteristic mountain shape • This simple plan was adopted by Early Buddhists, sometimes
seen today in many Hindu temples adapted with additional cells for monks at the periphery
was used in early Buddhist sites (especially in the early cave temples such as at Ajanta,
and continued in similar fashion in India).
some cultures.
• In others, such as Japan and
Thailand, local influences and
differing religious practices led to
differentarchitecture.
• Early temples were often timber, and littletrace remains,
although stone was increasingly used.
• Cave temples such as those at Ajanta have survived better
and preserve the plan form, porch and interior
arrangements from this earlyperiod.
• As the functions of the monastery-temple expanded, the
plan form started to diverge from the Brahmanist tradition
and became more elaborate, providing sleeping, eating
and study accommodation.
• Acharacteristic new development at religious sites was
The Borobudur Temple,Indonesia the stupa. Stupas were originally more sculpture than
• One of the earliest Buddhist sites still in existence building.
is at Sanchi, India, and this is centred on a stupa
said to have been built by King Ashoka (273-236
BCE).
• The original simple structure is encased in a later,
more decorative one, and over two centuries the
whole site was elaboratedupon.
• The four cardinal points are marked byelaborate
stone gateways.
• As with Buddhist art, architecture followed the
spread of Buddhism throughout south and east
Asia and it was the early Indian models that
served as a first reference point, even though
Buddhism virtually disappeared from India itselfin
the 10th century.
Buddhist Templeduring GuptaPeriod.
• Decoration of Buddhist sites
became steadily more elaborate
through the last two centuries
BCE, with the introduction of
human figures, particularly on
stupas.
• However, the Buddha was not
represented in human form until
the 1st century CE. Instead,
aniconic symbols were used. This
is treated in more detail in
Buddhist art, Aniconic phase.
Temples became Backdrop for Budhha images
• It influenced the development of
temples, which eventually
became a backdrop for Buddha
images in most cases.
The major features of this styleare:
•Stupas (Buddhist shrine)
•Stambhas (Pillars)
•Chaityas (Caves)
•Vihaaras (Monasteries)
• Out of these, the prominent examples of Chaitya Hall and Viharas can be found in Rock-Cut
Architecture.
• Even the Stupa can be found in certain Chaitya halls in a miniature form.
• DEFINITION: Dome-shaped structures used to house sacred relics of the monks and hence
also known as “Relic-shrines”.
• CONSTRUCTIONMATERIALS:Earth materials covered with stones or bricks. The plan,
elevation and the basic structure all derived from the circle.
• STUPA IS MOUND OF THE EARTH ENCLOSING A RELIC CAN BECOMPARED WITH THE
MASSIVE FORM OF THE GREAT PYRAMIDS OF EGYPT
CLASSIFIEDINTO THREETYPES.
•SARIKA STUPA-raised over body relics.
•PARIBHOJI KA STUPA- erected overthe
articles, like the bowl, the sanghati
•UDDESHI KA
STUPA- Stupas built
as commemorative
monuments.
• Sanchi Stupa is located 40 km north east of Bhopal, and 10 km from Besnagar and Vidisha
in the central part of the state of Madhya Pradesh.
• Sanchi Stupa was built by Ashoka (273-236 B.C.)
• Sanchi Stupas is located on the top of the Sanchi hill, which raise about 100M highabove
the plain.
• The 'Great Stupa' at Sanchi is the oldest stone structure in India
• The spherical dome symbolized the infinite
space of the sky. The dome is called as anda
or egg.
• The dome is a solid brick work is 36.60M in
dia, and 16.46M high.
Elevation
• Alarge hemispherical dome which is flatat
the top, and crowned by a triple umbrella or
Chattra on a pedestal surrounded by a
square railing or Harmika.
• Arailing enclosed called Vedica whichis
about 3.35 M high leaving anambulatory
passage or pradikshina path with the
gateways.
• The upper ambulatory passage (midhi)
4.87M high from the ground and1.8M
wide.
• There are four gateways known asToronas
at the cardinal points of thecampus.
Toronas built by ivory or metal worker.
Plan
Harmika or triple umbrella
Upper Ambulatory Stone vedica
1.8m wide3.35m high
Ushnisha
Urdhava patas
45cm dia
60-90 cmc/c
Suchi 60 cm dia
Lower Ambulatory 3.35 m. high Steps leading to upperambulatory
• Toranas are associated with Buddhist stupas like
the Great Stupa in Sanchi, as well as with Jain
and Hindu structures, and also with several
secular structures.
• In the 1st century BCE, four elaborately carved
toranas (ornamental gateways) and a balustrade
encircling the entire structure were added
around the sanchi stupa built during Mauryan
period.
• The next development was the free standing monolithic columns erected over sites
selected because of their sacred associations. They were basically stone objects.
• DEFINITION: In the context Of Hindu Mythology, stambha, is believed to be a cosmic
column.
• DESIGN: A stambha consists of a circular column or shaft slightly tapering towards the
summit (monolithic). On top of this shaft is the Persepolitan bell or the inverted lotus
shaped base. Above this is the abacus on top of which rests the crowning sculpture. These
three portions were carved out of a single stone (monolithic).
The famous iron pillar from the Gupta period is a fine specimen, withstanding exposure
to rain & storm, yet remaining smooth and unrusted bearing testimony to the mastery of
Indian metal-casting.
Iron Pillar
Ashokan Pillar
• ABuddhist shrine or prayer hall with
stupa at one end.
• Made for large gatherings of devotees.
• Made in rock-cut due to permanencyof
structure.
• Chaityas were influenced by ascetic
lifestyle of Vedic period and tendency
of hermits to retire insolitude.
• Accommodates Stupa.
• Apsidal Plan.
• No division between nave and chaitya i.e space for congregational service not
clearly defined.
• Vaulted hall.
• Colonnades.
• Side aisles.
• The stupa evolved from being a
funerary mound carrying object of
worship, had a sacral value.
• Building needed to accommodate
copies of stupa and provide shelter.
• A structural house for religious
activities.
• Birth of temples with idolworship.
• Building had almost circular plan and
a domed roof.
• The next significant development was
the rock-cut architecture.
• Its earliest and most imp. Marvel was
the Lomas Rishi Cave, at Barabar hills,
Bihar.
• Derived from timber huts and wooden
arch. of Vedic times.
• They were rectangular halls, with finely
polished interior walls. There were a
number of well proportioned pillars,
generally around 35, and a semi-circular
roof.
• Opposite one entrance stood a stupa. All
the pillars have capitals on them, with
carvings of a kneeling elephant mounted
on bell-shaped bases.
• Architecturally, chaityas show
similarities to Roman Design
concepts of columns and arch.
• The monks built many structures
which were carved out of a single
massive rock, done with hammer
and chisel, bare hands.
• The chaityas were almost 40 meters
long, 15 meters wide and 15 meters
high.
• The pillars had three parts: prop, which is the base which is buried into the ground;
the shaft, the main body of the pillar which is polished and chiseled; and capital,
the head of the pillar where figures ofanimals are carved.
• The Stupa at the end of the Chaitya Hall has an umbrella at the top. This Umbrella
suggests association with Buddhism.
• There is a wooden facade, made out of teak wood. The facade makes it look as if
the entire structure was resting on the back of an elephant with ivory tusks and
metal ornaments.
• Wooden construction inspired from Vedic
period imitated in natural rock.
• Supplemented with wooden surfaces for e.g..
Screens etc. (half timber construction)
• Shows similarities to Roman concept of column
and arch, but no evidence of anyrelation.
• Rectangular halls with finely
polished interior walls.
• Well proportioned pillars with
capitals(around 35).
• Semi circular roof.
• Pillar had three parts: prop, base
buried in ground and shaft.
• Stupa at the end.
• Extensive use of motifs, decorative
and symbolic.
• Chaityas normally had a great-horseshoe archway with a wall or screen below.
• There was sun window in center of the archway for light.
• Amonastery, arrangement of cells for accomodation of monks
• Dwellings were simply wooden construction/thatched bamboo huts
• Near settlements on trade routes
• After first century AD, Viharas came in as educational institutes
• Quadrangular court for gathering
• Surrounded by small cells
• Front wall incorporated a shrine for
image of Buddha
• Cells had rock cut platforms for beds
• Viharas were not alike in design
• Doorways were on sides of the walls
of main hall
• Rock-cut architecture basically used wooden
construction down to joinery details
• Hardly structural
• In brick, corbelled arches are used, and very large
bricks to for large span
• motifs used floral patterns, animals(used
throughout the kingdom)
• They were the residential places of the Buddhist priest(monks).
• The main hall was entered through a doorway, leading to an assembly hall, dining chambers
and meditation cells.
• The walls depict figures of the Buddha.
• The columns were of 60 meters height and well-chiselled.
Typical Plan of aVihaara
•Uniformity of texture inhills.
•Horizontally stratified.
•Ends in perpendicular cliffs.
BUILDING STRATEGY
•Cliff was made perpendicular
•Entry was made
•Asmall excavated for architect
monk
•Excavation from top to bottom
•Subsequently other cells were
build
• Main seats of this school were Ajanta, Ellora,Auarngabad.
• There was a change in iconography since both schools perceived different imagery of
Buddha.
• Elements of Chaitya Halls remained same.
• Viharas became finer and more elaborate.
• Caves excavated out of low ridge hills,
Buddhists occupied best site.
• Dhedwada group(caves 1 to 5) and 6
to 12 were two maingroups
• Mahanwada cave(no.5) had both
monastery and hall, it had two parallel
platforms for seating of priests
• Later group had chaitya hall no. 10
• Cave no. 2 has 48 pillars colonnade
attached with side gallery.
• Cushion pillar comes in focus now
