History of Architecture - II

[21ARC24]
II Semester C Section -
Faculty: Asst Prof. Prathiksha R
Module 1

1. Introduction to Classical (Buddhist): Mahayana phase, stupa and rock cut cave Architecture.
2. Buddhist Examples: Study of principles of design of buildings through study of three kinds of Architecture: a)
Monumental; Great Stupa at Sanchi, Chaitya at Karli, Viharas at Ajanta, and Toranas at Sanchi b)
Domestic (Built to inhabit) and c) Civic space.
3. Introduction to Jain Architecture: Study of principles of design of buildings through study of three kinds of
Architecture: a) Monumental; b) Domestic (Built to inhabit) and c) Civic space.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

Timeline

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The early structures that were built during the empires were permanent in nature and long lasting.
Non-Structural or rock-cut means that they were carved out of mountain cliff or huge rocks.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

Introduction

● The Buddhist Architecture began with the

development of various symbols, representing
aspects of the Buddha's life(563 BCE- 483 BCE)

● 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, Fig: Sanchi Stupa
Stambhas, Chaityas, Viharas.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

BEGINNING OF BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE IN INDIA :

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 gradually the followers started making sculptural
representations of Buddha.

There are 2 phases of Buddhism:

HINAYANA- 2ND CENTURY BC- 2ND CENTURY AD

MAHAYANA- 3RD CENTURY AD – 7TH CENTURY AD

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R
BEGINNING OF BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE IN INDIA :

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.
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. An existing example is at Nalanda (Bihar). A
distinctive type of fortress architecture found in the former and present Buddhist kingdoms of the Himalayas are dzongs.
The initial function of a stupa was the veneration and safeguarding 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
century BC, exemplified by the
cave complexes of Ajanta and
Ellora (Maharashtra). The
Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya
in Bihar is another well known
example.
The Pagoda is an evolution of the
Indian stupa.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

EARLY BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE

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 free standing columns or a colonnade. The external
profile represents Mount Meru, the abode of the gods and centre of the universe.
The dimensions and proportions were dictated by sacred mathematical formulae.
This simple plan was adopted by Early Buddhists, sometimes adapted with
additional cells for monks at the periphery (especially in the early cave temples Gupta period temple at Sanchi besides the
such as at Ajanta, India). Apsidal hall with Maurya foundation
Evolution of Buddhist Architecture
In essence the basic plan survives to
this day in Buddhist temples throughout
the world. The profile became
elaborated and the characteristic
mountain shape seen today in many
Hindu temples was used in early
Buddhist sites and continued in similar
fashion in some cultures(such as the
Khmer). In others, such as Japan and
Thailand, local influences and differing
religious practices led to different
architecture.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

EARLY BUDDHIST TEMPLES Early temples were often timber, and little trace 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 early period. 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. A characteristic new development at religious
sites was the stupa. Stupas were originally more sculpture than
building, essentially markers of some holy site or commemorating
a holy man who lived there. Later forms are more elaborate and
The Borobudur Temple, Indonesia also in many cases refer back to the Mount Meru model.

One of the earliest Buddhist sites still in existence 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 elaborated upon. The four cardinal points are
marked by elaborate 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 itself in the 10th century.
Buddhist Temple during Gupta Period.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

BUDDHIST TEMPLES

As Buddhism spread, Buddhist architecture diverged in style, reflecting the similar trends in Buddhist art. Building
form was also influenced to some extent by the different forms of Buddhism in the northern countries,
practicing Mahayana Buddhism in the main and in the south where Theravada Buddhism prevailed.

Decoration of Buddhist sites became steadily

more elaborate through the last two
centuries BCE, with the introduction of tablets
and friezes, including 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. It influenced
the development of temples, which
eventually became a backdrop for Buddha
images in most cases.

Temples became Backdrop for Buddha images

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Features of Buddhist
Architecture
 FEATURES OF BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE

The major features of this style are:

•Stupas (Buddhist shrine)

•Stambhas (Pillars)
•Chaityas (Caves)
•Vihaaras (Monastries)

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.

Although more often, they are of a bigger scale in an independent complex. In such cases they are encased in
stone masonry.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

STUPAS (DOMES)

DEFINITION: Dome-shaped structures used to house sacred relics of the monks and hence also known as
“Relic-shrines”.

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS: Earth materials covered with stones or bricks. The plan, elevation and the basic
structure all derived from the circle.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

 BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE- STUPA

Stupa is mound of the earth enclosing a relic can be compared with the massive form of the great pyramids of
egypt

They are also called as thuppa inpali, dagaba insimbali, tope in english & dhatugrabh in sanskrit.(dhatugrabh =
relics preserved in vessel)

CLASSIFIED INTO THREE TYPES.

•SARIKA STUPA-raised over body relics.

•PARIBHOJIKA STUPA - erected over the articles,
like the bowl, the sanghati
•UDDESHIKA STUPA- Stupas built as
commemorative monuments.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

SANCHI STUPA

• 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 high above the plain.

• The 'Great Stupa' at Sanchi is the oldest stone structure in India

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

STRUCTURAL FEATURES

• 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
• a large hemispherical dome which is flat at the top,
and crowned by a triple umbrella or Chattra on a
pedestal surrounded by a square railing or Harmika.

• a railing enclosed called Vedica which is about 3.35 M

high leaving an ambulatory passage or pradikshina
path with the gateways.

• The upper ambulatory passage (midhi) 4.87M high from

the ground and 1.8M wide.

• There are four gateways known as Toronas at the

cardinal points of the campus. Toronas built by ivory or Plan
metal worker.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

PLANNING OF SANCHI STUPA
FEATURES

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HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R
HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R
 Upper
Ambulatory Harmika or triple
1.8m umbrella
wide3.35m Stone
high vedica

Ushnisha
Urdhava patas
45cm dia
Steps leading to
60-90 cmc/c
upper
Suchi 60 cm dia ambulatory

Lower Ambulatory
3.35 m. high HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R
Toranas at Sanchi

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.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

STAMBHAS (PILLARS)

• 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.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

 Iron Pillar

Ashokan
Pillar

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

CHAITYAS

● A Buddhist shrine or prayer hall with stupa at

one end.
● Made for large gatherings of devotees.
● Made in rock-cut due to permanency of
structure.
● Chaityas were influenced by ascetic lifestyle
of Vedic period and tendency of hermits to
retire in solitude.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

Basic Characteristics

● Accommodates Stupa.
● Apsidal Plan.
● No division between nave and chaitya i.e space for congregational service not clearly defined.
● Vaulted hall.
● Colonnades.
● Side aisles.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

Why a Chaitya Hall?

● 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 idol worship.
● Building had almost circular plan and a
domed roof.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

Chaityas (caves)

● 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.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

Chaityas (caves)

● 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.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

DESIGN
● 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 of animals 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.
● The ascetic nature of early Buddhism and Jainism was well suited to living a life away from the cities, in
natural caves and grottoes in the hillsides. In a circle of two hundred miles around modern Nasik, the rugged
hills of the Western Ghats are naturally suited to the creation of living space in the hillside - with steep cliffs
providing an ideal surface for carving in.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

● 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 any relation.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

● 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.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

Chaitya Arch
● Chaityas normally had a great-horseshoe archway with a wall or screen below.
● There was sun window in center of the archway for light.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

Evolution of Chaitya Hall

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HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R
Chaitya at Karli

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VIHARAS
● A monastery, 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

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

Basic Characteristics

● 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

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

Construction and Materials

● 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)

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

Viharas (MONASTERIES)
● 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 a Vihaara

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● Hinayana phase- 2nd century B.C to 2nd century A.D

● Mahayana Phase- 400 A.D -600 A.D

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

WHY WESTERN GHATS

● Uniformity of texture in hills.

● Horizontally stratified.
● Ends in perpendicular cliffs.

BUILDING STRATEGY
● Cliff was made perpendicular
● Entry was made
● A small excavated for architect monk
● Excavation from top to bottom
● Subsequently other cells were build

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

BHAJA(150 B.C)

● Most primitive hall

● 55ft by 26ft, side aisles 3.5ft wide and high stilted
vault 29ft high with closed rank wood ribs
● Facades have numerous mortice holes for fixing
elaborate wooden frontages
● Simple stupa with cylindrical base and a wooden
harmikaa and chhatri
● One central doorway+2 side ones
● Projection balcony supported on four pillars
● H shaped framework held by projection beams

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

KONDANE

● Same as bhaja, except archway, which are

partially of stone
● 66ft by 26.5ft by 28 ft
● Archway more finished and curved

PITALKHORA

● 50ft by 34.5ft by 31 ft
● Roof ribs in side aisles made of rock
● Structural columns due to fault in strata

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

AJANTA CAVE NO. 10

● 100ft by 40ft by 33ft

● Same roof ribs
● Two tiered stupa with circular base and
elongated dome

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

AJANTA CAVE NO. 9

● Entire hall rock carved

● Rectangular plan, ceilings of side aisles flat with
perpendicular pillars
● Doorway in centre and a window on either side,
topped by elegant cornice
● Lattice windows around archways
● No wooden ribs bracing the vaults

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

PANDULENA, NASIK

● Lunette above doorway

● Decoration has new motifs, pilaster in
persipoltian order
● Capital introduced in pillars
● Base decorated
● Tall and slender pillars
● Musician’s gallery

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

BEDSA

● 45.5ft by 21 ft
● Exterior consists of two rock cut columns
between pilasters acting as vestibule to the
screen at rear
● Vase shaped base-octagonal shaft and
carved capitals
● Pillars support main beam of roof
● All joints copied from timber construction
● Plain interiors

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

KARLI
● Pinnacle of Hinayana Chaitya construction 124ft by 46.5ft
by 45ft
● At front are simha stambha, 50 ft tall free standing pillar
on both side of façade, detatched to evoke reverence
● Each stands on widerock cylinder base, 16 sides shaft,
fluted abacus, above capital and a harmika pedestal
● Behind them is vestibule, front made of rock cut screen
with triple entrance and clerestory
● Vault has wind braces

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

KARLI
● In plan, this gigantic hall (45 x 150 ft) (14 × 46 m) is not remarkably different from the others (Fig 6.08). The designer of this cave
was fully conscious of the potential of visual drama that could confront a visitor entering such a vast sacred hall. There were no
mean staircases and ledges in the hillside to reach this chaitya.
● With the debris removed from the cave, a large artificial platform was built over the sloping hillside in front. The pilgrim on the
platform is overawed by two enormous 50 ft (15.2 m) high, free-standing masonry columns, crowned by glorious lion sculptures
standing like immovable sentinels on either side (Fig 6.09).
● The facade behind is a rock-cut, two-storeyed screen of stately columns. One passes into a double-height ante-room or vestibule
and is confronted by the recessed sun window set in a towering horse-shoe archway (Fig 6.10).
● The walls are richly sculptured (Fig 6.11), and the flat bare surfaces were at one time painted with colourful scenes from Buddha's
legendary life.
● Through this magnificent facade, one enters the twilight space of the interior and gradually discerns the arrangement of a
central apse flanked by massive columns, with two narrower ones on either side (Fig 6.12): At the end of the deep cave looms
the most sacred object of veneration, a sculpture of the Buddha moulded into the hemispherical profiles of the familiar stupa.
● Magic is created by soft luminosity rather than light that filters in through the outer colonnade and screens and the openings of
the sun window, and falls like a delicate mantle on the stupa situated, seemingly, at the end of a fathomless cavern.
● It is impossible not to be moved by the solemn majesty of this unique place of worship.
● Builders were to return and continue to carve out cave after cave through the centuries at other sites, including the well known
ones at Ajanta and Ellora.
● The latter builders, however, laid greater emphasis on the decorative rather than the spatial aspect.
● The chaitya hall of the first century AD at Karli remained, architecturally at least, an unrivalled wonder of the rock-cutter's art, and
an unending source of inspiration to the Indian builder.
● For, as we shall see, though structural techniques evolved over the centuries, the Indian craftsman remained for ever conscious
of the fragile and yet powerful relationship between light, space and sculpture that had endowed the caves of the Buddhists
with magical qualities beyond the comprehension of day to day architecture.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

KARLI

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

KANHERI

● Last hinayana chaitya hall, 2nd century AD

● 86ft by 40ft by 50ft
● Courtyard in front of exterior contained with
a small wall, accessible by steps
● Within a simple stambha as at karle but
attached
● Outer fixed plain wall screen with 3 tall
square opening below and 5 window
clerestory
● Half timber construction

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

VIHARA AT KONDANE

● Central hall was pillared

● 23 by 29 columns in colonnades, with cells
on three side
● Cornice over the portico, copy of wooden
construction methods. Portico was pillared
and had 3 square headed openings.
Portico also had motifs
● Columns supported roof

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

PITALKHORA

● Few cells
● Cells were vaulted chambers with ribbed
roofs

Ajanta(Hinayana Phase)
● Vihara no. 8 was attached to chaitya hall
no.9
● Vihara no.12 to chaitya hall no.10
● Vihara no. 13 had provision for expansion

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R
NASIK(1ST CENTURY AD)

● Mahapana (cave no. 8) was excavated first

● Its columns were copies of Ganesh Lena
Chaitya at Junnar(contemporary)
● Lotus base on pedestal
● Animal groups on abacus
● Later altered to Mahayan style
● Sri Yajma (No. 15) and Gautamiputra(No. 3)
were 2 more Viharas in this series
● Sri Yamja had columned portico, large
central hall without pillars’ stone beds
● Gautamiputra was elaborate, with pillars
having pairs of elephants, bulls, gryphon,
alternating with scroll of foliage
● Doorway similar to sanchi torana

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

MONASTERIES AT GANDHARA Basic Characteristics

● Buddhist interpretation of hellenic model of ● Intention Indian, treatment Greek for eg.
Greece called Greco-Bactrian Style
● Sites situated at modern day Peshawar and Fire-altar, animal capitals, sculpture, pediments,
Rawalpindi entablature introduced
● Region was visited by Hiuen Tsang in 7th ● Stimulation of image worship
century B.C, spreading Buddhism(cult ● Statues of Buddhas etc, corinthian capitals with
religion) followed by Alexander in 350 B.C Buddha in leaves of Acanthus
bringing Greek style ● Monastery had irregular aggregation consisting
● Gandhara became independent in 250 B.C, of Stupa and Sangharama
finally conquered by Scythians

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

MONASTIC SANCTUARY(TAKHT-I-BAHAI)

● Axial Plan, logical arranged

● Rectangular plan(200 ft long)
● Stupa court on South, monastery
on north
● Small chapel on terrace
● West had conference hall
● Kitchens etc on rest of site
● Stupa treated artistically
● Courtyard-quadrangle 45 ft by 55 ft
● Central platform 20 ft by 8 ft high
on which there was a Stupa with
six-tiered umbrella
● No true arches
● Simple unadorned room in
Sangharama

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

MONASTIC SANCTUARY (TAKHT-I-BAHAI)

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

TAXILA(NEAR RAWALPINDI) 2ND CENTURY B.C

● Distyle in antis style

● 158 ft by 80 ft wide
● Had a vestibule, porch, sanctuary
and a back porch (opisthodomos)
● Peristyle
● This architectural style was
practiced till 4th century AD of
Kushans
● No influence on rest of Indian style

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

Mahayana
Phase-400 A.D -600
A.D
Basic Characteristics

● Main seats of this school were Ajanta, Ellora, Aurangabad

● 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

Chaityas of Mahayana Phase

● Rock cut chaitya halls are not stone copies of timber
construction
● Only curved transoms and ribbed vaults resemble woodwork
● Carved solid rock,instead of copying slender wooden joints
● Cushion capital developed, shaft is a square prism, upper
being round in section, fluted with compressed capital

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

AJANTA CAVE NO. 10

● Exterior 38 ft by 32 ft
● Exterior entrance court with side chapels, with one doorway
and pillared portico
● Portico had a entablature and minstrel's gallery
● Vaulted roof with ribs
● Stupa monolith 22 ft high, double domed, with dome having
Buddha recessed in canopy
● Tall tiered finial, harmika and 3 decreasing parasols and a vas

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

AJANTA CAVE NO. 26

● 68ft by 36f by 31 ft
● Last Ajanta Hall
● More ornamented, right from pillars,
elaborate triforium, and recessed panels
● Portico had 3 doorways with Chaitya window
above
● Decline of style by excessive workmanship

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

VIHARA(CAVE NO. 11, 7 AND 6)

● Wooden construction
● 11 and 6 had four central pillars while 7th had 2
● 2 storied
● Had colonnades on all sides and a verandah
with a 54 sq. Ft hall
● doorway and windows on two sides
● Pillars had vast capital base and a pedestal in
shape of caryatid

VIHARA CAVE NO. 1 AND 16

● Exterior verandah 65 ft long with 65 sq, ft main

hall
● Colonnades of twenty pillars
● 16 square cells, has a sacracium with figure of
Buddha

Typical Vihara Plan of Ajanta

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R
● Apart from carving the traditional sun windows over the
main entrances and facsimiles of bamboo gable arches
over the doors to the cells, the artists of the Gupta period
now proceeded to adorn the walls of the viharas with the
world famous frescoes of Ajanta. To achieve the effect their
first step was to cover the rough surface of the exposed
stone with a layer of clay and cow-dung mixed with
chopped straw and rice husk or animal hair, finished with a
fine coat of gypsum.

● The flat surface thus created was ready to paint on. The
basic design was outlined in red ochre, and coated with
transparent monochrome. Then with colours made from
natural dyes they depicted elaborate scenes of kings and
queens, soldiers and courtesans, monks and merchants,
travellers on horseback or in palanquins, in palaces and
houses, gardens and forests, set among the flora and fauna
of western India (Fig 8.06). These frescoes, like early Buddhist
sculptures, are yet another example of how the Indian artist
with his sharp eye for detail filled the gap created by the
traditional disdain for history writing, in our knowledge of an
ancient Indian society.

Typical Vihara Plan of Ajanta

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R
Caves at Ellora
ELLORA CAVES

● Caves excavated out of low ridge hills,

Buddhists occupied best site.
● Dhedwada group(caves 1 to 5) and 6 to
12 were two main groups
● 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

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

CAVE 6 TO 12

● Largest monasteries
● No. 12 is known as tin thaal(three stories),
can lodge 40 priests (108ft by 60 ft)
● Does not have any ornamentation
● Access is through pillared verandah
● All three floors are different

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

VISHWAKARMA CHAITYA HALL

● 85ft by 44ft by 34ft

● Plainer than Ajanta
● Stupa is foundation to support a shrine of
buddha
● Chaitya Arch compressed to a samll
opening
● Two canopies over the niches,
predecessors of Indo Aryan and Dravidian
temple shrine styles

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

AURANGABAD CAVES

● No. 3 and 7 are finest and best preserved

● No. 3 is deep cut in the rock, cella leading
out of pillared hall
● No.7 has a passage of ambulation around
it
● Pillars have combination of the bracket
with vase and foliage motif

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

CHAITYA ARCH

● Chaityas normally had a great-horseshoe

archway with a wall or screen below
● There was sun window in centre of arcway
to let light in
● First horseshoe arch was seen at Bhaja
● Sun window is semi circular aperture
divided into lunettes using curved wood
transoms and wooden braces

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

BUDDHISM IN SOUTHERN INDIA

● Eventually spread but no lasting impression, Brahmanism prevalent faith

● Two main sites Guntupalli in Kitsna District and Sankaram Hills in Visakhapatnam
● Guntupalli one of the first chaitya halls
● 18ft in diameter with domed roof 14ft high, contemporary to Lomas Rishi
● Remaining of sangamagrama has a small monastery and brick built chaitya hall
● No emphasis on planning, coarsely executed
● Sankara hall had a square based stupa with a rectangular plan
● It was a monastery, interior measuring 150ft by 70ft with three symmetrically disposed chaitya halls
● Has some of largest monolith stupas, as wide as 65 ft.
● No advances in rock-cut

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

BUILT IN BRICK (5TH CENTURY A.D TO 12TH CENTURY A.D)

● Flourished in Mathura region, Gangetic plains with rich alluvial soils

● Can be timed with size of bricks, larger the brick, earlier the period
● Later stone lintels were used
● The Chaityas in this type was Ter near Solapur and Cherzala in Kistna district,(5th century AD)
● Cherzala is small and its flat ceiling hides construction of vault, with large bricks(17inch by 9inch by 3inch)
● The chaitya hall at Ter is well-proportioned with pilasters framing the exterior
● Copies from wooden architecture
● Cherzala has a florid ornamentation
● Immense sized Buddhist sanctuaries built in Kaisa, rhomboid 1250 ft wide, and at Nalanda 1600 ft by 800 ft
● Had a stupa, temple and a shrine, and a hostel
● Statues, for. Eg dying buddha constructed to attract pilgrimage
● Had high plinths, ornamentation borrowed from rock-cut.
● Made famous from Chinese pilgrimage, who called it a ‘great vihara 200 ft high’
● Chaitya hall at Uttaresvera was 16ft by 9ft by 2ft
● They introduced wooden beams and door frames in brick construction
● Bricks are moulded and columns carved, and arches are corbelled
● Another monastic establishment was at kapilavastu, Sravasti, Paharpur etc, these were aggragation of lot of
structures, restored till lost their original forms

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

Inspiration and influence

● Inspired from Vedic wooden construction techniques, prevelant to Buddhism coming in vogue
● Inspired Indian temples, for eg. Early Brahmanical temples in South India (for eg. Chaitya window motif),
temples at Sanchi
● Even Jain caves got influenced from Buddhism, fro eg. Udaigiri
● Spread to North East

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

Temples

Since the same guild of artists worked for all the religions, there is hardly any difference in the treatment of the
Buddhist, Brahmanical and Jain temples in a particular region at a given period.

The oldest existing temple is temple 17

at Sanchi, which is also the earliest known

example of Gupta temple style. The only

décor was at the entrance present with

bands of scrolls and pillars. This temple lays

the logical foundation of temple architecture

in North India, which developed in due

course a shikhara over its basic form.

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

Temples

The Mahabodhi Temple is a Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya, marking the location where the Buddha, is said to have
attained enlightenment. Bodh Gaya is located about 96km from Patna, Bihar.

Next to the temple, on its western side, is the holy Bodhi tree and the monastery there the Bodhimanda Vihara. The
tallest tower is 55 metres (180 ft) tall.

Mahabodhi
Temple

Holy Bodhi tree

HOA-II_IIC_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R
VTU Question Papers - 21 Scheme

HOA-I_IB_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R

VTU Question Papers - 21 Scheme

HOA-I_IB_Asst Prof. Prathiksha R