1

THEORY REFERENCE NOTES

COURSE: B.Arch
SEMESTER: SEMESTER – 3
AUTHOR NAME: Ibrahim sir

HISTORY OF
ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE-2
CONTENT

S.No CHAPTERS PAGE#

1. NOTES – UNIT:1 1-8

CREDITS

Source: Internet, Civil Content contributors:

contributors
engineering textbooks,
architectural textbooks,
JNAFAU library
Editor: Ibrahim sir
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UNIT-1
SYLLABUS:
Development of Vedic Architecture, Development of
architecture in India and rest of Asia in Buddhist Architecture

DEVELOPMENT OF VEDIC ARCHITECTURE:

From the Vedas, the oldest known Hindu scriptures, scholars have
learned about the existence of the Vedic period in ancient Indian
history. This civilization flourished between the 1500 BC and 500
BC on the Indo-Gangetic Plains of the Indian sub-continents along
the Saraswati River.
Vedic Village: The Vedic village also called as Aryan village was a
settlement on the side of a river. It was characterised by affording
facilities for agriculture or for cattle rearing. The presence of
drainage systems and public baths showed advanced standards of
hygiene and sanitation and ingenious planning.
Types of housing: Aryan Village was incorporation of timber and
thatched huts of different types.
 Circular hut: The most elementary hut was circular in plan.
They were constructed with bamboo and thatch. Circular huts
were easy to construct and erect but had functionality
limitations.
 Rectangular huts: A rectangular hut was similar to a circular
hut but with an addition to it. With the help of bamboos, a
barrel like form was created for the roof by bending the
bamboo in the form of an arch.
Planning: A conglomerate of a group of three or four huts around
an open courtyard was a typical Aryan village. The village was
screened-off from the wildlife of the surrounding forests by a

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timber fence. A gateway was installed in front of the entry to

provide controlled entry.
DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE IN INDIA AND REST OF
ASIA IN BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE
The Buddhist architecture has its root deeply implanted in the
Indian soil. It began with the development of various symbols,
representing aspects of the Buddha's life (563 BCE - 483 BCE).
It was the Indian emperor Ashoka, who 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 principal contributions made by this school to the art and
architecture of the following:
a. A series of edicts (write ups) inscribed on the rocks,
b. A number of tumuli or Stupas (structure containing
Buddhist relics)
c. Monolithic pillars (Single massive rocks)
d. Buddhist monasteries.
e. Shrines
f. Vast palace
g. Rock-cut chambers.
Architecture buildings: Three types of structures are associated
with the religious architecture of early Buddhism:
1. Viharas (Monasteries): Viharas initially were only temporary
shelters used by wandering monks during the rainy season, but
later were developed to accommodate the growing and
increasingly formalised Buddhist monasticism.
a. Ajanta & Ellora

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2. Stupas: The initial function of a stupa was the veneration and

safe-guarding of the relics of the Buddha.
a. Sanchi Stupa - Bhopal,
b. Stupa at Sarnath - Benaras
c. Stupa at Amravathi - Andhra Pradesh
d. Stupa at Barhut - Madhya Pradesh,
e. Stupa at Budhagaya - Bihar
3. Chaitya grihas: In accordance with changes in religious
practice, stupas were gradually incorporated into chaitya-
grihas (temple halls)
a. Chaitya caves at Bhaja at Bombay
b. Chaitya hall at kondane
c. Chaitya at Karli
4. Buddhist Columns or Buddhist Orders
a. Ashoka Pillar
Viharas (Monasteries):
In the early decades of Buddhism the wandering monks of the
Sangha, dedicated to asceticism and the monastic life, had no fixed
abode. During the rainy season they stayed in temporary shelters.
These dwellings were simple wooden constructions or thatched
bamboo huts. However, as it was considered an act of merit not
only to feed a monk but also to shelter him, sumptuous
monasteries were created by rich lay. They were located near
settlements, close enough for begging alms from the population
but with enough seclusion to not disturb meditation.
They consist of a main-hall entered by a door-way. They also
contain the assembly hall and dining chambers. From the halls
deep into the rocks, cells were provided for meditation. The
shrines contained beautiful figures of Buddha and the walls of the

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antechamber depicted the stories based on Buddha's life and fine

frescoes as in case of Ajanta.
Some great structural viharas were about 60m high covered with
glazed tiles. Pillars were richly chiselled in the form of dragons.
Beams were painted in red and rafter with all colors of rainbow.
Some of the important Buddhist viharas are those at Ajanta,
Ellora, Nasik, Karle, Kanheri Bagh and Badami.
Stupa:
The word "stupas", came from the word thupa. The stupa was
more like a memorial place. They were placed over the holy
leftovers of the monks and worshipped with great worship.
The spherical dome symbolized the infinite space of the sky,
abode of God. It was also called 'Anda ' or 'Egg' or Garbha (Womb)
as it contains the seed namely the remains of the monk. At the top
of the dome, was a small square balcony in decorative form, called
“Harmika‟, (Heaven of 33 gods) enclosing a pedestal (base)
As a mark of dignity a three-tiered stone or chhatravali (wooden
umbrella) supported on chhatrayasti (shaft) was raised over the
pedestal (base) which was the vedic altar of burnt sacrifice and
represented the village shrine. In some stupas, the dome was
colored and even gilded and some recess (gap) was left at
intervals for lighting small lamps to be lit at the time of festivals.
Chaitya:
A chaitya is a Buddhist shrine including a stupa. They were
probably constructed to hold large numbers of devotees and to
provide shelter for them.
The more spectacular and more numerous chaityas, however,
were cut into living rock as caves. They were built as standing
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structures with the stupa being surrounded by a colonnaded

processional path enclosed by an outer wall with a congregation
hall adjoining it.
The earliest rock-cut chaityas, similar to free-standing ones,
consisted of an inner circular chamber with pillars to create a
circular path around the stupa and an outer rectangular hall for
the congregation of the devotees. Over the course of time, the wall
separating the stupa from the hall was removed to create an
apsidal hall with a colonnade around the nave and the stupa.
Buddhist columns:
The columns are of two types one is based on
1. Persepolitan type and other
2. Greco-Roman type
Persepolitan type column: It is an octagonal with bell shaped
capital supporting animal sculptures such as lion, horse, bull,
sedent, elephants carrying male and female ride on a chakra or
wheel. The shaft is highly polished and has a vase-shaped base
probably derived from the upright timber post placed in an
earthen pot to protect it from attacks of insects and water
Greco-Roman type column: The Greco-Roman type is rectangular
with shallow flutes. They are tall and slender. The height nearly
six to eight times its lower diameter. At the top is a capital usually
with a fluted vase motif.
TORANAS
Toranas is the entrance widely accepted as the traditional type of
ceremonial potals. It excels the array of architectural
embellishment.

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It consists of two square uprite columns with capital of lion or

elephant heads denoting strength. These columns support three
separate horizontal panels between each of which is a row of
ornamental balusters. These panels are supported by Atlantean
figures, a group of dwarfs, lions and elephant. The total height of
this erection is 10.36m with a width of 3m.
PAGODA
A pagoda is a tiered tower built in the traditions originating in
historic East Asia or with respect to those traditions, with
multiple eaves common in nepal, india, china, japan, korea,
vietnam, burma and other parts of Asia. Some pagodas are used as
houses of worship.
Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most
commonly Buddhist and were often located in or near Viharas.
The modern pagoda is an evolution of the a tomb-like structure
where sacred relics could be kept safe and venerated.
The architectural structure of the stupa has spread across Asia,
taking on many diverse forms as details specific to different
regions are incorporated into the overall design. The origin of the
pagoda can be traced to the Stupa build during the 3rd century
BC.
AJANTA CAVES AND ELLORA CAVES:
Ajanta Caves: These caves are about 60 km from Jalgaon. There
are some 30 caves out of which 9, 10, 19, 26 and 29 are chaitya
halls and others are monasteries or viharas (place for monks to
live). The Ajanta Frescoes contain beautiful paintings and
illustrations of Buddha's life

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Ellora caves: These caves are about 34 km from Aurangabad.

They are named after the King Ela who ruled over that village.
There are in total twelve Buddhist caves out of which only one
chaitya and the remainings are viharas. They are all adorned with
images of Buddha seated on a throne and flanked by two
attendants, Padmapani and Vajrapani
TORANA AND VEDIKA:
Torana and Vedika are the two main structures of a stupa. In
Buddhist architecture, Torana is a sacred gateway that is usually
sculpted. Its typical form is a projecting cross-piece resting on two
columns. It is made of wood or stone, and the cross-piece
generally looks like three bars placed one on the top of the
other.Toranas are also referred to as vandanamalikas. There are
many different types of toranas - dvara-toranas, patra-toranas,
ratne-toranas and so on.
Vedika is a protective fence made of carved and polished stones
that surrounds a Buddhist stupa and symbolically separates the
inner sacrum from the surroundings.Vedika fences served as
protection against free-roaming animals. Beyond their original
function, the vedika fences marked the boundaries of a sacred
precinct to the outside world.
SANCHI STUPA:
Sanchi Stupais a Buddhist complex in Madhya Pradesh, famous
for a number of Stupas and monasteries on a hilltop. The Great
Stupa at Sanchi is one of the oldest stone structures in India and
an important monument of Indian Architecture. A qualified
Buddhist teacher is required to build a stupa, and Sanchi Stupa
was built by none other than Emperor Ashoka, who entrusted
himself with the task of spreading the philosophy of Buddhist
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teachings after the horrific war of Kalinga. Emperor Ashoka built

it in the 3rd century BCE to honor Lord Buddha.
The hemispherical brick structure is built over the relics of
Buddha and is surrounded by four gateways called Toranas, each
representing love, trust, courage and peace. It is around 37
meters in diameter and over 16 meters high.

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