BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE MOUDULE – 1.1

 INTRODUCTION TO CLASSIC BUDDHIST
ARCHITECTURE
 Buddhist religious architecture developed in the Indian Subcontinent in the 3rd
century BC.
 Three types of structures are associated with the religious architecture of
early Buddhism: monasteries (viharas), places to worship relics (stupas), and shrines or
prayer halls (chaityas also called chaitya grihas), which later came to be called temples in
some places.
 The study of the Stupa may be approached from three tangents, namely, its historical,
stylistic and regional development. The historical development of the Stupa can be
roughly divided into two phases:
 Hinayana,
 Mahayana,
 These two religious groups both share a lot of similarities, but one of the major
differences is that Mahayana Buddhists believe that The Buddha is a God but Hinayana
Buddhists believe that The Buddha was an ordinary Human.
 In terms of construction, the Stupa is found in two major forms. First, the free standing
or 'built-up', and second the rock-cut or excavated (chaitya hall).

HOA, 2nd SEM MOUDULE – 1.1

 INTRODUCTION TO CLASSIC BUDDHIST
ARCHITECTURE

 Distinctive Buddhist architectural structures and sculptures such as stupas,

pagodas, monasteries and caves, speak about the phases of the Buddhist stages.

 Caves : these are the oldest form of Buddhist architecture. They are also
known as rock-cut monasteries which are cut-out from cliffs and rock walls. In
India the most significant caves are the Ajanta caves.

 Stupa : they hold the most important place among all the earliest Buddhist
sculptures. It is a dome shaped monument used to house Buddhist’ relics.
Most important and well preserved stupa in India is the Sanchi Stupa.

 Pagoda : these are the principle form of Buddhist architecture, which are used
as religious multistory Buddhist towers, erected as a memorial or shrine.

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 THE STUPA
 Stupas are structures built of earth, covered with stone or brick. The plan, elevation,
section and the total form which are all derived from a circle- the origin of the most
powerful form of Buddhism.
 They are usually erected over the sacred relics of the monks and worshipped with
great respect.They are also known as “relic shrines”.
 The stupa more than a funeral mound was planned like a Vedic village, on the lines of
divine order. The spherical dome symbolized the infinite space of the sky.

HOA, 2nd SEM MOUDULE – 1.1

 Dome is also called “Anda” or “Egg” or
“Womb”(Garbha).
 At the top of the dome, was a small
square balcony in a decorative form,
called the “Harmika” enclosing a pedestal.
 As a mark of dignity, a three-tiered stone
or wooden umbrella (chatravali)
supported on a shaft (chatrayasti) was
raised over the pedestal.
 The brick work surface of the dome was
finished off with thick layer of lime
mortar.
 In some stupas, the dome was coloured
and even gilded and some recesses were
left at intervals for receiving small lamps
to be lit at the time of festivals.

HOA, 2nd SEM MOUDULE – 1.1

 The stupa was enclosed within a wooden
or stone railing called “Vedica” leaving an
ambulatory passage with gate-ways called
“Toranas” at each end.
 Sometimes around the base of the dome, a
terrace was added from the ground, thus
forming a separate and upper ambulatory
passage or “pradakshina path”. An access
to climb it was provided by double
staircase or “sopana”.
 The upper pradakshina path was perhaps
reserved for the monks, the traditional one
at the ground was open to all common
devotees.

HOA, 2nd SEM MOUDULE – 1.1

 SANCHI STUPA
 Located about 40 km from Bhopal, Madhya
Pradesh, the Great Stupa at Sanchi is the oldest
stone structure in India and was originally
commissioned by the emperor Ashoka in the
3rd century BC. Its nucleus was a simple
hemispherical brick structure built over the
relics of the Buddha.
 The dome “anda” or “egg” is a solid brick-work
32.32 m in dia and 12.8 m high. The dome has a
slight ‘crushed’ profile at the top and was
surmounted by “harmika” with a central triple
umbrella. The facing of the dome consists of dry
masonry composed of dressed stones laid in
even courses.
 The terrace (medhi) 4.87 m high from the
ground was added thus creating a separate and
upper ambulatory passage of 1.8 m wide access
which was provided by a double staircase
(sopana) with high balustrade, on the south side.

HOA, 2nd SEM MOUDULE – 1.1

 SANCHI STUPA
TORANA
 There are 4 gateways known as “toranas” at the
cardinal points and are slightly staggered from the
railing enclosing the stupa.
 These toranas, the entrance to the ambulatory,
were accepted as the traditional type of
ceremonial portals.
 Torana consists of 2 square upright columns with
capitals of lion or elephant heads denoting
strengths.
 These panels support three horizontal panels
between each of which is row of ornamental
balusters.

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 SANCHI STUPA
 The panels are supported by figurines, a
group of dwarfs (on the western portal), lions
(on the southern portal) and elephants (on
the northern and eastern portal).
 The panels have volutes at their terminal
ends surmounting with animal sculpture.
 The top panel is crowned with Tri-Ratna (the
three jewels) symbol of the Buddhist trinity,
with the wheel of justice in the centre which
rests on the elephant- shaped pedestal.
 The total height of this is 10.36 m with a
width of 3m.

HOA, 2nd SEM MOUDULE – 1.1

 SANCHI STUPA
 The ambulatory or the pradakshina path is
fenced by railing (vedica) 3.35 m high all USHNISHA
round the stupa.
 The vedica or railing consists of upright
columns called “urdhva-pathas” octagonal in
plan, 45 cm in dia and spaced at 60 to 90 cm
from each other connected by three
horizontals called “suchi” or needles 60 cm
deep threaded through the holes of the
upright.
SUCHI
 Outside the railing there stood once a URDHVA PATHA

famous Ashoka pillar.

HOA, 2nd SEM MOUDULE – 1.1

 SANCHI STUPA
 The Ashoka Pillar erected in the 3rd century
B.C. consists of a shaft and a crown of four
lions that stand back to back.
 It is rather unfortunate but the total Ashoka
Pillar does not stand here now.
 The shaft of the pillar can only be seen at the
gateway and the crown has been kept in the
museum.
 The figure of these lions was later adopted as
the National Emblem of India.

HOA, 2nd SEM MOUDULE – 1.1

 CHAITYAS
 Chaityas or ‘sacred spots’ are the temples as well as assembly halls created out of
particular demands of Buddhist religion.
 These became necessary to accommodate those who have assembled to pay their
respect.
 These have small rectangular doorway which opens to a vaulted hall, with an apsidal
end and divided longitudinally by two colonnades forming a broad nave in the
center with 2 side aisles.
 At the end is the stupa also carved in natural rock with enough space around it for
walking all around it.
 The roof is semi- circular.
 The chaityas resemble churches.

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 CHAITYA HALL, KARLI
 Chaitya Hall was built between 50 and 70
AD. Unlike other buildings that were
built atop of or at least out of stone and
earth, this hall was built into a hill, carved
and sculpted out of the rock itself and
wooden timbers.
 The entrance of the chaitya is very grand
and consists of three doorways set
underneath a gallery
 The chaitya hall is 38.5 m long and 13 m
wide with vaulted roof rising to a height
of 13.7 m.
 The roof is supplemented by series of
wooden ribs which are closely spaced.
 The hall is divided by two rows of PLAN AND SECTION OF CHAITYA AT KARLI
columns forming a broad nave in the
center.

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 CHAITYA HALL, KARLI
 Each column is 1.33 m in diameter and
7.32 m in height, with bell shaped capital
which supports a pair of kneeling
elephants carrying a male and female
riders and those of horses and tigers in
their rear.
 The shaft is octagonal in shape and vase-
shaped base.
 At the end is a stupa, carved in natural
rock, with railing and inverted stepped
pyramid at the top.
 A column with four lions is erected at
the entrance of the chaitya.
 Chaitya Hall was built to worship Buddha,
as is evidenced by the beautiful columns
inside that are covered in carvings of
Buddha’s life and work.

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 CHAITYA HALL, KARLI

HOA, 2nd SEM MOUDULE – 1.1