BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE

IN INDIA

Now this, O monks, is the noble truth of

pain: birth is painful, old age is
painful, sickness is painful, death is
painful. Contact with unpleasant things is
painful, not getting what one wants is
painful.
 The religion
• Siddharth, also known as Gautam Buddha, (563-483 BC) led a reform movement
against the stringencies of the Vedic Systems.
• Directed to gain “enlightment” than as an alternative to the Brahmanical system.
• He advocated Eight-Fold path of right conduct as the only way out of human
suffering.
• He united mystic monks into a sangha – where they lived a life in seclusion,
passing their time in meditation in monasteries outside the precincts of city and
villages.
• Buddhism did not exclude non-buddhist deities or cultic figures.
• Worship of Buddha images were ruled out for the sect.
• After the death of Buddha, the second Buddhist council at Vaishali approved
worship of the Buddha images at vihara and chaityas, followed by a host of other
deities from the prevalent fertility and naga cults and beliefs of the
underprivileged groups.
• 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 devotees. They were located near
settlements, close enough for begging alms from the population but with enough
seclusion to not disturb meditation.
• Trade-routes were therefore ideal locations for a vihara and donations from
wealthy traders increased their economic strength. From the first century CE
onwards viharas also developed into educational institutions, due to the increasing
demands for teaching in Mahayana Buddhism.
• In the second century BCE a standard plan for a vihara was established. It could be
either structural, which was more common in the south of India, or rock-cut like
the chaitya-grihas of the Deccan. It consisted of a walled quadrangular court,
flanked by small cells. The front wall was pierced by a door, the side facing it in
later periods often incorporated a shrine for the image of the Buddha. The cells
were fitted with rock-cut platforms for beds and pillows. The unwanted rock was
excavated, leaving the carved cave structure. This basic layout was still similar to
that of the communal space of an ashrama ringed with huts in the early decades
of Buddhism.
• As permanent monasteries became established, the name "Vihara" was kept.
Some Viharas became extremely important institutions, some of them evolving
into major Buddhist Universities with thousands of students, such as Nalanda.
• Life in "Viharas" was codified early on. It is the object of a part of the Pali canon,
the Vinaya Pitaka or "basket of monastic discipline".
• Buddhist Vihara or monastery is an important form of institution associated with
Buddhism. It may be defined as a residence for monks, a centre for religious work
and meditation and a centre of Buddhist learning. Reference to five kinds of
dwellings (Pancha Lenani) namely, Vihara, Addayoga, Pasada, Hammiya and Guha
is found in the Buddhist canonical texts as fit for monks. Of these only the Vihara
(monastery) and Guha (Cave) have survived.
• Ājīvika was an ancient philosophical and ascetic movement of this period of
the Indian subcontinent.
• The Ājīvikas were contemporaries of the early Buddhists and historical Jains; the
Ājīvika movement may have preceded both of these groups. The Ājīvikas may have
been a more loosely-organized group of wandering ascetics
(shramanas or sannyasins). Their leader was Makkhali Gosala.
• Ajivikas believed that the cycle of reincarnation was determined by a precise and
non-personal cosmic principle called niyati "destiny, fate" and was completely
independent of the person's actions. They are believed to have been strict
fatalists, who did not believe in karma or the possibility of free will.
• Several rock-cut caves belonging to this sect, built during the times of Mauryan
Emperor Ashoka (r. 273 BC to 232 BC) have been found at Barabar
Caves, Jehanabad district, Bihar.
• Buddha’s life span: c.563BC to 483 BC ( or 411 or
400BC).
• Invasion of Alexander 326BC.
• Chandragupta Maurya : 340 BC; ruled from320 BC -
298BC.
• Married Helen, daughter of Seleucas 1 Nicator, one of
the generals of Alexander.
• His empire extended to Gandhara and Afghanistan.
• Fusion of Indian philosophy and Greek Art took place
which is known as Gandhara Style.
• Chandragupta was succeeded by Bindusara.
• Bindusara’s son, Asoka the Great, (304-232 BC) was a
great advocator of Buddhism. The first great stone
architecture dates from the reign of Asoka.
• During Asoka’s
rule, the third
Buddhist Council
was held at
Pataliputra and
two sects of
Buddhism was
formed –
Mahyana and
Theravada
(Hinayana).
Another sect
known as
Tantarayana
developed later
(in Tibet and
other countries).
• Theravada (Pali: थेरवाद theravāda, Sanskrit: स्थववरवाद s
thaviravāda); literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or
"the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest
surviving Buddhist school.
• It is relatively conservative, and generally closest to
early Buddhism, and for many centuries has been the
predominant religion of Sri Lanka and most of
continental Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar,
Thailand).
• Theravada is also practiced by minorities in parts of
southwest China (by the Shan and Tai ethnic
groups), Vietnam (by the Khmer Krom), Bangladesh (by
the ethnic groups of Baruas, Chakma,
and Magh), Malaysia and Indonesia, while recently
gaining popularity in Singapore and the Western world.
• The Bactrian Buddhist kingdom of Gandhara,
breaking away from the Mauryan Empire in about
200BC. Close cultural affinities with the Graeco-
Roman world existed, through trade and cultural
exchanges with Asia Minor and the Asia Greek
cities founded by Alexander.
• The Satavahanas, Andhra and Sunga kingdoms in
Central and South India started from about
185BC. These areas are less under external
influences, and their art was more indigenous in
character, reflected in beautiful Buddhist
architectural remains. (e.g. Barhut and Sanchi
Stupas), an early flowering of a synthesis of
Indian Art, which led to the classical Gupta
period.
• The Kushana Empire, under the famous ruler
Kanishka (c AD 78), with his capital at Peshawar,
showed a continued cultural influx of the Graeco-
Roman world of Asia Minor, Sassanian Persia,
Central Asia and China.
• Important centers of Art at Gandhara and
Mathura produced the first Buddha images.
• Architectural remains of this period are found in
Sirkap (Taxila), Bamiyan and Ai-Kha-Noum (4th C.
AD) in north Afghanistan, on the banks of the
river Oxus.
• Buddhism declined in India after the 7th Century
AD, and continued in Sri Lanka, South-East Asia
and Far East.
EARLY MAURYAN DYNASTY (c. 400 BC).
• Marked with cultural progress.
• Greek Ambassador Megasthenis depicted details of Pataliputra, the capital of
Chandragupta Maurya.
• The palace of Chandragupta was, according to Megasthenis, was more splendorous
than those at Susa and Ectabana.
• Every detail of early form of timber construction was imitated in the rock-cut
architecture that followed.
• Early Buddhist rock-cut halls were representation of the early wooden styles as seen in
the excavated example of Chaitya hall and monasteries at Kondane (Kondana) (Western
Ghats) – one having a barrel vault roof and the other having flat roof.
• A chaitya is a Buddhist or Jain shrine including a stupa
• A stupa (from Sanskrit: m., स्तूप, stūpa, Pāli: थुप "thūpa", literally meaning "heap") is a
mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used
by Buddhists as a place of worship. The Stupas, grouped with their rails, gateways,
processional paths, and crowning ‘umbrellas’ came to be known as the symbols of the
universe.
• Vihara (ववहार) is the Sanskrit and Pali term for a Buddhist monastery. It originally
meant "a secluded place in which to walk", and referred to "dwellings" or "refuges"
used by wandering monks during the rainy season. These became places of
international pilgrimage and dissemination of learning.
KONDANE CAVES
KONDANE CAVES
AT BEDSA
Examples of Chaitya halls are found in the Western Ghats like in Bhaja, Kondane,
Pithalkora, Bedsa, Nasik, Ajanta, Karli, and Ellora.
General description:
1. Consisting of rectangular hall entered from the front.
2. The hall contains a central nave and a single isle on either side divided by a row of
pillars.
3. The side opposite to the entrance had an apsidal end with a stupa.
4. The aisles were carries back to the stupa to form a ‘pradakhisna path’.
5. The floor was sunk in the front of entrance doorways to was feet before entering.
6. The pillars have pot-shaped bases, octagonal shafts and a capital with inverted
stepped pyramidal mould surmounted by a group of fine statuary.
7. The ceiling have a vaulted roof to which closely set wooden ribs were added
making it appealing. The aisles have a vaulted, curved or flat roofs.
8. The stupa inside the hall have a domical form, over which a Harmika and inverted
pyramid type umbrella were placed.
9. The potion of the stupa above the mid level was recessed inside making an edge
resembling a processional pathway.
10. In Hinayana Period images of Buddha were not used but in the Mahayana Period,
images of Buddha were carved in a recess within the stupa.
11. The chaitya arch windows over the entrance were once covered bu wooden
trelliswork . The form of the Chaitya arches became famous and were used as a
decorative motifs not only in Buddhist but also in later Hindu temples.
12. The exterior potion of the rock were carved with decorative motifs.
•The caves were historically associated with
the Mahāsāṃghika sect of Buddhism, as well as wealthy
patronage.
•The caves house a Buddhist monastery dating back to the
2nd century BC. The monastery was once home to two 15-
meter grand pillars.
•This complex of well-preserved Buddhist caves is built on
the difficult terrain of a rocky hillside. The complex is one
of the finest examples of the ancient rock-cut caves found
in India. Great windows light the interiors.
•The main cave has a magnificent Chaitya with huge pillars
and intricately carved reliefs dating back to the 1st century
BC. There are sculptures of both males and females, as
well as animals, including lions and elephants. The hall
measures 38m X 14m and 14m high. There are 37 pillars
inside the hall 15 on each side of the hall.
•Within the complex are a great many other magnificently
carved prayer halls or chaityas as well as viharas. A notable
feature of these caves is their arched entrances
and vaulted interiors. The outside facade has intricate
details carved into it in an imitation of finished wood. The
central motif is a large horseshoe arch. There is a lion
column at the front, with a closed stone facade
and torana in between. KARLE CAVES
PICTURES OF KARLE CAVES
Bhaja Caves are a group of 22 rock-cut caves
dating back to 200 BC located at Karli, near
Lonavala, Maharashtra.
The location of Bhaja caves is not far from
location of Karla Caves .
These caves are on a major trade route of the
past that ran from the Arabian Sea eastward
into the Deccan region, the division
between North India and South India.
Visually most impressive monument is large
shrine - chaityagriha - with open, horseshoe-
arched entrance part.
The chaitya has unique reliefs of Indian
mythology. Other caves have a nave and aisle,
with an apse containing a solid stupa and the
aisle circling round the apse, providing
the circumambulation path.
Notable part of monument is a group of
14 stupas, five inside and nine outside an
irregular excavation. One of the caves has
some fine sculptures.
Chaitya Arch or Chandrashala
The ubiquitous ogee, circular, or horseshoe-shaped arch, that decorates Indian temples and
shrines. This arch is shaped like the cross-section of a barrel vault (shala). It may also be
called a gavaksha (or kudu, in Tamil) when applied as a decoration to structural temples.
 Interior, Cave 19, Ajanta
Facade, Cave 19, Ajanta
ELLORA

AJANTA
•Viharas or monasteries constructed with brick or excavated from rocks are found in
different parts of India.
•Usually built to a set plan, they have a hall meant for congregational prayer with a
running verandah on three sides or an open courtyard surrounded by a row of cells
and a pillared verandah in front.
•The rock cut Viharas had a front Verandah, a central hall and cells on three sides of
the hall.
•These cells served as dwelling places for the monks. These monastic buildings built of
bricks were self-contained units and had a Chaitya hall or Chaitya mandir attached to a
stupa - the chief object of worship.
•Some of the important Buddhist viharas are those at Ajanta, Ellora. Nasik, Karle,
Kanheri, Bagh and Badami.
•The Hinayana viharas found in these places have many interesting features which
differentiate them from the Mahayana type in the same regions. Though plain from
the point of view of architecture, they are large halls with cells excavated in the walls
on three sides. The hall has one or more entrances. The small cells, each with a door
have one or two stone platforms to serve as beds. The cells were small averaging to
2.7 square-meters.
•Examples : Caves at Ajanta , Kondane, Nasik, Bhaja and Ellora (caves 1-12), Bodh Gaya,
Saranath, Nagarjuna Konda (AP) Kanheri (Borovali), Bagh (MP).
BUDDHIST VIHARA
VIHARA INTERIOR DETAILS
Three Storied Vihara at Ellora
Remains of Buddhist Vihara at Sirpur, Chhattisgarh
•Stupas are symbolic monuments of the Buddhists.
•They are brick mounds in the shape of a hemisphere.
•In the bottom centre of these domical mounds Buddha’s relics were placed making it
sanctified and sacred.
•The stupas had: a) A hemispherical mound, b) Harmika and c) Chhatrayasti
•The brick mound was plastered thick and recessed at intervals for reception of small lamps
for lighting.
•A railing (Vedika) was also built encircling the stupa. The railings consisted of uprights
(Thaba) and horizontal rails called needles or Suchi.
•Toranas or gateways were placed on the railings.
•The Harmika at the top is a stone railing enclosing a small square area.
•Within the Harmika a stone umbrella (Chhatarayasti) is placed.
•Decoration of the Stupas were made in form of tablets, friezes including human figures.
•Examples: Stupa at Sanchi, Amravati, Bharhut etc.
STUPA AT SANCHI
•There was an old stupa made during the
reign of Asoka.
•This was enlarged by the rulers of the Sunga
dynasty.
•The diameter of the stupa is 36.5m and the
height is 16.4m.
•An elevated Pradakshina Path was made
4.8m above the ground level.
•Access to this was made by a double stairway
(Sopana) on the south side.
•The structure is finished with hammer-
dressed stones laid in fairly even courses.
•The top was flattened to make place for the
Harmika – a square area with stone railings.
•From the centre of this rose the three tired
circular stone umbrella (Chhatrayasti). The
tiers reduced in diameters above.
•(In later developments, the tires were
reversed and were expanded above tier by
tier resembling an inverted stepped pyramid.
• The railings are 3.3m high with an entrance at
each cardinal point.
•The railings were copy of wooden railings of
Vedic villages.
•Uprights consists of octagonal posts 2.7m high
and placed at 0.60m gap between each. This is
known as Thaba.
•Connecting these posts are three horizontal
bars (Suchi) each 0.60m wide and separated by
a narrow gap of 8 cms.
•On the top of the railing was placed a large
stone beam, its upper side rounded forming a
coping stone.
•In constructing the Toranas, the builders kept
strictly to the wooden prototypes as they are
depicted in relief of the city gates. Each gate,
supported by elephants, stand upon two
rectangular pillars. Their three architraves and
intermediate parts are crowned by a carving of the
‘dharmachakra’, The Wheel of the Law. The uprights
terminate in Triratna symbol (Three Jewels), which
represent the foundation of the doctrines, I,e, the
Buddha, the law and the congregation. (Buddha,
Dhamma and Sangha).
•The total height is 10.3m with the width of 6m.
•The thickness of the upright posts is 0.60m.
HARMIKA OF BEDSA CHAIYA HALL SITE PLAN OF SANCHI
SRI LANKA
•Thuparamaya is a dagoba in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is a Buddhist sacred place
of veneration.
•Thera Mahinda, an envoy sent by King Asoka himself
introduced Theravada Buddhism and also chetiya worship to Sri Lanka. At his
request King Devanampiyatissa built Thuparamaya in which was enshrined the
collarbone of the Buddha. It is considered to be the first dagaba built in Sri
Lanka following the introduction of Buddhism. This is considered the earliest
monument, the construction of which was chronicled Sri Lanka. The name
Thuparamaya comes from "stupa" and "aramaya" which is a residential complex for
monks.
•Thuparamaya dagoba has been built in the shape of a heap of paddy. This dagoba
was destroyed from time to time. During the reign of King Agbo II it was completely
destroyed and the King restored it. What is seen presently is the construction of the
dagoba, done in 1862 AD.
•As of today, after several renovations, in the course of the centuries, the monument
has a diameter of 59 ft (18 m), at the base.
•The dome is 11 feet 4 inches (3.45 m) in height from the ground, 164½ ft (50.1 m)
in diameter. The compound is paved with granite and there are 2 rows of stone
pillars round the dagaba. During the early period vatadage was built round the
dagoba.
Vatadages were built around small stupas for their protection, which often enshrined a relic or were built on hallowed
ground. Circular in shape, they were commonly built of stone and brick and adorned with elaborate stone carvings.
Vatadages may have also had a wooden roof, supported by a number of stone columns arranged in several concentric rows.
 MODEL OF VATADAGE OF
THUPARAMAYA DAGOBA.

THUPARAMAYA DAGOBA, SRI

LANKA
BOROBUDUR TEMPLE COMPLEX AT JAVA : This famous Buddhist temple, dating from the
8th and 9th centuries, is located in central Java. It was built in three tiers: a pyramidal base
with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and,
at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low
reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,500 m2. Around the circular platforms are 72
openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. The monument was restored
with UNESCO's help in the 1970s.
•Angkor Wat is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built
for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his
state temple and capital city.
•As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one
to have remained a significant religious centre since its
foundation – first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu,
then Buddhist. It is the world's largest religious building.
•The temple is at the top of the high classical style
of Khmer architecture.
• Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple
architecture: the temple mountain and the later galleried
temple, based on early South Indian Hindu architecture,
with key features such as the Jagati.
•It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of
the devas , within a moat and an outer wall 3.6 km. long are
three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. At
the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers. Unlike
most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the
west; scholars are divided as to the significance of this.
•The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the
architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs, and for the
numerous devatas adorning its walls.
•The modern name, Angkor Wat, means "City
Temple"; Angkor is a vernacular form of the word nokor ,
which comes from the Sanskrit word nagar (नगर),
Thai, Nakon, meaning capital or city. Wat is the Khmer word
for temple. Prior to this time the temple was known
as Preah Pisnulok, after the posthumous title of its
founder, Suryavarman II.
•Bamiyan lies on the Silk Road which lies in the Hindu Kush mountain region, in the Bamiyan
Valley. The Silk Road is a caravan route linking the markets of China with those of Western Asia.
Until the 11th century, Bamiyan was part of the kingdom of Gandhara. It was the site of
several Buddhist monasteries, and a thriving center for religion, philosophy, and Indian art. It
was a Buddhist religious site from the 2nd century up to the time of the Islamic invasion in the
9th century.
•Monks at the monasteries lived as hermits in small caves carved into the side of the Bamiyan
cliffs. Many of these monks embellished their caves with religious statuary and elaborate,
brightly colored frescoes.
•The two most prominent statues were the giant standing Buddhas Vairocana and Sakyamuni,
identified by the different mudras performed, measuring 55 and 37 metres (180 and 121 feet)
high respectively.
•Before being blown up in 2001 they were the largest examples of standing Buddha carvings in
the world.
• The smaller of the statues was built between 544 and 595, the larger was built between 591
and 644. They are believed to have been built by the Kushans, with the guidance of local
Buddhist monks, at the heyday of their empire.
•The larger figure was also said to portray Dīpankara Buddha.
•The Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuanzang passed through the area around 630, and described
Bamiyan in the Da Tang Xiyu Ji as a flourishing Buddhist center "with more than ten monasteries
and more than a thousand monks". He also noted that both Buddha figures were "decorated
with gold and fine jewels" (Wriggins, 1995). I
•Intriguingly, Xuanzang mentions a third, even larger, reclining statue of the Buddha.
The Temple of the Sleeping Buddha is located in the
western suburbs of Beijing.
It was build in the Tang Dynasty ( 618-907) and rebuild
and renamed in Yuan (1271-1368), Ming (1368-1644),
Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties.
The Hall of the Sleeping Buddha is the main structure of
the temple. Entering the temple and passing through the
Glazed Archway, the Mountain Gate Hall, Devaraja Hall
and the Hall of the Buddhas of Three Ages, one comes to
the Hall of the Sleeping Buddha.
In the hall is the bronze status of Sakyamuni in
recumbent position. Cast in 1321, the statue weights
about 54 tons and is 5.3 meters in length. Around the
status are his 12 disciples molded in clay. The posture of
the group is said to be represent a scene in which
Sakyamuni was giving instructions to his disciples as he
neared the end of his earthly existence.
The temple is built in bricks in two stories, having
circular headed windows in a clear-storey as in ground
storey .
The columns are faced with glazed bricks and between
them are niches with the statue of Buddha.
The roof has elaborate cresting with finials with
flamboyant dragons.
PAI-LOUS:
Pai Lous bear resembles to the Toranas.
Erected as memorials to deceased persons of distinctions.
They were constructed of wood or stone and have one or three openings formed by posts
supporting, horizontal rails bearing an inscription and often crowned with bold, projecting
roofs of symbolical colored tiles.
The Pai-Lous, which span the avenue leading to the temple of the Sleeping Buddha, is a
magnificent example with 3 arches in sculptured marble, separated by vermillion stucco
walls with paneled faience enameled in yellow, green and blue in the centre of which is the
inscribed marble tablet.
PAGODAS:
•Vary from 3 to 15 stories with uneven number with
staircases
•Originally constructed in timber, also in brick
•Polygonal in plan with roof slopes to each storey and
are elborately ornamented.
•Pagodas initially were of religious significance, later
became secular in character and symbols of victory.
•Also associated with feng-shui to insure good fortune.
Founded by Prince Shotoku, who is attributed with having introduced Buddhism to Japan,
Horyuji is one of Japan's oldest temples.
Its main hall, five storied pagoda and central gate, all located in the temple's Saiin Garan
(Western Precinct) and dating from the 7th century, are the world's oldest surviving wooden
structures.
Next to the Saiin Garan is the newly constructed Daihozoin, a hall that exhibits a part of the
temple's art collection. The main attraction of the Horyuji's Toin Garan (Eastern Precinct) is the
Yumedono, the Hall of Visions.
In 1993, Horyuji was designated a UNESCO world heritage site.
Buddhist temple at Horyuji, Nara and Nikko:
•Similar to Chinese prototype.
•Avenues of trees, stone lanterns, natural landscape background give a picturesque effect.
•Generally temples comprise isolated structures within concentric enclosure, the outer
enclosure formed by a low wall, the second as a promenade for priests and the third
enclosing the main temple building surrounded by a lofty, roofed screen wall.
•Temples are invariably raised upon a stone foundation to a height of approx 1.5m.
•The sanctuary is reached by steps leading to a verandah, covered by a projecting roof of
the temple in centre.