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Buddhistarchitectue 120604103541 Phpapp01 PDF
Buddhistarchitectue 120604103541 Phpapp01 PDF
Buddhistarchitectue 120604103541 Phpapp01 PDF
• A stupa is a mound-like
structure containing
buddhist relics, typically
the remains of Buddha,
used by Buddhists as a
place of worship.
• These stupas are the
circular tumuli built of
earth, covered with stone
or brick, the plan,
elevation, section and the Stupa become a cosmic symbol in response
total form of which were to a major human condition: death. With
the enlightenment of the Buddha, stupa
all derived from circle. became a particularly buddhist symbol.
SANCHI STUPA
• there are mainly
three main stupas
on the top of the
sanchi hill which
rise about 100m
above the plain.
• Of the three stupa
the biggest one is
known as the great
stupa.
THE GREAT STUPA, SANCHI
•The 'Great Stupa' at Sanchi is the
oldest stone structure in India and
was originally commissioned by the
emperor Ashoka the Great in the
3rd century BCE.
•Its nucleus was a simple
hemispherical brick structure built
over the relics of the Buddha.
•It was crowned by the chatra, a
parasol-like structure symbolizing
high rank, which was intended to
honour and shelter the relics.
•It has four profusely carved
ornamental gateways and a
balustrade encircling the whole
structure.
•DOME- is a solid brick-work
32.32m in diameter and 12.8m
high.
•The dome has a slight ‘crushed’
profile at top and was
surmounted by HARMIKA with a
central triple UMBRELLA.
•The facing of the dome consists
of dry masonry composed of
hammer dressed stones laid in
even courses.
•The terrace 4.87m high from
ground was added thus creating a
separate and upper
AMBULATORY passage 1.8m wide
access to which was provided by
a double staircase with high
BALUSTRADE, on the south side
AYAKA PLATFORM
A small platform extended out from the
drum at each of the gateways. Five
pillars were mounted on top of each of
The lower part of the dome was the ayaka platforms. The ayaka
covered with large stone reliefs. This platform may have been used in the
section of sculpture shows different rituals which took place at the
scenes from the Buddha's life. Amaravati Stupa.
PILLAR
Facing each gateway into the Amaravati Stupa was a group of five pillars. The
pillars were mounted on a special platform called the ayaka which was part
of the drum and extended out from it.
RAILING LION
Around the outer limits of the Stupa was a Lion sculptures were placed at the
tall railing made of limestone. The railing gateways to the Amaravati Stupa. Lions
marked the boundaries of the Stupa. represented power and strength and
were meant to ward off evil spirits and
protect the Stupa.
STAMBHAS OR LATS
•These pillars are common to all the styles of Indian
architecture. With the Buddhist they were
employed to bear inscriptions on their shafts, with
emblems or animals on their capital.
The entrance of the chaitya is very grand and consists of three doorways set underneath a
gallery.
The chaitya hall is 38.5m long and 13m wide with a vaulted roof rising to a height of 13.7m.
The roof is supplemented by a series of wooden ribs which are closely spaced.
The hall is divided by two rows of columns forming a broad nave in the centre.
Each column is 1.22m in diameter and 7.32m high, with bell shapes capital which supports a
pair of kneeling elephants carrying male and female riders and those of horses and tigers in
the rear.
The shaft is octagonal in shape and has a vase-shapes base.
At the end is a stupa, caved in natural rock, with railing and inverted stepped pyramid or tee
at the top.
A beautiful ‘lat’ surmounting with four addorsed lions is erected at the entrance of the
chaitya.
FEATURES
Hindu cave No 2 is located to the south-east is destroyed, interior has been damaged by
water. to the south there is cave No 3 damaged by stagnant water. To the north cave No 5
it has been abandoned soon after the start of construction.
The 173 m high Stupa Hill is located in the eastern part of island. It contains two caves
with Buddhist monuments and also cisterns from 3rd century AD or earlier. One of two
caves is not complete. In the other cave there is stupa made in bricks.
VIHARAS OR MONASTERIES
•These are the residential places of the buddhist priests.
They consist of a main-hall entered by a door-way.
They also contain the assembly hall, dining chambers.
•From the halls deep into the rocks, cells are provided for
meditation.
The shrines contains beautiful figures of Buddha and the
walls of the antechamber depict 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 chiseled in the form of dragons.
Beams were painted in red and rafter with all colors of
rainbow.
•Viharas were literally the pleasure gardens of monastic
precincts.
•Some of the important Buddhist viharas are those at Plan of rock cut vihara
Ajanta, Ellora. Nasik, Karle, Kanheri, Bagh and Badami.