● Architecture of the Indian subcontinent - physiographic

region Southern India: Bangladesh, Bhutan,

Maldives, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
THE ARCHITECTURE OF ●
●
Characterized Hindu and Buddhist monuments
Influenced - India has various religions: Hinduism,

INDIA ●
Buddhism, Muslims, Christianity, Sikhism
Structures sometimes share the same site, have
rhythmic stratified motifs and profuse carved
ornamentation, often combining the religious and the
sensuous.

● Obscured and overwhelmed by a

rhythmical multiplication of pilasters,
comics, mouldings, roofs, finals and an
ARCHITECTURAL exuberant overgrowth of sculptural
decorations.
CHARACTER ● Obscure - hard to perceive. - incapable of
being perceived or known.
● Finials - elements marking the top of end
object; decorative feature

2 major Cities: Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa

- Third great civilization to emerge in a fertile river valley

- Indus river 2500 BC, present-day Pakistan and Northwest

INFLUENCES
India
- Each city was ruled by priest-kings, citadels atop the city
- Lasted only 800 years
HISTORY ● MAGADHA KINGDOM - most powerful,
conquered all other kingdoms
● Established the Mauryan Empire in 300 BC under
King Ashoka
● 2 Dynasties: MAURYAN DYNASTY & GUPTA
DYNASTY
 Ancient Indian people who united northern India and
established an empire 320 BC.
MAURYAN DYNASTY Architecture shows the cultural influence of Persia
and the first use of dressed stone (stone worked to
desired shape and smoothed on the face).

(Oldest stupa in India) - STUPA NO.1

➢ 120 ft. 37 m wide and 54 ft 17 m high
➢ Designated as UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
in 1989
➢ The Sanchi Stupa is one of India's primary

THE GREAT STUPA AT Buddhist sites and contains some of the oldest
stone structures in the country.

SANCHI

Comprises a group of Buddhist monuments-monolithic

pillars, palaces, temples and monasteries.
Oldest Buddhist sanctuary in existence and was a major
Buddhist Centre in India. (Buddhist Complex)

THE SITE OF SANCHI

 Court was the center of classical Indian Art and Literature
PALLAVA, Hindu state established in Southern India which
contributed to the expansion of Indian culture into Southeast Asia
DRAVIDIAN, style of Indian Architecture in the Pallava Period
● 4th - 6th century

GUPTA DYNASTY ● In North Central India; Dashavatara Vishnu Temple

- one of the most notable examples.
● 125 km - earliest Hindu stone temples still surviving
today
● DRAVIDIAN - South Indian temple style
(architectural Hindu)

Large underground or partly underground chamber

used by the men for religious ceremonies or councils.

KIVA
(under Gupta Dynasty)

STYLES OF DIFFERENT 1. BUDDHIST

PERIODS ARCHITECTURE
 A. STAMBHA / LAT
B. STUPA
C. CHAITYA 2. JAIN
D. VIHARA ARCHITECTURE
E. WAT
F. GOMPA

Temples were patterned from Buddhist temples.

Temples bldgs. as a virtue ensures happy future state
Hutheesing Jain Temple & Dilwara Temple
Jain Dharma - Ancient Indian Religion
3. HINDU / BRAHMAN
ARCHITECTURE

Combination of the verdic cult, Buddhism

and Brahmanism.
 Believing that if a person releases their attachment to
desire and the self, they can attain Nirvana. This is a
state of liberation and freedom from suffering.
State of liberation
BUDDHISM DHARMAVINAYA - Indian religion or
philosophical religion; other term for Buddhism
GAUTAMA BUDDHA - based on teachings

BUDDHIST
STRUCTURES

also, lats; a freestanding memorial pillar bearing

carved inscriptions, religious emblems, or a statue.
Example: VIJAYA STAMBHA & KIRTI
STAMBHA

STAMBHA
 - Imposing victory monument.

Located: CHITTORGARH RAJASTHAN INDIA

SHITORFORT

Tower - Hindu Rajput King Rana Kum

VIJAYA Height: 37.19 meters

(Red sandstone and white structure; each storey has a

balcony)

9 storey structure (architect: 5th floor structure)

- Compared to Vijaya

7 storey towers

Height: 23 meters high

KIRTI Famous for its intricate carvings and architecture

Adorn by sculptures and mouldings from the base - top

Stands in near Saat-Bees Jain Temple

● Buddhist memorial mound to enshrine a relic

of Buddha.
● Caylon - dagoba
STUPA ● Tibet and Nepal - chorten
Dome-shaped mound on a platform, crowned by a
chattri, surrounded by an ambulatory (stone Vedika),
with four toranos.
DHAMEK STUPA
- One of the noticeable.
- Sarnath near Varanasi
- Prominence Buddhist structure; 500 CE
- 1st sermon
- Great importance: dyan nagbigay ng 1st sermon
after attaining enlightenment.
- Diameter: 28 meters at the base
- 43.6 meters in height
- Built partly of stone and partly of brick; floral
carvings of Khupta origin.

 Torana
PARTS OF THE  Vedika
 Chattri
BUDDHIST STUPA  Medhi
 Harmika

 Elaborately carved, ceremonial gateway in

India Buddhist and Hindu Architecture
with two or three lintels between two
posts.
 Example: Torana of the Great Stupa at
TORANA Sanchi
  Railing enclosing the stupa.

VEDIKA

 Umbrella-shaped finial symbolizing

dignity, composed of a stone disc on a
vertical pole.

CHATTRI

 A shallow berm ringing the base of the

hemispherical mound.

MEDHI
  The stone balustrade surrounding the
upper portion of a stupa.

HARMIKA

o VIHARA
OTHER BUDDHIST o CHAITYA
STRUCTURES o WAT
o GOMPA

VIHARA
- Monastery often excavated from solid rock

Example: Rock-cut Vihara, Nasik

● Nasik Caves - located at hills in Leni being

Marati word for caves

● Nasik Caves - group of 23 caves

● Carved between 1st century BCE to 3rd

CHAITYA
- Shrine carved out of solid rock on a
hillside; form of an aisled basilica with a
stupa at one end.
Example: Bhaja, Rock-cut Chaitya Hall
● Composed of group 22 rock-cut caves
● Situated 120 meters above the mountain

WAT

- A Buddhist monastery or temple.

Example: Wat Thai Nalanda Temple

GOMPA
- Tibetan Buddhist monastery or
nunnery
Example: Dhankar Gompa, India
 ● Belief in a Supreme Being and adherence to
certain concepts such as Truth, dharma, karma
reincarnation and belief in the authority of the
Vedas (sacred scriptures).

HINDUISM ● WORLD’S OLDEST RELIGION

● 900 million followers

● 3rd largest religion behind Christianity and

Islam

● MANDIRA
- A Hindu Temple
● RATH - monolithic, freestanding Hindu temple cut out
of solid rock.
● VIMANA - sanctuary of a Hindu temple in which a

HINDU TEMPLES ●
deity is enshrined
SHAIVITE TEMPLES (for Shiva) - face east
● VAISHNAVITE (for Vishnu) - temples face west
● Example: SHORE TEMPLE - one of the oldest
freestanding Hindu Temple.

LINGNAM - a phallus, the symbol of the God Shiva in Hindu

Architecture; also, LINGA
GARBHA GRIHA - womb chamber; the dark innermost
sanctuary where the statue of the deity is placed.
PARTS OF A HINDU AMALAKA - bulbous stone finial of a sikhara
SIKHARA - tower usually tapered convexly and capped by an

MANDIRA amalaka.
GOPURAM - monumentally, usually ornate gateway tower
MANDAPA - large, porch-like hall and used for religious
dancing and music