HS 520 Course Presentation

Broad Features of Stupa,Chaitya and Vihara

Architecture

Presented by
Group 9
 Part 1
Features of
Stupa
Architecture
 Saririka Stupa Uddeshika Stupa

Sanchi Stupa: It enshrines the bodily

remains (relics) of Buddha and his Dhamek Stupa: It contained no
disciples, Buddhist teacher, and relics where worshipping and
monks. enshrining scriptures took place.
Stupa

Paribhogika Stupa Votive Stupa

Kanishka stupa: These stupas enshrine the Constructed to commemorate pilgrim visits or
objects such as bowls and robe that to gain spiritual merits. Sarnath, Bodhgaya
Buddha used. and Sanchi. Made of glass, Metals.
 Stupa Features


The basic shape of the stupa represents the seated
Buddha. The square base represents the Buddha's cross
legs as he sat on the earth.

The middle section called mound or anda, is Buddha’s
Body. Conical spire or cone at the top represents
Buddha's Head.


The role of drums is to raise the hemisphere.

Circling the drums and hemisphere are railings that define a
Circum Ambulatory Path used by devotees to ritually walk
around the stupa as a form of worship. The structure of the
stupa tends to follow the same general layout.

Many stupas are placed on a square base and the four
sides represent four directions.
Stupa Features


The gates are called Torana. East represents Buddha's birth,
south the enlightenment, west the first sermon, and north
represents nirvana.

At the top of the stupa is a Yasti, which symbolizes the axis of the
earth.

The Yasti is surrounded by a Harmika, which is a stone or
wooden gate or fence and is topped by Chatras or parasols which
is a symbol of royalty and protection.

The stupa generally contains a treasury filled with various objects
which are offerings, while jewelry and other precious objects are
also placed within.

It is believed that the more the objects are placed into the
treasury, the stronger the stupa's energy.
Stupa Features


A wooden pole covered with gems and mantras is an
important element of a stupa and is placed in the stupa's
central channel during the initiation ceremony.


The relic casket made with precious metals or stones along
with the treasury made the abandoned stupas target of treasure
hunters.


The earlier stupas contained portions of the Buddha's ashes
and as a result, the stupa began to be associated with the body
of the Buddha.


These early stupas were hemispherical with a low base, while
the later ones assumed an increasingly cylindrical form with a
well-developed drum. In the later stupas, the base terraces and
the umbrellas were multiplied.
Rock-Cut Caves Stupa:


Stupas were also constructed inside the rock-cut caves or chaityas of Buddhist
monasteries.


These stupas typically consisted of three parts, one or two drums, the Andha or
hemisphere, and a Harmika. In all of these complexes, the stupa is located at one
end of a columned chaitya hall, opposite the entrance and a large window, which
provides only natural light.


While the rock-cut monastic chaitya halls did have circumambulatory paths, they
are situated along the perimeter of the chaitya halls rather than immediately
adjacent to the Andha or hemisphere, as in open-air stupas.


Unlike open-air stupa complexes, the stupas in most of the rock-cut caves did not
contain relics, although a few complexes did, but this was more of an exception.
 Part 2
Features of
Chaitya Hall
A chaitya is any sacred place - a tree,
spring, etc. Buddhism, stupas are
chaityas, and a building containing a
stupa (functioning as a shrine) is
called a chaitya hall.”

The Basic idea was to provide shelter

to the devotees where they could
perform rituals without weather
intervention.
• Initially, Buddha was worshipped in aniconic form
represented by Bodhi tree, pedestals, wheel, stupa, etc.
The stupa was the most common symbol of worship of
Buddha.
• The halls enshrining the stupa are called chaitya.
During the earliest phase, the stupa consisted of only a
mud tumulus incorporating the corporeal remains of
Buddha.
• Later elaborate developments took place after Asoka,
and several encasings enlarged the stupa. One of the
earliest mud stupas can be seen at Vaishali, Bihar, and
Stupa 1 at Sanchi. It is one of the most elaborate stupas
with several additions,
 Chaitya
Plan

Circular Apsidal
Plan Plan
Circular Chaitya Halls
• They usually have a central stupa at the heart of the circular
chamber. This stupa is a symbol of Buddha and serves as the focal
point for religious rituals and devotion.

• Perambulatory Path: Around the central stupa, there's a

circumambulatory path for devotees to walk around while
performing religious rituals and meditation.

• Some circular chaitya grihas have a pillared veranda or an open

space in front of the main chamber, providing an area for
gatherings and social interaction. Called Portico

• On the Outer walls of the stupa, there were carvings of Jataka

stories
Bairat Temple in Rajasthan Guntupalli : rock-cut circular chaitya-griha
Aspidal Chaitya Hall
• A central stupa or shrine that contains relics of the Buddha or other
revered figures.

• The stupa has a prominent hemispherical dome resting on a cylindrical

drum

• A colonnade surrounds the stupa and divides the hall into a nave and
aisle

• The central area often served as a prayer hall for monks and devotees.

• Rows of stone columns with intricately carved designs, often resembling

wooden architecture
• octagonal pillars, without bases or capitals, taper upward Octagonal
Elaboration of chaitya hall
• This is the first stage of
chaitya hall
• Closest copy of the wooden
prototype.
• The wooden screen of the
chaitya window have
disappeared completely
• wooden façade below the
chaitya-arch
• The Karle chaitya-griha, is largest and most
complete of its class
• There are three doors, the central leading into
the nave and the side ones into the aisle
• Double storied front gateway and window
• Carving of life story’s of buddha
• Horse-shoe shape chaitya window

Ajanta cave no 26
• The only Mahayana chaitya at Ellora is Cave
10 known as Viswakarma cave or Sutar-chi-
jhopdi
• The usual chaitya window in the form of a
horseshoe has been reduced to a small round
porthole, raising above two pillars with
opening which admit light
 Free standing apsidal chaitya

• Temple’s of Tri vikrama , Taxila , Sanchi

 Part 3
Features of
Vihara
Architecture
Vihara – A Brief Introduction:
• Vihara is the place where the Buddhist Monks used to stay
during Varshavasa period.
• Vihara is either cave or group of rock shelter or a structural
one.
• It provide permanent endowments of money, assets,
performing Sermons, Pattimokkha and taking care of entire
establishment of the Sangha.
• The establishment and mentainance of vihara was
dependent on donations and also on royal patronage.
• Some viharas become large, wealthy and later it transforms
into monastic university.
• This monastic establishment grew up in throughout the
indian subcontinent- from taxila to paharpur.
Evolution of Vihara Architecture:

Stage I: Earliest Period- Temporary Monastic Settlements

• The earliest Viharas are made of bamboo not different from cottage.
• They must have no set plan, most of them either perished or been renovated
to such an extent in later periods that it is now difficult to identify their original
nucleus.
• In Sanchi, Bharhut stupa, there are the depiction of such cottages.
• One of the earliest monastery was built at Sravasti by the merchant
Anathapindika with eighty cells with one or two pinnacled roof.
• A merchant of Rajagaha built sixty dwelling places in one day and donated to
the Sangha.
Evolution of Vihara Architecture:

Stage II: Small Communal Monastic Complexes

• The earliest permanent monastery settlement belongs to this type.
These monasteries were probably meant for communal living without
object of worship.
• Jivakarama-arama in Rajagriha (530 BC) one of the earliest
monasteries of India donated by renowned and royal physician
Jivaka, contemporary with the Buddha.
• Four long elliptical halls with semicircular sides with doorways.
• Another Viharas – Girdhakuta in Rajgir, Ambapali Vana at
Vesali,Ghoshitarama at Kaushambi.
Evolution of Vihara Architecture:

Stage III: Unplanned Structural Monastic Complexes

• It includes monasteries, walkways, store houses, room, library,
mandapa and sometimes centering in a major Stupa.All the
component structures of the settlement were not built at a time.
• Examples- Jetvana Viharas, Buddhist complex in Sanchi and Sarnath
etc.
• Monasteries were quadrilateral on plan having open courtyard in a
centre which was resting on pillars, the pillared verandha surmounted
by series of cell on all four sides. The staircase was sometimes
lighted by skylights.
Evolution of Vihara Architecture:

Stage IV: Rock-Cut Monastic Complexes- Ashoka’s

Period
• Earliest rock-cut Viharas starting from the period of Ashoka.
• Examples seen from Barabar and Nagarjuni Hills.
• Donations of Ashoka in Sudama cave in Barabar hills.
• Dasharath, Ashoka’s grandson donate Vapi cave in Ngarjuni
hills.
• Simple planning with rectangular hall with one entrance.
• “Mauryan Polish” in the interior and side wall.
Evolution of Vihara Architecture:

Stage IV: Rock-Cut Monastic Complexes-

Early Period
• Consisted of a walled hall flanked by small cells on
three sides the front wall of the hall, sometimes
decorated with reliefs, was pierced with a door.
• The hall is commonly square , sometimes upsidal.
• Cells with rock cut platform serves as bed.
Evolution of Vihara Architecture:

Stage IV: Rock-Cut Monastic Complexes

• Narrow cells and closed halls on three sides.
• Decorations are limited to the walls of the halls above the
entrance.
Evolution of Vihara Architecture:

Stage IV: Rock-Cut Monastic Complexes- Nasik and Pithalkhora

• Introduction of pillared verandah, sometimes with high ornamentation.
• Decoration on the walls.
Evolution of Vihara Architecture:

Stage IV: Rock-Cut Monastic Complexes- Ajanta

• Introduction of spacious shrine-chamber with Buddha image.
• Serves dual purpose of monastic dwelling and sanctuary.
• Carving in the facades of verandah and pillars.
• Painting in the inner walls.
Evolution of Vihara Architecture:

Stage IV: Rock-Cut Monastic Complexes- Ellora

• Very large halls with pillars at two sides.
• Darbar cave at Kanheri have two narrow stone benches probably used as
study-desks.
• Tin Thal is a three-story vihara with three rows of pillars and cells on three
sides of the hall, some of which have stone beds.
Evolution of Vihara Architecture:

Stage V: Large Structural Monastery- Mahaviharas

• Well protected with high walls, quadrilateral in plan,

rooms are around of central courtyard.
• University was flourished with Stupas, Monasteries,
Chaityas, Temples, hostels, staircases, meditation
halls, lecture halls, lakes, parks and many other
structures.
• Nine-storied library at Nalanda.