ARC226 History of Architecture 1

History of Architecture UNIT 1

Buddhist Architecture Architecture

BUDDHIST BUDDHI ST ART & ARCHITECTURE ARCHIT ECTURE 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Stupas Viharas Chaityas Paintings and Pillars

1. STUPAS

1.

2. 3. 4.

Stupa tupass we were buil builtt of of stones or bricks to commemorate important events or mark important places associated with Buddhism or to house important relic lics of Bud udd dha. Asho Ashok k Maury Mauryaa who laid laid the the found foundat atio ion n of this grou group p of monume monuments nts is said said to 84,000 stup stupas. as. have built 84,000 Amarav avat ati, i, Sanc Sanchi hi,, The best best exam xample ples of stu stupas pas are those hose const onstru ruccted ted at Amar Barh arhut and Gaya. "One of the most striking striking archit architect ectural ural remains remains of of ancient ancient India" India" and the the earlie earliest st and largest of the three stupas found in Sanchi was built by Ashoka (273-236 B.C.)

Great Stupa, Sanchi (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)

1.Sanchi in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh is famous for its magnificent Buddhi Buddhist st monume monuments nts and edifice edifices. s. Situat Situated ed on a hill, these beautiful and well-preserved stupas depict the various stages of development of Buddhist art and architeeture over a period of thirteen hundred years from the third century B.C. to the twelfth century A.D. A.D . 2. Inscrip Inscriptio tions ns show show that that these these monume monuments nts were were maint maintain ained ed by the rich rich merch merchan ants ts of that region. 3.Th 3.The e stup stupa a buil builtt by Ashoka was was damaged damaged during during the the break-up break-up of the Maurya Empire. Empire. 4. In the 2nd century B.C., during the. rule of the Sungas it was completely reconstructed. 5. Religious activity led to the improvement and and enla enlarg rgem emen entt of the the stup stupa a and and a ston stone e railin ailing g was built built arou around nd it. 6.It was also embellished with the construction of heavily of heavily carved gateways. gateways .

Northern Gateway, Great Stupa, Sanchi (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)

7.The Great stupa has a large hemispherical dome which is flat at the top, and crowned by a triple umbrella or Chattra on a pedestal surrounded by a square railing or Karmika. Buddha's relics were placed in a casket chamber in the centre of the Dome.

arikrrama or 8.At the base of the dome is a high circular terrace probably meant for parik circumambulation and an encircli encircling ng balustr balustrade ade. 9.At the ground level is a stone-paved procession path and another stone Balustrade and two fli flight ghts of steps eps leading to the circular terrace. 10.Access to it is through four exquisitely carved gateways or Toranas in the North, South, East and West.

diameter of the stupa tupa is 36.60 36.60 metr metres es and its heig heigh ht is 16.4 16.46 6 metres tres. 11.The dia 12.It is built of large burnt bricks and mud mortar. It is presumed that the elaborately carved Toranas were built by ivory or metal workers in the 1st. Century BC during the reign Satak karni arni of the the Sata Satav vah ahan ana a Dynasty. of King Sata

last ad addit ditio ion n to the stupa was made during the early 4th Cent entury AD in the Gupta 13.The last period when four images of Buddha sitting in the dhyana mudra or meditation were installed at the four entrances.

Great Stupa, Sanchi (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)

Dharmaksha Dharmaksha Stupa, Stupa, Sarnath Sarnath

1.The The Dhamek amekh h Stup tupa and the Dharmarajika stupa at Sarnath are beli believ eved ed to hav have been been built ilt by Asho Ashok ka and and lat later rebu ebuilt ilt in the the Gupta period. 2.These 2.These stupas stupas contai contain n the relics of Buddha and and are are the therefore important plac laces of Buddhist ist pilgrimage. 3.Buddha gave his First Sermon in Sarnath and also lso founded the Sangha or Order of Monks here. 4.Th 4.The e origi rigin nal Dhame hamek kh Stu Stupa built ilt with with mud or brick is a cylindrical cylindrical structure structure 43.5 43.5 m. high. 5.The 5.The ston stone e base baseme ment nt has has eigh eightt projec ojectting ing faces aces with ith nich niches es in them. Delicately carved with beau beautif tiful ul flora florall and geom geometr etrica icall patterns, 6.it is believed to have been put up in the Gupta period.

Dharma Dharmaksh ksha a Stupa, Stupa, Sarnath Sarnath (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)

Stupa and Asoka Pillar Pill ar,, Vaishal Vaishali, i, Bihar. Bihar.

Shanti Stupa Stupa at Indrapras Indraprastha tha park , New Delhi, India

Santi Stupa Stupa,, Dhau Dhauligiri, ligiri, Bhubaneswar Bhubaneswar,, Odisha Odisha.. (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)

2. VIHARAS

1.Vi .Vihara aras or monaster teries constructed with brick or excavated from rocks are found in different parts of India.

2.Usually built to a set plan, they have a hall meant for congregational prayer with a runn ru nnin ing g veran veranda dah h on three sides or an open open cour courtya tyard rd surrounded by a row of cells and a pill pillar ared ed vera verand ndah ah in fron frontt. 3.These cells served as dwelling places for the monks. These monastic buildings built of bricks were self self-c -con ontai taine ned d un units its and had a Chaity aitya a hall all or Chai Chaity tya a mand mandir ir attached to a stupa - the chief object of worship. 4.So 4.Some me of the the impo import rtan antt Budd Buddhi hist st viha vihara rass are are thos thosee at Ajanta, Ellora. Nasik, Karle, Kanheri, Bagh and Badami. The Hina Hinaya yana na vih viharas aras found in these places have many Mahayan yana a type type in the same regions. interesting features which differentiate them from the Maha 5.Tho 5.Thoug ugh h plai plain n from from the the poin pointt of view view of arch archit itec ectur ture, e, they they are are lar large ha1l ha1lss with with cell cellss walls on thr three sides. excavated in the wal 6.The hall has one or more entrances. smalll cell cellss, each with a door have one or two two stone platfo tforms to serve as beds. 7.The smal

8.The excavations of viharas at Nagarjunakonda show show large large rectan rectangul gular ar courtyar courtyards ds with with central ral hall hallss. stone-paved cent 9.Around the courtyard, the row of cells, small and big, suggest residences and dining halls for monks. 10.Twenty-five of the rock-cut caves of Ajanta are viharas and are the finest of monasteries. Four of the viharas belong to the 2nd century BC. Later, other caves were excavated during akataka a rulers rulers who were the contemporaries of the Gupta Rulers. Some of the reign of the Vakatak the most beautiful viharas belong to this period.

11.The finest of them. Cave 1, of the Maha Mahaya yana na type type consists of a verandah, ah, a hall, group oups of cells and a sanctuary. exquis isit itel ely y carv carved ed pilla illars rs. The 12.It has a decorated facade. The portico is supported by exqu columns have a square base with figures of dwarfs and elaborately carved brackets and capitals. Below the capital is a squ quar aree abac abacus us with finely carved maka makara ra moti motifs fs.. The walls exquisite ite painti paintings ngs. and the ceilings of the cave contain the most exquis

13.The viharas of Ellora dated 400 AD to 7th century AD are of one, two, and three storeys and are the largest of the type. 14.They contain sculptured figures and belong to both Hina Hinaya yana na and and Maha Mahaya yana na Buddhism.

Plan of Ello Ellora ra Cave Cave

Plan of Ajanat Ajanata a Cave Cave

View of Ajan Ajanata ata Cave Cave



Detail Detailss view of Ajanat Ajanata a Cave Cave



Entran Entrance ce view of Ajana Ajanata ta Cave Cave

Detailed facade view of Ajanata Ca C ave

Interior view of Ajanta cave


External view of Ajanta cave


External view of Ajanta cave

Entrance view of Ajanta cave

Sculpture placed on Ajanta cave

External pillars of Ajanta cave

Interior pillars of Ajanta cave

External pillars of Ajanta cave

View of caves from another cave

View of hills from caves

View of Internal Carving Pillars

Famous Paints of Ajanta caves



Rock-cut Vihara, Nasik

(Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)

Three Storeyed Vihara, Vihara, Ellora (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)

3. CHAITY CHAITYAS AS

1.Ch 1.Chai aity tya a grih grihas as or halls of worship were built all over the country either of brick or exca excava vate ted d from from rocks ocks.

2.Ruins of a large number of structural Buddhist chaity grihas are found in the eastern Pradesh, in valleys, ys, near rivers and lakes. districts of Andhra Pra rikaku akulam lam at Sal Salihu ihund ndam am, of Visahkapatnam at 3.The ruins located in the districts of Srik Kotturu, of West Godavari at Guntapalli, of Krishna at Vijayawada, of Guntur at Naga Nagaju juna nako kond nda a and and Amar Amarav avati ati belong to the 3rd century BC and later. largest st br bric ick k chaitya hall was excavated at Guntapalli. 4.The large

5.Some of the most beautiful rock-cut caves are those at Ajanta, ElIora, Bhaja, Karle, Bagh Bagh,, Nasik asik and and Kanh Kanher erii. chunar sand-s sand-ston tonee rock-cut chaityas of Bh Bhaj aja. a. Kond Kondan anee. 6.Some of the chunar

7. Karle and Ajanta, all in Maharashtra state are earlier excavations and belong to the first phase or Hinayana creed of Buddhism and are similar to the brick brick and wooden structures structures of Asho Ashoka kan n time timess.

Chaitya Chaitya Hall Hall and Vihara ihara at Ajanta Ajanta Cave Cave

Bhaja, Rock-cut Rock-cut Chaitya Chaitya Hall

1. Bhaja, Rock-cut Chaitya Hall show that wood had been used in the roofing and entran ent rance ce arche arches. s. aitya at Bhaja is a long hall 16.7 16.75 5 metr metres es long and 8 metres broad with an apse at 2.The chait the end. centra rall nave nave and an aisle on either side flanked 3.The hall is divided into a cent flanked by two rows of pillars.

4.The roof is vaulted. 5.The rock-cut stupa in the apse is crowned by a wood wooden en harm harmik ika a. The chaitya has a large trance with with an arched portico ico. arched torana or entra

The Bhaja Bhaja caves seen seen from from a far far

Bhaja, Bhaja, Rock-c Rock-cut ut Chaitya Chaitya Hall (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)

Bhaja, Bhaja, Rock-c Rock-cut ut Chaitya Chaitya Hall (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)

Surya's chariot crushing a demon demon (left) and an elephant-rider, elephant-rider, probably probably Indra (right), in Cave 19

Entrance to the rock-cut Buddhist temple (vihara), Cave 12, at Bhaja, Maharashtra, 2nd-

An interior wall at Bhaja, showing niches

The setting setting of the the Surya Surya and Indra Indra basreliefs from Cave 19

Bhaja-- the carved "rafters "rafters" " that imitate wooden wooden beam construction construction

An individual sleeping room with rock-cut bed, Bhaja

Bhaja: a group group of stupas stupas in the the rain

The caves in their setting

Karle, Karle, Chaity Chaitya a Hall

1.Hina 1.Hinayan yanaa rock rock arch archit itec ectur turee reac reache hess the peak of excel excelle lenc ncee in the the sple splendi ndid d chaitya at Karle. An inscription in Karle mentions Bhutapala, a banker to be the founder of the chai ch aity tya a hall hall but later scholars identify him with Devabh abhuti, the las last of the Sunga ruler lers. 2.The chaitya has a double double-sto -store reyed yed facade facade and has three doorwa orways ys in the lowe ower part. uppe perr galle gallery ry over which there is the usual arch. 3.It has an up

4.The walls of the vestibule to the chaitya hall are decorated with scul sculpt ptur ured ed figu figurres of couples. 5.The pillars separating the central nave from the aisles have a pot base, an octagonal shaft, inverted lot lotus capital wit with an abacus. elepha hant ntss kn knee eeli ling ng down down, each with a couple 6.The abacus has exquisitely carved pairs of elep in front and caparisoned horses with riders on them.

7.The stupa at the apse end is tall and cylindrical with two tiers of railings around the drum. origina nall woode wooden n ch chha hatr tra a. This is the most beautiful of the chaityas. 8.It is crowned by the origi

Karle, Karle, Chaity Chaitya a Hall (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)





Norwich Cathedral

Norwich Cathedral

Norwich Cathedral

Cave 19 Chaitya Chaitya hall, Ajanta Cave Cave Complex Complex

Chaitya Chaitya hall, hall, Ellora Ellora Cave Cave Comple Complex x

Statue of Buddha in a cave, Buddhist Chaitya Hall, Ellora, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India

Statue of Buddha in a cave, Buddhist Chaitya Hall, Ellora, Aurangabad, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India

Contemporary Contemporary Chaitya Chaitya Hall with concrete concrete casting casting

Contemporary Contemporary Chaitya Chaitya Hall with concrete concrete casting casting

Chaitya Chaitya Hall, Hall, Kanhar Kanharii

Chaitya Chaitya Hall, Hall, Kanhar Kanharii

4. PAINTINGS 1.Paintings which has been an accepted art since early times attained heights of excellence in Gupta period. These exquisite paintings or frescos are to be seen in the cav caves of Ajan Ajantta. The entire surface of mural painti painting ng. the caves is exquisitely painted and shows the high standard reached in mural 2.The theme of the painting on the walls is mostly the life of Buddha and Bodhisattvas and the Jataka Jataka stori stories es. These topics cover a continuous narration of events on all aspects of hu hum manan- life ife from from birth to death. Every kind of human emotion is depicted. The paintings reflect the conte contempo mpora rary ry life life of the the tim times, dre dress, orna rnaments nts, cult ulture ure, wea weapon pons use used, even even the their bel beliefs iefs are portrayed with life-like reality. The paintings include gods gods,, yaks yaksha has, s, kinn kinner eras as,, gand gandha harv rvas as,, apsa apsara rass and and hu huma man n bein beings gs.. 3.The paintings show their intense feeling for nature and an understanding of the various aspects of all living beings. The ceilings are covered with intr intriicate cate des designs gns, flowe lowers rs,, plan lants, ts, birds rds, anima nimals ls,, frui fruitt and and peop peoplle. 4.The ground for painting was prepared by paving it with a rough layer of earth and sand mixed with vegetable fibres, husk and grass. A second coat of mud mixed with fine sand and fibrous vege vegeta tabl blee mat materia eriall was was appl applie ied d. A final finish was given with a thin coat of lime-wash, glue was used as a binder. On this prepared surface, the outlines were drawn and the spaces were filled with the yellow, black, ochre, blue and required colours; with much attention given to shades and tones. Red, yel gypsum were mostly used. 5.Some of the renowned paintings are that of the Bodhisattva holding a lily (cave 1), the painting of Padmapani, the Apsaras wit with a turban headgear (cave 17) the painting on the ceiling (cave 2) and the the toil toileet scheme heme (cav (cavee 17) 17) cons onsider dered to be a mast asterpi erpiec ecee of the the pai painte nter.

Ajan Ajanta ta,, Bodh Bodhis isat attva tva Padm Padmap apan anii (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)




Famous Paints of Ajanta cave 1


Famous Paints and lightings lighti ngs of Ajanta caves





5. STHAMBAS

1.Sthambas or Pillars with religious emblems were put up by Budd Buddhi hissts in hon honour our of Budd uddha or othe ther gre great Budd Buddhi hissts. Fragments of sthambas belonging to Maur Mauryan yan time timess and later Sanchi, Sarnath, Amaravati an d were found at Nagarjunkonda. .25 metres tres high high, surmounted 2.A portion of the Ashoka Pillar, 15.25 by the famo famous us lion lion-c -cap apit ital al and a dh dha arma chakr hakra a above the heads of the four lions stands embedded near the Dharmarajika stupa tupa at Sar Sarnath nath.

3.The pillar bears the edict of Ashoka warning the monks and nuns against creating a schism in the monastic order. The broken fragments of the Pillar are now in the Mus Museum eum at Sarn Sarnat ath h. The lion lion-c -cap apit ital al - the most magnificent piece of Maur Mauryan yan sculp sculptur turee is 2.31 2.31 metr metres es high high.

Ashoka Pillar Lion Capital, Sarnath

4.It consists of four parts - (i) a bell-shaped vase covered with inverted lotus petals, (ii) a round abacus, (iii) fou four seated lions and (iv) a crowning dharmachakra with thirty two spokes. The four lions are beautifully sculptured. sculptured. 5.On the abacus are four running animals - an elephant, a bull, a horse and a. lion wit with a small dharmachakra between them. 6. The dharmachakra symbolises symbolises the dharma or law; the four lions facing the four directions are the form of Buddha or Sakyasimha, the the four four gal gallopi loping ng anim nimals are the the four our qu quar artters according to Buddhist books and the four smaller stand d for for the the inte and the the dharmachakras stan interm rmed edia iate te regio egions ns and lotus is the symbol of crea creati tive ve acti activi vity ty. The surface of these pillars has a mirror like finish.

Ashoka Pillar Lion Capital, Sarnath

1.Another Ashokan Pillar of note is the one at Laur Lauriy iya a Nand Nandan anga garh rh in Biha Biharr. 2.Erected in the 3rd century BC it is made of Chunar sand-s sand-ston tonee. highly polished Chunar 3.Standing 9.8 metres high it rises from the ground and has no base structure. bell ll-sh -shap aped ed inve inverte rted d 4.It is surmounted by a be lotus.

5.Th 5.Thee abac abacus us on it is deco decora rate ted d with with flying geese and crowning it is a sitt sittin ing g lion lion. 6.The pillar is an example of the engineering Mauryan yan times times. skill of the craftsmen of Maur

Ashokan Ashokan Pillar, Pillar, Lauriya-Nand Lauriya-Nandangarh angarh Bihar. Bihar.

An Ashokan pillar across from from a stupa at Kolhua, near Vaishali, Vaishali, in Bihar

An Ashokan pillar across from from a stupa at Kolhua, near Vaishali, Vaishali, in Bihar

Ashoka Ashokan n pillar pillar Lumbin Lumbinii

Pillar at Qutab Minar, Minar, Delhi

Ashoka Ashokan n Pillar Pillar at at Karle

Thank Tha nk You Presented By

Partha Sarathi Mishra Asst. Prof. Lovely Professional University B Arch (ABIT-PMCA) (ABIT-PMCA) M Arch (IIT Roorkee) email:- [email protected]

ARC226 History of Architecture 1

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