NTERACTION OF HELLENIC AND INDIAN IDEAS IN NORTH INDIA

hellenic-
Greek (idea of permanent structure
cam from here)

2nd century BC->

expansion of trade.
people used to hault between trade
routes and made structures of
timber.
the 2nd century BC was a period of
great expansion of international
trade ( the structures were built on
the trade routes of that time). The
valleys that they lived in, there were
frequent movements of caravan
bringing luxurious goods like teak,
sandalwood, elephant tusk, indian
textiles, pepper, cinnamon.
• The Egyptian Pharaohs built
everlasting monuments in
honor to the god (The
Pyramids). From here, the
Buddhist got the idea of
permanent structure and
came up with idea of Stupas.
other monolithic structures:

1. Railing-

2. Stupa finias (umbrellas)

 3. lion thrones

4. collosal figures
The hpostyle halls

the most important aspect of the stone

structures was the enamel finish.
the stone art developed even without a
background and traces of greek, persians,
egyptians.

imitation of lions in ashokan pillar is one of the

greek influences.
Development of the
form of stupa:

it is not clear if stupas were created Stupa in Gotemba

during the lifetime of Buddha.
the relics were distributed after the Sanchi-stupa Vadduvaakal stupa
death of buddha.
the ancient text describe stupas as
earthen mounts to commemorate the
deceased.
the original stupa at sanchi as said to
be made of clay. Stupa
the initial stupas were buddha's relic
places then it got to his followers and
gradually stupa became an object of
worship.

Shanti Stupa Lotus Stupa

Rotaalia-stuupad
• Types of stupas:

1. Saririka (physical remains)

2. pari bhogika (objects of use)

3. uddesika (significant symbols)

• Evolution of stupa:
•
initially it was a heap of mound
(could be of mud or rubbles) was
perceived as a symbol of sacred
place.
during ashoka's reign, the heap got
proper structure of hemispherical
dome

• later the Sungas, and the

Satbahanas added the elements like
vedica and toranas etc.
after this, in the later phases the
dome's height and the chattra's
height increased.
 Sanchi stupa

The Great Stupa at Sanchi is one of the oldest

stone structures in India, and an important
monument of Indian Architecture. It was originally
commissioned by the emperor Ashoka 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 chhatri, a
parasol-like structure symbolising high rank, which
was intended to honour and shelter the relics. The
original construction work of this stupa was
overseen by Ashoka, whose wife Devi was the
daughter of a merchant of nearby Vidisha. Sanchi
was also her birthplace as well as the venue of her
and Ashoka's wedding. In the 1st century BCE, four
elaborately carved toranas (ornamental gateways)
and a balustrade encircling the entire structure were
added. The Sanchi Stupa built during Mauryan
period was made of bricks.
Anda –
It is an hemispherical mound.
Recalls a mount of dirt that was
used to cover buddha's remains.
It has a solid core and can't be
entered. Consistent with the
symbolic associations the earliest
stupas contained actual relics of
buddha, the relic chamber buried
deep inside the anda is called the
tabena. Over the time, the
hemispherical mount has taken
on a grand symbolic association.

Harmika-
is a square railing at the
top of the Stupa. The
Harmika is inspired by a
square railing or fene
that surrounds the
mound of dirt marking it
as a sacred burial site.
 ➢ Chhatra/Chhatri-

The Chattra is derived from the

umbrella that were placed over
the mound to protect it from
elements (rain and sun). The
central pillar that holds the
umbrella has come to represent
the pivot of universe. The axis
mundi along which the divine
desence. The three umbrella like
disc represent the three jewels of
Buddhism.
➢The Torana:
Placed in four cardinal direction
(East, West, North and South).
Toranas are the gateways usually
of stone that are places in four
cardinal direction. Toranas
typically consists of 2 pillars
carrying 2 or 3 transverse beams
that extends beyond the pillars
on either side, symmetically.
 ➢ Medhi:
It is the upper pradikshina path for
devotees to wave homage to the
stupa. Medhi is approached by a
double stair way called sopana.

Vedika:
It is also the railing the surrounds
the pradikshina path at the lower
level. It has horizontal and vertical
members with four gateways
known as toranas at the four
cardinal directions. The vedika
contains 2 parts: The stambha (the
vertical member) and the suchi
(horizontal member)