Some Aspects of Stūpa Symbolism

DR UDAY DOKRAS

In his study of the architecture of Stupas exclusively in the Khatmandu

Valley-The Traditional Newer Architecture of the Kathmandu Valley: The
Stupas and the Chaityas ,Wolfgang Korn describes and demonstrates their
various types and site plans with the aid of his own state-of-the-art
systematic line drawings.Several stupas and chaityas belonging to the
periods of Licchavi, Malla and Shah period show their distinctive features
such as decor elements and building materials.
These Stupas and the Chaityas contributed significantly to the Buddhist
power places, particularly in a Hindu Kingdom.

The earliest Stupas were earthen mounds that could have been destroyed or
changed shape due to the fact that they were mud

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Sikhara

The sikhara is the pyramidical structure built on the garbhagriha of the

temple. Corbelling construction system is used for the construction of
the sikhara. The horizontal courses one above the other are stepped
inwards and progressive forward to cover the space. The sikhara is
usually hollow from inside or in some cases filled with rubble. The
apex of the superstructure is mounted by a single piece of stone
called as amlaka in the north and sikhara in the south.
Figure46.1 Figure46.2

Figure 46.1-the inner layer of masonry of the sikhara (Source: www.sompura.com)

Corbelling System

In the corbelling system the stones or the bricks in each horizontal

courses are projected out to bridge the gap between the two walls to
diminish until it can be closed with a single piece of stone or brick.
The corbelling system was used to create the interiors of the temple
and the stone shells of the super structure that rise above the
sanctuary. Later in the the 13th century the use of iron clamps and
wedges to hold the stone slabs together, allowed the special feature of
corbelling in which horizontal stone layers were projected out over
large spans and cut into unusual shapes to produce highly decorative
ceiling schemes (Michell,1988).

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 Figure 17.1 Figure 17.2

Figure 17.1 & 17.2 The Corbelling System (Source: www. personal.carthage.edu & Hardy 2007)

The column-beam-corbel method of construction was the main

structural principle governing the construction of every Hindu
temples. The principles of equilibrium of forces in action by means
of arch, vaults and other forms of functional engineering rules never
really played a part in the evolution of Hindu temple. Its doesn’t mean
that architects of Hindu temples were ignorant about these
techniques, rather it is their conformance to tradition and strict
adherence to precedents, reflecting a certain firmness in their cultural
attitude (Brown, 1942). There was no instance of use of vaults or
domes in the Hindu temple architecture, but arched niches were
created on the surface of the walls and they rarely carry loads from
above.
The Hindu architects remained attached to his own traditional
techniques and accomplished his task of construction by carefully
study of the laws of gravity, obtaining the strength by the mass
supporting mass and stability by the solid resistance of the weights
acting vertically, all pressure being tranismitted directly downwards.
As a result the use of mortar was pointless because there being
almost no inclined pressure to distribute between the courses of
masonary. Therefore, the Hindu temple architecture masonary
developed as dry masonary system (Brown, 1942).

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