BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE

Architectural production under Asokas rule Rock cut Caves at Barabar Rock cut architecture in the Western and the Eastern Ghats Egs. At Karle, Viharas at Nasik, Udaigiri, Gandhara

ROCK CUT CAVES AT BARABAR -

3rd c. BC

During the mauryan period in the 1st century AD, under the patronage of Ashoka, a few caves were carved into live rock to serve as retreats for the Ajivika monks. (Jains)

There are Rock cut sanctuaries in the hills about 19 miles N of Gaya
There are a total of seven chambers 4 of which are at Barabar: Karna Kaupar Sudama Features of the Rock cut Caves: The earliest egs. of rock cut method in India Exact copies of identical structures in wood and thatch from the earlier period Quarried out of large boulder like masses of Quartzose Gneiss
group

Lomas Rishi Viswajhopri 3 on the Nagarjuni hill mile NE

Gopi or the Milkmaids cave is the largest of the Tunnel like excavation rounded in the plan at

Gopika(Milkmaid) Vahijaka Vadalhika

both ends

44 x 19 x 10 at the apex with a vaulted roof

Sitamarhi is another eg. 23 miles E of Gaya

LOMAS RISHI AT BARABAR -

3rd c. BC

The Lomas Rishi and the Sudama are cut adjacent to one another on the hill The interiors are very similar except for the faade of Lomas Rishi which is very ornamental The doorways of the caves have a sloping jamb and are on the longer side of the chamber The entrance unlike later caves, is not from the front but from the side, the cave has a vestibule or a path connecting two rooms.

The excavation was carried out this way and not axially due to the configuration of the whale backed hill
Barrel vaulted hall of 329 x 196 x 123(ht.) At the end of the chamber entered by an interior doorway is a circular cell 190 dia. With a hemispherical domed roof 123 high
Rectangular Hall Circular room

Barrel vault Domical roof

LOMAS RISHI AT BARABAR Exteriors :

3rd c. BC

The faade is an accurate reproduction of the gable end of a wooden structure chiselled in rock 2 stout uprights inclined slightly inwards, 13 high forms the main support The principal rafters are jointed on the top with the other parallel rafters On the rafters are fixed the curved roof of 3 laminated planks, the lower extremities of which are kept in place by short tie rods, circular in section (lathe) The doorway is 7 is recessed within a semi circular archway above which are 2 lunettes forming a fanlight The lower lunette has a procession of elephants.The elephants are exquisitely modeled performing an obeisance before a stupa The upper lunette has a pattern of lattice work both designed copied from perforated wood Surmounting the gable is a finial which gets its shape from a terracotta original Sharply chiselled and a highly polished surface The circular cell has an overhanging cave like a thatch The walls have irregular perpendicular grooves in imitation of the upright battens of wood or bamboo ( beehive hut) A highly burnished surface resembling glass

PALACES KUMRAHAR PATNA -

3rd c. BC

Excavation at Kumrahar-South of patna reveal the existence of palaces From these excavations it was found that the palace was an aggregation of structures enclosed by a high brick wall Most important was the immense pillared hall 3 storied high with 250'

square

15 pillars in 15 rows at 15' spacing Ceiling of one floor supported by colossal caryatid figures Each pillar 20" dia at base and tapering to 20' high. No base/capital Masons work inscribed similar to the ones in Persia Wooden beams- destroyed by fire Ashoka's palace inspired by Achaemenid's Palace of Persepolis Similar to the pillared hall-100 columns by Xerxes Bas reliefs representing figures supporting upper storey on their raised doorway- apart of a large portico Figures as pillars used at Sanchi and Bodh gaya too Faade of Ashoks palace made of carved stone-now preserved at the mathura museum was built during 1st century AD Contained two or more storey, each storey had an arcade of horse shoe arches With bays in-between. Each bay has a hanging balcony supported on a pillar Central

HINAYANA / EARLY PHASE

Evolution of the Chaityas and the Viharas

-2nd c BC 2nd c. AD
Two types of structures started making their appearance by 2nd c. BC
These were the Chaitys temple for rituals Vihara monastery for the priests

Salient features of the Chaitya:

It is a Vaulted hall Consisting of a Colonnade An Aisle Central nave Stupa in the apsidal end Resembling Basilica of the Roman Empire
Evolution of the Chaitya: the appearance of the stupa as a symbolic object led to a kind of a building or a structure to house it The ritual of circumambulation led to a portion of the structure being circular in plan with a domical roof As the huts had originally been for the monks and the hermits the beehive huts with the conical roofs and thatch were readily adapted Thus the rudimentary beginning of the chaitya hall is evident in the caves at barabar in the Asokan period The inner cells of the Lomas rishi and Sudama were adapted to place the Stupa Chaitya grihas or halls of worship were built all over the country either of brick or excavated from rocks. Ruins are located in the districts of Srikakulam at Salihundam, of Visahkapatnam at Kotturu, of West Godavari at Guntapalli, of Krishna at Vijayawada, of Guntur at Nagajunakonda and Amaravati belong to the 3rd century BC and later. The largest brick chaitya hall was excavated at Guntapalli. Some of the most beautiful rock-cut caves are those at Ajanta, ElIora, Bhaja, Karle, Bagh, Nasik and Kanheri. Some of the chunar sand-stone rock-cut chaityas of Bhaja. Kondane. 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 and wooden structures of Ashokan times

HINAYANA / EARLY PHASE

Evolution of the Chaityas and the Viharas

-2nd c BC 2nd c. AD

Salient features of the Chaitya:

Square central hall Vestibule in front of the door From the central hall to the cells High level priest called the Bodhisatvas- had separate cells as in Karli Style of architecture - wooden replications Lot of wood was attached to the surfaces Quarry man was the chisel man Quarried from top to bottom to avoid scaffolding

Viharas or monasteries constructed with brick or excavated from rocks are found in different parts of India.
Usually built to a set plan, they have : hall meant for congregational prayer running verandah on three sides or an open courtyard surrounded by a row of cells and a pillared verandah in front. These cells served as dwelling places for the monks. These monastic buildings built of bricks were self-contained units and had a Chaitya hall or Chaitya mandir attached to a stupa - the chief object of worship.

Some of the important Buddhist viharas are those at Ajanta, Ellora. Nasik, Karle, Kanheri, Bagh and Badami. The Hinayana viharas found in these places have many interesting features which differentiate them from the Mahayana type in the same regions. Though plain from the point of view of architecture, they are large halls with cells excavated in the walls on three sides. The hall has one or more entrances. The small cells, each with a door have one or two stone platforms to serve as beds.

HINAYANA / EARLY PHASE

Evolution of the Chaityas and the Viharas

-2nd c BC 2nd c. AD

Earlier the huts of the monks were grouped around an open space to form the first monasteries

Evolution of the Vihara:

An arrangement of a series of cells enclosing the 3 sides of an open courtyard The other side is left open for the entrance Spatial planning: rooms normally opened onto an interior quadrangle with the backs forming an outside wall This maintained the privacy and security

An inside verandah was added along the perimeter of the square for the monks
A number of viharas are attached to a chaitya hallresembling cloisters in the abbey church of the west Built mainly of wood and other perishable materials Evidence from bas reliefs Frequently a 2 storeyed structure, barrel vault, horse shoe gable ends, light admitted through dormer windows Outer faade containing an entrance with woodwork, including a pillared portico supporting a balcony- view processions and ceremonie Modest structures of utilitarian character changing character in the Mahayana Phase