Buddhist Architecture

Dr. Dipti Parashar

Associate Professor

SHARDA University
 Contents
• Evolution of Buddhism
• Origin of Buddhism
• Hinayana and Mahayana Sects of Buddhism

• Evolution of Building Typologies

• Stupas
• Chaityas
• Viharas
• Stambhas
Concept of Buddhism

• Four noble truths

• Eight-fold path
Timeline
 Buddhist Architecture
Introduction
• Founded by Siddhartha, also known as Gautama, son
of Suddhodana, the chief of Sakyas
• Born in 563 BC in Kapilavastu, a city on the borders of
Nepal
• His 29th year brought a revolution in his view of life
when he sighted death, old and weak.
• He gave up his kingdom and went in search of the path
of Deliverance.
• In 531 BC, he attained enlightenment at Gaya, under a
Bodhi tree, henceforth known as Buddha
 Buddhist Architecture
Introduction
• Buddhism gained popularity when Emperor
Ashoka, accepted Buddhist faith in 261 BC.
• Three types of structures are associated with the
religious architecture of Buddhism:
– Relic shrines (Stupas)
– Temples (Chaitya grihas)
– Monasteries (Viharas)
• Buddhism declined in India in 7th century but was
carried over to Sri Lanka, Burma, Kampuchea,
Java and Far East
 Types of Structures
The early structures that were built during the empires were permanent in nature
and long lasting. Non-Structural or rock cut means that they were carved out of
mountain cliff or hugerocks.
 Buddhist Architecture
Evolution of Religious structures
• The stupas were structures originally built for safe-
guarding the relics of the Buddha. In accordance with
changes in religious practice, stupas were gradually
incorporated into chaitya-grihas (temple halls).
• Viharas initially were only temporary shelters used
by wandering monks during the rainy season, but
later were developed to accommodate the growing
and increasingly formalised Buddhist monasticism.
• The Pagoda is an evolution of the Indian stupa.
 Buddhist Architecture
Typologies
• Stupas (places to venerate relics)
• Chaityas or chaitya grihas(shrines or prayer halls)-
later came to be temples
• Viharas (monasteries)
• Stambhas (monolithic pillars)

• The religion initially did not involve making of

figures or idols but gradually the followers started
making sculptural representations of Buddha.
Buddhist Architecture
Typologies Evolution
 Two Schools of Thought
There are 2 phases of Buddhism:
• Hinayana- 2nd Century BC- 2nd Century AD
• Mahayana-3rd Century AD –7th Century AD
 Buddhist Architecture
Stupas
• Stupas are circular timuli built of earth, covered with
stone or brick.
• Stupas were erected over sacred relics of the monks
and worshipped with great reverence.
• The Stupa was planned like a Vedic village, on the
lines of divine order
• The spherical dome symbolized the sky and also the
womb with the relics as the “seed”
• At the top is a small square balcony called harmika
enclosing a pedestal.
 Buddhist Architecture
Stupas
• A 3-tiered stone or wooden umbrella supported
on shaft was raised over the pedestal which was
the vedic altar and represented the shrine.
• Sometimes around the base of the dome, was a
terrace, forming an upper ambulatory path.
• Access to climb it was through double stair case
or sopana with balustrade.
• This path was perhaps reserved for the monks,
while the lower one open to all devotees.
 Buddhist Architecture
Stupas
• The brick surface of the dome was finished with
thick layer of lime mortar or coloured and even
gilded in some stupas.
• The stupa was enclosed within a wooden or stone
railing called Vedica, leaving an ambulatory passage
with gateways called Toranas at each cardinal points.
• These gateways and railing were based on bamboo
gateways of Aryan village and are features of
Buddhist style.
 Buddhist Architecture
The Great Stupa at Sanchi (250 BC)
• Located at Sanchi, 40 kms
from Bhopal.
• The dome is a solid brickwork
32.32 m in diameter and
12.8m high.
• The dome has a slight crushed
profile at top surmounted by
Harmika and central triple
umbrella.
• The facing is of dry hammer-
dressed stones in even courses
 Buddhist Architecture
Elevation and Plan of Stupas
 Buddhist Architecture
The Great Stupa at Sanchi (250 BC)
• The terrace 1.8m wide 4.87m
high from the ground serves as
an upper ambulatory passage
and is reached by double stairs
and has high balustrade.
• The 4 gateways, known as
Toranas are set staggered from
the railing, Vedica, enclosing the
stupa.
• Outside the railing, stood the
Ashoka Pillar
 Buddhist Architecture
The Great Stupa at Sanchi (250 BC)
Toranas
The entrance gates, 3m wide and
10.36m high consist of
• two square upright columns with
capitals of lion or elephant heads
• 3 separate horizontal panels ending in
volutes and with rows of ornamental
balusters between
• The top panel crowned with Tri-ratna
symbol of trinity – Buddha, Dharma
and Sangha with wheel of justice in
the centre.
 Buddhist Architecture
The Great Stupa at Sanchi (250 BC)
Vedica
The stone railing or fencing
around the ambulatory path, is
3.35m high. It consists of
• uprights, Urdhva patas, 45 cm
side spaced at 60 – 90 cm.
• three lens shaped horizontals
called Suchis 60 cm deep
threading between the
uprights.
• a coping ushnisha on the top
to drain out rain water
 Buddhist Architecture
The Stupa at Amravati
• The Amravati stupa, is the largest
stupa in India. The dome is 50 m
in diameter and 30m high.
• The upper part of the dome was
plastered while the lower part
was covered by huge slabs of
marble, entire surface covered
with ornamentations
• The dome has unique Ayakas,
rectangular platforms at the base
instead of Toranas marking
cardinal gateways.
 Buddhist Architecture
The Stupa at Amravati
Vedicas
• The entire dome was enclosed
by 4m high stone railing,
vedica, highly ornamented
with chakras, trees, men,
animal and figures of Buddha
• The railing is intercepted by 4
doorways called Simhadwaras
with a sculpture of sedentary
lion, at the cardinal points.
Stupas and Pagodas
 Stambhas (pillars)

• The next development was the free standing monolithic columns erected
over sites selected because of their sacred associations. They were basically
stone objects.
• In the context of Hindu Mythology, stambha, is believed to be a cosmic
column.
• A stambha consists of a circular column or shaft slightly tapering towards the
summit (monolithic). On top of this shaft is the Persepolitan bell or the
inverted lotus shaped base. Above this is the abacus on top of which rests the
crowning sculpture. These three portions were carved out of a single stone
(monolithic).

• The famous iron pillar from the Gupta period is a fine specimen, with
standing exposure to rain & storm, yet remaining smooth and unrusted
bearing testimony to the mastery of Indian metal-casting.
 Early
Capitals
Stambhas
 Buddhist Architecture
Ashoka Pillar
• Pillars erected by Emperor Ashoka (274-237 BC) have
an important place in buddhist architecture
• The pillar at Sarnath is over 15m high with 4 addorsed
lions with flowing manes surmounting the capital.
These lions originally supported a massive metal
wheel – Wheel of the law – Dharma Chakra.
• The capital over 2m high resembles the shape of an
inverted bell or a lotus bud with series of fluted
petals. Above the capital is an abacus which is circular
containing four figures of animals (elephant, bull, lion,
horse) alternating with four wheels
Buddhist Architecture
Ashoka Pillar
 Buddhist Architecture
The Chaityas
• Chaityas are Buddhist temples as well as
Assembly halls
• They are vaulted halls divided by two
colonnades forming a broad nave and two
side aisles
• Entered through a small rectangular doorway
• At the apsidal end is the stupa carved in
natural rock with space around for
circumambulation
Chaityas
 Characteristics of Chaitya
• Accommodates Stupa
• Apsidal Plan
• No division between nave and Chaitya
• Vaulted hall
• Colonnades
• Side aisles
Buddhist Architecture
Chaitya Hall
Carpenters Caves in Ellora
 Buddhist Architecture
The Chaitya at Karli (78 BC)
• The entrance of the chaitya is very grand and
consists of 3 doorways set underneath a gallery
• The hall is 38.5m long and 13 m wide with a
vaulted roof 13.7m high. The roof has a series of
closely spaced wooden ribs.
• The hall is divided by 2 rows of columns, each
column 1.22m in diameter and 7.32 m high with
bell shaped capital supporting a pair of kneeling
elephants carrying riders.
• At the apsidal end is the stupa carved in natural
rock with inverted stepped pyramid at the top.
 Buddhist Architecture
Ajanta Caves (2nd cent. BC)
• These caves set in a horse-
shoe shaped valley 500m
long with a flowing rivulet is
very picturesque.
• There are some 30 caves of
which 9, 10, 19, 26 and 29
are chaitya halls and others
are viharas.
• The cave walls are filled with
figures of celestial beings,
dancers and buddhist deities.
Ajanta and Bhaja Caves
 Buddhist Architecture
Ajanta Cave no. 26 (2nd cent. BC)
• Chaitya cave no. 26,
representative of the type, has
a small rectangular doorway
with a horse-shoe shaped
window above with tracery
work through which light is
admitted to the hall.
• The vaulted roof has closely
spaced ribs from rock
representing prototype timber
members
 Buddhist Architecture
Ajanta Cave no. 9 (2nd cent. BC)
• This cave hall has two rows of
columns with a stupa carved out
of natural rock
• Ajanta caves is famous for their
pulsating frescoes containing
beautiful paintings and
illustrations in Buddha’s life. The
plaster used is 1 cm thick made
of hay, cow-dung and rice husk
and coated with lime. Outlines
were then drwn and finally
coloured.
 Buddhist Architecture
Ellora Cave
• Ellora has 12 caves of which only
one is chaitya.
• It is similar to Ajanta in
construction, a vaulted hall with
2 rows of colonnade and a stupa
in the apsidal end with the figure
of Buddha seated with feet
down.
• Columns are rectangular with
shallow flutes and wide capitals
supporting heavy sculpted
entablature.
 Buddhist Architecture
Viharas
• Viharas are residential places of
buddhist monks. They contain
assembly halls and dining areas.
• From the hall deep into the rocks
are cells provided for meditation.
• The shrine contain beautiful
images of Buddha and the walls
depict stories of his life.
• Some great viharas are 60m high
covered with glazed tiles. Pillars
are chiselled and beams and
rafters painted with rainbow
colours.
Viharas in Nalanda
End