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Lecture-III BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE

Lecture iv buddhist architecture

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Page 1: Lecture iv  buddhist architecture

Lecture-III BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE

Page 2: Lecture iv  buddhist architecture

Buddhism began in India 2,500 years ago and remains the

dominant world religion in the East.

It is based on the teachings of an Indian prince named Siddharta

Gautama who lived around 500 BCE.

According to Buddhist tradition, the sheltered young prince was

shocked by the suffering he saw outside his palace walls, so he left

his life of luxury to seek answers.

Eventually he succeeded, becoming the Buddha--the "Enlightened

One.“

He spent the remaining 45 years of his life teaching the dharma

(the path to liberation from suffering) and establishing the sangha

(a community of monks).

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A Buddhist temple is called Vihara and is a place for education. In

a temple, there is a shrine room with a large Buddha and statues

of his disciples. It also has relics and manuscripts. There is also a

lecture room, meditation room and a library.

Buddha is known as a teacher not a god.

Candles and incense sticks are lit and Buddhists recite verses in the

Vihara.

Flowers and food are placed on the front of the Buddhist Statue.

The flowers are to remind the person that they will not live forever.

The food is given to the Monks since they own nothing of their own

and Buddhists feel that giving food will help them reach Nirvana

Facts about Buddhism

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The following principles are said to help Buddhists to act well: 1.

Not to hurt living things, 2. Do not take advantage of what is not

there, 3. Use senses correctly, 4. Speak kindly, and, 5. Do not take

or use drugs or alcohol.

Buddhism goes beyond religion and is more of a philosophy or

'way of life'. It is a philosophy because philosophy 'means love of

wisdom' and the Buddhist path can be summed up as:

(1)to lead a moral life,

(2) to be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions, and

(3) to develop wisdom and understanding.

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The Buddhist architecture has its root deeply implanted in the

Indian soil- the birthplace of the Buddha's teachings.

Indian emperor Ashoka, not only established Buddhism as the

state religion of his large Magadh empire, but also opted for the

architectural monuments to spread Buddhism in different

places.

The major features of this style are

Stupas

stambhas

Chaitaya halls

viharas

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STUPA After many years of teaching Buddha died at the age of 80 .His body

was cremated and ashes were divided in to eight parts the ashes

were then deposited in several special mound –shaped monuments

called Stupas

Umbrella were often mounted at the top of stupa as a sign of honor

and respect

A stupa is a mound-like structure containing buddhist relics,

typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of

worship.

These stupas are circular tumuli built of earth, covered with stone

or brick, the plan, elevation, section and the total form of which were

all derived from circle.

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STUPA

Stupa become a cosmic symbol in response to a major human condition: death. With the enlightenment of the Buddha, stupa became a particularly buddhist symbol.

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PURPOSE

A symbol to inspire aspiration and efforts in the religious life – the

pursuit of enlightenment

ELEMENTS

Stupas are physically composed of the four elements – earth, air,

fire and water.

EVOLUTION

Of the early stupas some were centered around sacrificial stakes

but all evolved as burial mounds. As Buddhism developed the

stupa became more of a general religious symbol, an object of

worship.

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MANDALA

A symmetrical expression of the microcosm and macrocosm.

A centered construction designed to draw the viewer to their own

still centre through silent contemplation.

The basic form is a circle (heaven) inside a square (earth).

The conceptual components of a stupa (cube, sphere, cone) interlock

and the shared axis leads the viewer’s line of sight upwards to the apex

– a symbol of the goal of Buddhism, nibbana.

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SANCHI STUPA

There are mainly three main stupas on the top of the sanchi

hill which rise about 100m above the plain.

Of the three stupa the biggest one is known as the great

stupa.

The 'Great Stupa' at Sanchi is the oldest stone structure in

India and was originally commissioned by the emperor

Ashoka the Great in the 3rd century BCE.

Its nucleus was a simple hemispherical brick structure

built over the relics of the Buddha.

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It was crowned by the chatra, a parasol-like structure

symbolizing high rank, which was intended to honor and

shelter the relics.

It has four profusely carved ornamental gateways and a

balustrade encircling the whole structure.

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DOME- is a solid brick-

work 32.32m in

diameter and 12.8m

high.

The dome has a slight

‘crushed’ profile at top and

was surmounted by

HARMIKA with a central

triple UMBRELLA.

Plan and Elevation

The facing of the dome consists of dry masonry composed of

hammer dressed stones laid in even courses.

The terrace 4.87m high from ground was added thus

creating a separate and upper ambulatory passage 1.8m wide

access to which was provided by a double staircase with high

balustrade, on the south side.

There are four gateways known as ‘TORANAS’ at the cardinal

points to the compass and are slightly staggered from the railing

enclosing stupa.

The ambulatory or pradakshina path is fenced by railing

3.35m high all around the stupa.

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Outside the railing there once stood the famous ashoka pillar,

the fragments of which are noticed now to the right of southern

torana. Axonometric drawing

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Steps leading to upper ambulatory Lower Ambulatory 3.35 m. high

Harmika & triple umbrella

Upper Ambulatory 1.8m wide3.35m high

Stone vedica

Suchi 60 cm dia

Urdhava patas 45cm dia 60-90 cmc/c

Ushnisha

FEATURES

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View of Torna from upper ambulatory

Elephants and Yakshi of the Eastern Torana, Great Stupa, Sanchi, mid-1st century BC - AD 1st century

Front View of sanchi stupa

Front View of Torna

Column of Torna

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TORANA

Toranas, the entrance to the

ambulatory were accepted as

the traditional type of

ceremonial potals and excel the

array of architectural

embellishment.

Torana consists of two square

uprite columns with capital of

lion or elephant heads

denoting strength.

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The first Torana gateway to be built is the one at the

principal entrance on the South.

These columns support three separate horizontal panels

between each of which is a row of ornamental balusters.

These panels are supported by atlantean figures, a group of

dwarfs, lions and elephant.

The total height of this erection is somewhat 10.36m with a

width of 3m.

No images of the Buddha was depicted; use only symbols such

as footprint, lotus flower, an empty throne.

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The entire panel of the gateways is covered with

sculptured scenes from the life of Buddha, the Jataka

Tales, events of the Buddhist times and rows of floral or

lotus motifs.

The scenes from Buddha's life show Buddha represented

by symbols - the lotus, wheel a rider less caparisoned

horse, an umbrella held above a throne, foot prints and the

triratnas which are symbolic of Buddha, Dharma and

Sangha.

The top panel has a Dharma chakra with two Yakshas on

either side.

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Yakshinis

Female figures (Yakshinis;

male is called yakshas) on

the brackets symbolizes

tree goddesses; pre-

Buddhist spirits associate

with the generative or

productive forces of

nature, water, and strength

of the inner breath.

Yakshi bracket figure from the east gate

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RAILING OR VEDICA

The vedica or railing consists of upright octagonal plan

45cm in diameter spaced at 60 to 90cm from each other and

connected by three lens shaped horizontals called ‘suchi’ or

needles 60cm deep being threaded through the holes of the

upright.

The top horizontal bar is provided with coping to drain out

rain water.

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Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath

The Dhamekh Stupa and the

Dharmarajika stupa at

Sarnath are believed to have

been built by Ashoka and

later rebuilt in the Gupta

period.

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Built in 7th century

A commemorative Stupa

Situated 6.5KM to the north of Benares.

The Stupa consist of large tower built in stone masonry at

the basement for a height of 13M and in brick masonry above

for a height 34M.

The facing of stone basement has 8 niches,

A line of sculptured ornaments run below it.

These niches were mostly provided to erect Buddha’s statue.

Delicately carved with beautiful floral and geo­metrical

patterns is believed to have been put up in the Gupta period.

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These stupas contain the relics of Buddha and are therefore

important places of Buddhist pilgrimage.

Buddha gave his First Sermon in Sarnath and also founded the

Sangha or Order of Monks here.

The original Dhamekh Stupa built with mud or brick is a

cylindrical structure 43.5 m. high.

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STUPA AT AMARAVATI

The Great Stupa at Amaravati is the largest Buddhist

monument built in south-eastern India between the second

century B.C. and the third century A.D.

It was a centre for religious activity and worship for

hundreds of years.

The Stupa was part of a complex of religious buildings built

and paid for by local people. Over time, the Stupa was added

to and changed many times.

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.

This relief shows a stupa

with a harmika and

umbrellas.

HARMIKA GATEWAY

There were four gateways in the railing around the Stupa. Each

one of the gateways marked one of the four directions, north,

south, east and west.

AYAKA PLATFORM

A small platform extended out from the drum at each of the

gateways. Five pillars were mounted on top of each of the

ayaka platforms. The ayaka platform may have been used in

the rituals which took place at the Amaravati Stupa.

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The lower part of the dome was

covered with large stone

reliefs. This section of

sculpture shows different

scenes from the Buddha's life.

DOME (LOWER) DOME (UPPER)

The main part of the Amaravati Stupa

was a solid great dome which most

likely stood about 18 meters high.

The dome was made of pale green

limestone which was probably painted

with bright colors.

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PILLAR

Facing each gateway into the Amaravati Stupa was a group of

five pillars.

The pillars were mounted on a special platform called the

ayaka which was part of the drum and extended out from it.

RAILING

Around the outer limits of the

Stupa was a tall railing made of

limestone. The railing marked the

boundaries of the Stupa.

Lion

Lion sculptures were placed

at the gateways to the

Amaravati Stupa.

Lions represented power

and strength and were

meant to ward off evil

spirits and protect the

Stupa.

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The Great Departure of Prince Siddhartha, Amaravati

Railing crossbar with monks worshiping a fiery pillar, a symbol of the Buddha, , Great Stupa of Amaravati

Railing pillar with the Interpretation of the Dream of Queen Maya, Great Stupa of Amaravati

Carvings from the Great Stupa at Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, founded 3rd C. BC

Dome sculpture from the Great Stupa at Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh

Railing pillar with King Shuddhodana and Queen Maya, parents of Prince Siddhartha, on an elephant

Drum slab from the Great Stupa at Amaravati, 3rd C. AD

Upper left corner of a drum slab, Great Stupa at Amaravati

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Monolithic pillars Boldly designed, finely proportioned, conceptually well

balanced

Monumental –free standing pillars not part of architectural composition

Shaft is circular piece of stone stone tapering upwards

40-50ft long

Capital - symmetrical design

capital

shaft

Inverted lotus or bell

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The authentic examples of these pillars are those which king

Ashoka set up to bear inscriptions conveying to his subjects

the leading doctrines of the new faith he had adopted,

Buddhism.

These are sturdy, finely proportional and properly

balanced religious sign posts

The pillar at sarnath more than 15m high has a group of

four adorned lions with flowing manes, surmounting the

capital.

ASHOKA PILLARS

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These lions originally supported a massive

metal wheel with 24 spokes called ‘wheels of

the law’.

The capital more than 2m high resembles the

shape of a inverted bell or lotus bud with

series of fluted petals.

Above the capital is the abacus which is

circular, having broad edge carves with

ornamental borders, containing four figure of

animals alternate with the four small wheels

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Another Ashokan Pillar of note is the one at Lauriya Nandangarh in

Bihar.

Erected in the 3rd century BC it is made of highly polished Chunar

sand-stone. Standing 9.8 metres high it rises from the ground and has

no base structure.

It is surmounted by a bell-shaped inverted lotus.

The abacus on it is decorated with flying geese and crowning it is a

sitting lion.

The pillar is an example of the engineering skill of the craftsmen of

Mauryan times.

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CHAITYA HALLS

A Buddhist shrine or prayer hall with stupa at one end.

Made for large gatherings of devotees

Made in rock-cut due to permanency of structure

Chaityas were influenced by ascetic lifestyle of Vedic period and tendency of hermits to retire in solitude

Basic Characteristics

Accommodates Stupa

Apsidal Plan

No division between nave and chaitya i.e space for

congregational service not clearly defined.

Vaulted hall

Colonnades

Side aisles

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Architectural Features

• Wooden construction inspired from Vedic period imitated in

natural rock

• Supplemented with wooden surfaces for e.g.. Screens etc.

(half timber construction)

• Shows similarities to Roman concept of column and arch, but

no evidence of any relation

• Chaitya at Karli

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• Rectangular halls with finely polished interior walls

• Well proportioned pillars with capitals(around 35)

• Semi circular roof

• Pillar had three parts: prop, base buried in ground and shaft

• Extensive use of motifs, decorative and symbolic.

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VIHARAS

• A monastery, arrangement of cells for accommodation of

monks

• Dwellings were simply wooden construction/thatched

bamboo huts

• Near settlements on trade routes

• After first century AD, Viharas came in as educational

institutes.

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Basic Characteristics

Quadrangular court for gathering

Surrounded by small cells

Front wall incorporated a shrine for image of Buddha

Cells had rock cut platforms for beds

Viharas were not alike in design

Doorways were on sides of the walls of main hall.

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Construction and Materials Rock-cut architecture basically

aped wooden construction down

to joinery details

Hardly structural

In brick, corbelled arches are

used, and very large bricks to for

large span

Motifs used floral patterns,

animals(used throughout the

kingdom).

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Bhaja(150 b.c)

Most primitive hall

55ft by 26ft, side aisles 3.5ft wide and high stilted vault 29ft high with

closed rank wood ribs

Facades have numerous mortice holes for fixing elaborate wooden

frontages.

Simple stupa with cylindrical base and a wooden harmikaa and

chhatri.

One central doorway+2 side ones

Projection balcony supported on four pillars

H shaped framework held by projection beams

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Ajanta Cave No. 10

100ft by 40ft by 33ft

Same roof ribs

Two tiered stupa with

circular base and

elongated dome

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Vihara at Kondane

Central hall was pillared

23 by 29 columns in colonnades, with cells on three side

Cornice over the portico, copy of wooden construction

methods.

Portico was pillared and had 3 square headed openings.

Portico also had motifs

Columns supported roof.

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MONASATARIES AT GANDHARA

Buddhist interpretation of Hellenic model of Greece called

Greco-Bactrian Style

Sites situated at modern day Peshawar and Rawalpindi

Region was visited by Hiuen Tsang in 7th century, spreading

Buddhism(cult religion) B.C followed by Alexander in 350

B.C bringing Greek style

Gandhara became independent in 250 B.C, finally

conquered by Scythians

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Basic Characteristics

Intention Indian, treatment Greek for e.g.. Fire-altar, animal

capitals, sculpture, pediments, entablature introduced

Stimulation of image worship.

Statues of Buddha's etc, Corinthian capitals with Buddha in

leaves of Acanthus

Monastery had irregular aggregation consisting of Stupa

and Sanghrama

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Monastic Sanctuary(Takht-i-Bahai)

Axial Planing, logical arranged

Rectangular plan(200 ft long)

Stupa court on South, monastery on north

Small chapel on terrace

West had conference hall

Stupa treated artisiticallly

Courtyard-quadrangle 45ft by 55ft

Central platform 20ft by 8 ft high on which there was a Stupa with six-tiered

umbrella

No true arches

Simple unadorned room in Sanghrama

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Vihara(Cave no. 11, 7 and 6)

Wooden construction

11 and 6 had four central pillars while 7th had 2

2 storied

Had colonnades on all sides and a verandah with a 54sq. Ft hall

doorway and windows on two sides

Pillars had vast capital base.

Vihara Cave no. 1 and 16

Exterior verandah 65ft long with 65sq, ft main hall

Colonnades of twenty pillars

16 square cells, has a sacrarium with figure of Buddha

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Ellora Caves Caves excavated out of low ridge hills, Buddhists occupied

best site.

Dhedwada group(caves 1 to 5) and 6 to 12 were two main

groups

Mahanwada cave(no.5) had both monastery and hall, it had

two parallel platforms for seating of priests

Later group had chaitya hall no. 10

Cave no. 2 has 48 pillars colonnade attached with side

gallery.

Cushion pillar comes in focus now

Cave 6 to 12

Largest monasteries

No. 12 is knows as tin

thaal(thre stories), can lodge

40 priests (108ft by 60 ft)

Does not have any

ornamentation

Access is through pillared

verandah

All three floors are different

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Vishwakarma (Carpenter’s Cave) Chaitya Hall

85ft by 44ft by 34ft

Plainer than Ajanta

Stupa is foundation to support a shrine of buddha

Chaitya Arch compressed to a samll opening

Two canopies over the niches, predecessors of Indo Aryan

and Dravidian temple shrine styles.

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Aurangabad Caves

No. 3 and 7 are finest and best preserved

No. 3 is deep cut in the rock, cella leading out of pillared

hall

No.7 has a passage of ambulation around it

Pillars have combination of the bracket with vase and

foliage motif.