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Buddhist Architecture
Buddhist Architecture
Many of the architectural traditions in India owe its origin to both Buddhism and Jainism.
Between fifth to fourteenth centuries, developments in Buddhist were equally vibrant, and often
went hand-in-glove with Hindu ones. Sites such as Ellora have Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monuments
The pre-eminent Buddhist site in India is Bodhgaya. Bodhgaya is a pilgrimage site since Siddhartha
achieved enlightenment here and became Gautama Buddha. While the Bodhi tree is of immense
importance, the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya is an important reminder of the brickwork of that
time.
Remember: The first shrine at Bodhgaya, located at the base of the Bodhi tree, is said to have been
constructed by King Ashoka
The design of the Mahabodhi temple is unusual. It is, strictly speaking, neither Dravida nor
Nagara. It is narrow like a Nagara temple, but it rises without curving, like a Dravida one.
Mahabodhi temple
Other important Buddhist related architectural monuments in India
Nalanda university
The monastic university of Nalanda is a mahavihara as it is a complex of several monasteries of
various sizes
Most of the information about Nalanda is based on the records of Xuan Zang—previously spelt as
‘Hsuan-tsang’— which states that the foundation of a monastery was laid by Kumargupta I in the
fifth century CE
There is evidence that all three Buddhist doctrines— Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana—were
taught here and monks made their way to Nalanda and its neighboring sites of Bodhgaya and
Kurkihar from China, Tibet and Central Asia in the north, and Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma and
various other countries from the south-eastern parts of Asia.
The excavated ruins of the institution indicate that bright red bricks were used in its construction.
It has been included in UNESCO’s World Heritage Site
Excavated ruins at Nalanda
Sirpur in Chhattisgarh
It is an early-Odisha style site belonging to the period between 550 and 800, with both Hindu and
Buddhist shrines
Such sites later developed in other regions such as- Lalitagiri, Vajragiri and Ratnagiri
Buddhist shrine in Sirpur
Stupas
The older stupas were enlarged during the time period between Mauryas and Guptas
The famous amongst these are- Sanchi, Bharhut and Amaravati
Stupa has a cylindrical drum or a circular anda over which one can see harmika and chhatra. The
circumambulatory path, Pradakshina path, is enclosed by railings called vedika.
Bharhut stupa
Located in MP
A brick stupa was constructed at the site during the time of Ashoka
The carvings of these stupas depict the Jataka tales and stories
A stone railing was constructed here during the time of Sungas
An important feature of this site is that the narrative art is accompanied by an inscription which is
not found elsewhere
Bharhut stupa is made of red sandstone
Bharhut stupa, MP
Sanchi stupa
It is the most-well preserved stupa amongst the three
The foundation of this stupa was probably laid by Ashoka
It was enlarged during the time of Sungas
During the rule of Satavahanas, toranas were added
The railings depict the Jataka tales
The Sanchi Stupa is made out of locally quarried sandstone.
Sanchi stupa, MP
Amaravati stupa
It was completed around 200AD
It has carved panels telling the story of the life of Buddha
Its surfaces were carved in the Bharhut style but some features of the Mathura and Gandhara
sculptures were also adopted
White marble limestone was used in the construction
Amaravati stupa
Nagarjunakonda stupa
It is AP
It belongs to Saka-Satavahana era
It reflects Mahayana Buddhism
Excavations have unearthed stupa, chaityas, mandapams
Remember
Largest stupa: Kesariya stupa, Bihar
Oldest stupa: Great stupa at Sanchi
Dhamekh stupa: place where Buddha proclaimed his faith
Chaukhandi stupa: consists of an octagonal tower built by Emperor Akbar to commemorate his
father’s place to the Stupa
Viharas
It was the ancient Indian term for a Buddhist monastery.
Originally, viharas were dwelling places used by wandering monks during the rainy season but
eventually they evolved into centers of learning and Buddhist architecture through the donations
of wealthy lay Buddhists.
Life in “Viharas” was codified early on. It is the object of a part of the Pali canon, the Vinaya
Pitaka or “basket of monastic discipline.”
Typical large sites such as the Ajanta Caves, Aurangabad Caves, Karli Caves, and Kanheri Caves
contain several viharas.
A rock-cut viharas at Ellora
Chaityas
It refers to a shrine, sanctuary, temple or prayer hall in Indian religions.
Most early examples of chaitya that survive are Indian rock-cut architecture
Chaityas have a gigantic hall with high vaulted roof, with a lot of sculpture work on the pillars and
the entrance
The largest Chaitya-Griha among all Buddhist monuments in India is the Karle caves.
Many Chaityas show a stupa at the back. Chaityas were carved either as rectangular halls or
apsidal vault-roof or apsidal vault pillarless halls
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