Buddhism originated from the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha. The two main branches are Theravada and Mahayana. Theravada is prominent in Southeast Asia while Mahayana is found in East Asia. Early Buddhist architecture included stupas to house relics and mark important sites. The Great Stupa at Sanchi, built in the 3rd century BC, exemplifies the architectural elements of stupas including a hemispherical dome, circular terraces, and carved gateways. Monasteries like Takht-i-Bahai featured courtyards, stupas, chapels, and residential quarters for monks. Chaitya halls provided worship spaces

1. CULTURAL
INFLUENCES
IN ANCIENT
INDIA –
BUDDHISM
UNIT-1

2. • Buddhism is a religion and • In some classifications Vajrayana—as
philosophy encompassing a variety practiced mainly in Tibet and
of traditions, beliefs and practices, Mongolia, and adjacent parts of
largely based on teachings China and Russia —is recognized as a
attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, third branch, while others classify it as
commonly known as the " Buddha - a part of Mahayana.
the awakened one”. • Buddhist Architecture has its roots
• Two major branches of Buddhism deeply planted in Indian 'soil' - both
are recognized: THERAVADA ("The physically, in relation to existing
School of the Elders") and construction styles, and
MAHAYANA ("The Great Vehicle"). philosophically, in relation to
• Theravada has a widespread various cosmic theories that
following in Sri Lanka and influenced the layout of sacred sites.
Southeast Asia.
• Mahayana is found throughout East
Asia and includes the traditions of
Pure Land, Zen, Nichiren
Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism,
Shingon, Tiantai (Tendai) and
Shinnyo-en.

3. • The development of various • The earliest Buddhist construction of
symbols representing aspects of significance was the stupa; but these
the Buddha's life (563 - 483 BCE) were sculpture not structure.
was the beginning of a • Probably the most significant site is at
specifically Buddhist architecture. Sanchi where as well as having one of
• Traditional building styles would the best preserved Indian stupas, the
have been used but it was the full range of Buddhist art and
mode of decoration which began architecture from the third century BC to
to set these buildings apart. the twelfth AD can be studied here.
• As support for the new religion • The other form of specifically Buddhist
increased so too did the need for construction that evolved quite early
buildings to accommodate the was the rock-cut monastery.
requirements of the expanding • For about six centuries, beginning
monastic order. around 100 BCE, several monasteries
• Although stonework was quite were hewn from the cliffs and rock walls
common wood was still the main of valleys.
medium and the skill to erect stone • Probably the most famous of these is at
structures enclosing appreciable Ajanta. Their development is looked at
space had yet to be developed. under CAVES.

4. • And hence the basic plan of the Buddhist temple is established:
an entrance area with a square or rectangular central
Courtyard covered hall or open courtyard.
• The outward structure is modelled on the key concept of Mt
Meru.
• The basic floor plan is seen in the early cave monasteries (with
meditation cells added) and the structural form in the
Mahabodhi temple and Borobudur stupa.
Entrance Area
BASIC PLAN

5. STUPA AND ASOKA PILLAR, VAISHALI, BIHAR
DHARMAKSHA STUPA, SARNATH
STUPAS OF THE 3RD
CENTURY B.C., BHOJPUR,
MADHYA PRADESH.

6. STUPA-SANCHI
Sanchi is 68 kilometers north of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh

7. STUPA-SANCHI

8. STUPA-SANCHI

9. STUPAS
• Stupas were built of stones or • The Great stupa has a large
bricks, or mark important places hemispherical dome which is flat at the
associated with Buddhism or to top, and crowned by a triple umbrella or
house important relics (leftovers) of Chattra on a pedestal surrounded by a
Buddha. Ashok Maurya who laid square railing or Harmika.
the foundation of this group of • Buddha's relics were placed in a casket
monuments is said to have built chamber in the centre of the Dome.
84,000 stupas. • At the base of the dome is a high circular
• The best examples of stupas are terrace probably meant for parikrama
those constructed at AMARAVATI, or circumambulation and an encircling
SANCHI, BARHUT AND GAYA. balustrade.
• "One of the most striking • At the ground level is a stone-paved
architectural remains of ancient procession path and another stone
India" and the earliest and largest Balustrade and two flights of steps
of the three stupas found in Sanchi leading to the circular terrace.
was built by Ashoka (273-236 • Access to it is through four carved
B.C.) gateways or Toranas in the North, South,
East and West.

10. SANCHI STUPA
• Sanchi in Raisen district of Madhya
Pradesh is famous for its magnificent
Buddhist monuments and edifices.
• Situated on a hill, these beautiful and well-
preserved stupas depict the various stages
of development of Buddhist art and
architecture over a period of thirteen
hundred years.
• The Great Stupa is 120 feet across (36.6
meters) and, excluding the railing and
umbrella, is 54 feet high (16.46 meters).
• Stupas may be made of brick, brick and
rubble, or encased in masonry.
• The present stupa encases an earlier one of about half its present dimensions.
• The earlier one, built of large burnt bricks and mud, has been attributed to the
Emperor Ashoka, the main reasons being that the level of its floor is the same, and
that the bricks used in it resemble those in other Ashokan structures.
• The diameter of the stupa is 36.60 metres and its height is 16.46 metres. It is built
of large burnt bricks and mud mortar. It is presumed that the elaborately carved
Toranas were built by ivory or metal workers in the 1st

11. SANCHI STUPA - TORANA
• The first Torana gateway to be built is the
one at the principal entrance on the South.
• Each gateway has two square pillars.
• Crowning each pillar on all four sides are
four elephants, four lions and four
dwarfs.
• The four dwarfs support a superstructure
of three architraves or carved panels one
above the other.
• Between these are intricately carved
elephants and riders on horseback.
• The lowest architrave is supported on
exquisitely carved bracket figures.
• The panels are decorated with finely
carved figures of men, women, yakshas,
lions and elephants.
• The entire panel of the gateways is
covered with sculptured scenes .

12. TAKHT-I-BAHAI
• The Buddhist monastic
complex of Takht-i-
Bahai (Throne of
Origins) was founded in
the early 1st century.
Owing to its location on
the crest of a high hill, it
escaped successive
invasions and is still
exceptionally well
preserved.
• The Takht-i-Bahi is situated on top
of a 152 m high hill, about 80 km
from Peshawar and 16 km north-
west of the city of Mardan.
• The name Takht-i-Bahi derives
from the spring on the hilltop and
is literally translated as 'Spring
Throne‘.

13. • The principal buildings are contained within • A stupa court on the south
a rectangle of approximately 200’ in • The monastery on the north
length, consists of:

14. TAKHT-I-BAHAI
• An intervening terrace for the • Enclosing the court on three sides was
reception of votive stupas , small a range of small chapels , each
chapels & structural contributions. containing a cell or niche , not as in the
• To the west of the monastery is a hinayana face.
conference or assembly hall. • The roof of the chapels were so
• The courtyard was an open designed that a cupola alternated
quadrangle measuring 45’ by 55’. with a trefoil vault, each an
architecturally decorative motif and
• In the center, on a platform of 20’
depicting a separate constructional
side and 8’ high , rose the tall
tradition, for the former was derived
tapering stupa, which with its six
from the anchorite’s bee hive hut and
tiered umbrella, reached a total
later from the conventional shape of
height of 50’.
the Chaitya hall.
• An elegant stairway on the north side • The cells or the monastery had
gave access to the platform for unadorned walls protected by a
circumbulation , but the ordinary verandah .it had the stone bed for
processional path was around the relaxing and a small niche to act as
quadrangle at the base. shelf.

15. CHAITYA HALL
• Chaitya grihas or halls of worship were
built all over the country either of brick or
excavated from rocks.
• Ruins of a large number of structural
Buddhist chaitya grihas are found in the
eastern districts of Andhra Pradesh, in
valleys, near rivers and lakes.
• 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.

16. • Some of the chaityas show that wood had
been used in the roofing and entrance
arches.
• The chaitya at Bhaja is a long hall 16.75 m
long and 8 m broad with an apse at the end.
• The hall is divided into a central nave and an
aisle on either side flanked by two rows of
pillars. The roof is vaulted.
• The rock-cut stupa in the apse is crowned by KARLE, CHAITYA HALL
a wooden harmika.
• The chaitya has a large arched torana or entrance with an
arched portico.
• Hinayana rock architecture reaches the peak of excellence in
the splendid chaitya at Karle.
• The second phase of Buddhist architecture is marked by the
Mahayana creed of Buddhism seen in some of the excellent
rock-cut chaityas at Ajanta in Aurangabad district of
Maharashtra excavated between 5th AD and 9th century AD
during the rule of the Vakatakas, the Guptas and the
Rashtrakutas.

17. • The caves were first discovered in the beginning of
the 19th century.
• The caves are excavated from a semi-circular steep
rock with a stream flowing below, and were meant
for the use of the monks who spent the rainy season
there in meditation.
• The caves are at different levels and have stairs
leading down to the stream.
• The chaityas have a vaulted ceiling with a huge
horse-shoe shaped window or chaitya window over
the doorway.
• A remarkable feature of these Chaityas is the
imitation of woodwork on rock.
• Beams and rafters were carved in the rock though
they serve no purpose.
• From the unfinished caves, we get an idea of the
method of excavation.
• Starting from the ceiling, they worked downwards.
• Solid blocks were left to be carved into pillars.
• After finishing the verandah, they excavated the
interior.

18. CHAITYA HALL AT KARLI

20. • It is an architectural gem shows usual nave in
the center divided from the side aisles by
pillars and terminating in the apse which
contains the stupa.
• There are two solid octagonal columns and two
pillars at the sides which forms the vestibule.
• In front of these standing columns stood a pair
of simha stambhas ( lion pillar); the column with
the bell shaped column surmounted by 4 lions
back to back resembles the lion pillar at
Saranath.
• Above the screen rises a plain wall which has
now disappeared .
• On top of the plain wall stand dwarf pillars,
between which light penetrates not only to the
vestibule but through the great Chaitya
window of the façade to the interior of the
magnificent hall.

21. • A high barrel vault with ribs formed
of separate pieces of wood fixed by
plugs into the rock covers the nave.
• The seven remaining pillars without
base and capital stands in the apse
at the far end around the back of
the stupa.
• The central stupa has the harmika
with inverted stepped pyramid and
an umbrella
• Three entrances lead into the hall .
• The central one meant for the
members of the sangha had a raised • An inverted lotus capital with the ribbed
pathway into the nave. element placed inside the box above it
• 37 pillars adorn the interior of the crowns the octagonal columns.
hall. 30 of them belonging to the opt • The abacus which repeats the form of the
based type, richly carved. each stepped base but in reverse order,
stands on a diminishing squares. supports finely sculptured groups of
• on this rest the pot like base which figures mounted on elephants and horses.
appears to hold the bottom of the
pillar.

22. VIHARAS
• Viharas or monasteries
constructed with brick or
excavated from rocks are found
in different parts of India.
• These monastic buildings built of
bricks were self-contained units
and had a Chaitya hall or
ROCK-CUT VIHARA, NASIK
Chaitya mandir attached to a
stupa - the chief object of • These cells served as dwelling (living) places
worship. for the monks.
• Some of the important Buddhist viharas are
• They have a hall meant for those at Ajanta, Ellora. Nasik, Karle, Kanheri,
congregational prayer with a
Bagh and Badami.
verandah running on three sides
or an open courtyard • The Hinayana viharas found in these places
surrounded by a row of cells have many interesting features which
and a pillared verandah in differentiate them from the Mahayana type in
front. the same regions.

23. • The columns have a square base with
figures of dwarfs and elaborately
carved brackets (supports) and
capitals.
• Below the capital is a square abacus
with finely carved designs.
• The walls and the ceilings of the cave
contain the most exquisite paintings.
THREE STOREYED VIHARA, ELLORA
• Though plain , 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.
• The viharas of Ellora dated 400 AD to 7th
century AD are of one, two, and three
storeys and are the largest of the type.
TYPICAL VIHARA PLAN

24. AMARAVATI STUPA
• The Great Stupa at
Amaravati was a large
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 AMARAVATI STUPA
years.
• The main part of the Amaravati • A small box made of stone, pottery or
Stupa was a solid great dome which metal was usually placed within the
most likely stood about 18 metres dome of a stupa.
high. • This box contained the ashes of the
• The dome was made of pale green Buddha or an important Buddhist figure.
limestone which was probably • The lower part of the dome was
painted with bright colours. covered with large stone reliefs.

25. Harmika
Upper dome
Pillars Lower dome
Outer Inner
Railing Pillars Railing
Gateway

26. • It was about 160 feet (50 m) in • The reliefs, carved on the greenish
diameter and 90 to 100 feet white limestone characteristic of the
(about 30 m) high, but it has been region, mostly depict events of the
largely destroyed. Buddha’s life and his previous births
• A low drum with a hemispherical (Jātaka stories).
dome, the railings and drum • The crowded yet unified compositions
covered with carvings, and the of the later period are filled with
whole surrounded by an elaborate dynamic movement, a keen awareness
and richly carved railing. of the dramatic, and a delight in the
• The four cardinal points are sensuous world.
marked by groups of five pillars, • There is an abundance of rounded
while free-standing columns topped forms and a richness so overwhelming
by lions are set up at the four that the frame is barely able to contain
entrances, replacing the torana the sculpture.
(ceremonial gateway) of earlier
stupas.
• The most notable feature of the
amaravati stupa is the elaborate
carvings on its marble surface.

27. UPPER DOME
• The main part of the Amaravati Stupa
was a solid great dome which most likely
stood about 18 metres high.
• The dome was made of pale green
limestone which was probably painted
with bright colours.
• The upper part of the dome was
probably decorated with plaster
garlands.
• Garlands made of real vines and
flowers were used to decorate buildings
for festivals and special occasions.
• Although none of these garlands have
survived at Amaravati, it is believes that
they existed because they can be seen in
stone reliefs showing stupas.
• Fragments of plaster garlands have also
been found at other stupa sites in the
region.

28. LOWER DOME
The lower part of Eight sided pillar
the dome was
covered with large
stone reliefs.
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.
The dharmachakra rests
on top of a column set
amidst vines and
flowers.

29. INNER
INNER RAILING

30. Gateway Ayaka Platform
• There were four • A small platform extended out from the drum at
gateways in the railing each of the gateways.
around the Stupa. • Five pillars were mounted on top of each of the
• Each one of the gateways ayaka platforms.
marked one of the four • The ayaka platform may have been used in the
directions, north, south, rituals which took place at the Amaravati Stupa.
east and west.
Railing Harmika
• Around the outer limits of • The harmika was a
the Stupa was a tall small platform with a
railing made of railing located at the
limestone. very top of a stupa.
• The railing marked the • Sometimes umbrellas
boundaries of the Stupa. were mounted in the
harmika as a symbol
of honour and respect.

31. The top of the slab shows a row of symbols called
TRIRATNAS - A symbol representing the Three
Jewels of Buddhism: The Buddha, The Law set out
by the Buddha, and the monastic brotherhood.
Below the triratnas is a row
of lions. Lions were
important symbols of power
and protection
A classic depiction of the stupa, with
lions at the gateway, dharmachakra
capitals on pillars and semi-divine
figures worshipping the stupa.