Stupas were large mounds that served as relic shrines for Buddhist monks, taking the form of a hemisphere topped with three tiers and umbrellas to symbolize heaven, while viharas were residential monasteries for monks consisting of cells and assembly halls decorated with Buddha figures. Major examples of Buddhist architecture included the stupas at Sanchi, Sarnath, and Amravati and the cave temples and monasteries of Ajanta and Ellora adorned with paintings telling Buddha's life.

1. BUDHHIST ARCHITECTURE

2. STUPA
Circular tumuli built of Earth, covered with stone or brick
Derived from circle, most powerful form in budhhism
Also known as relic shrines as they were built over the sacred shrines of monks
Spherical dome symbolises Anda, egg, bija or womb
Harmika, square balcony in decorative form enclosing a pedestal- meaning heaven
of 33 gods
Chattravali, a three tired stone or wooden umbrella, supported on
shaft(chhatrayasti) and raise over a pedestal
Varsha sthala, rainvase to receive dew or rain

5. Vedic alter of burnt sacrifice

7. Stupa was enclosed withing a wooden or stone railing called Vedica, leaving an
ambulatory passage
Pradakshina path, ambulatory passage
Torans, enterance gateways, based on Aryan villages
Medhi, a terrace around the base of the stupa also forming an upper passage , so
that the devotees could move in homage around the stupa
An access to climb medhi was gived through stairs also known as sopana
Aryaka Pillars stand just opposite the four gateways marked the arms of cosmic
system

8. Consist of two upright columns
with capitals of lion or elephant
Columns support three separate horizontal
panels between each of which is a row of
ornamental balusters
Supported by atlantean figures, a group of
dwarfs(western portal), lions(southern
portal), elephants( eastern and northern
portal)
Volutes at terminal ends, surmounting animal
sculpture
Top panel crowned with Tri Ratna, with wheel
of justice in the center resting on elephant
pedestal

9. STUPA AT SANCHI

13. Railing or Vedika
Upright post called
urdhva patas
Octagonal plan, 45 cm
dia. 60-90cm spacing
Connected by
horizontal suchi,
threaded through the
holes of upright
Coping called as
ushnisha

14. STUPA AT SARNATH
STUPA AT AMRAVATI
STUPA AT KUSHINAGAR
MAHA STUPA AT THOTLAKONDA
BAVIKONDA STUPA, ANDHRA
PRADESH
STUPA AT DEUR KOTHAR

15. CHAITYA
Chaitya or sacred spots are temples as well as assembly halls
Accommodate those who congregate to pay their homage
Small rectangular doorway which opens into vaulted hall
Apsidal end, divided longitudinally by two colonnades forming a broad
nave in the centre and two side aisles.
End of the hall often consist of stupa which has enough space around it for
circumambulation
Semi circular or vaulted roof

19. VIHARA
Viharas are residential places of Buddhist monks and priests
Consist of main hall entered by a doorway
Also consist of assembly hall, dining chambers
From the hall, cells are provided for meditation
Shrines contain beautiful figures of Buddhha
Walls of antechamber depict stories of Buddhas life, frescos

21. BUDDHIST COLUMN
There are two types of
Budhhist column :
Persepolitan type and Graeco
Roman type
Persepolitan type is the one
with octagonal plan with bell
shaped capital supporting
animals sculptures such as
lion, horse, bull, sedent,
elephants carrying male and
female ride on a chakra or
wheel
The shaft is polished and has
vase shaped base
The later style is rectangular
with shallow flutes. Tall and
slender, they contain a fluted
vase motif

23. Pillar at Sarnath: 15m high
Has four lions with flowing manes, surmounting the capital
These lions originally supported a massive metal wheel with 24 spokes called
wheel of law or Dharma chakra
Capital : 2 m high, resembles inverted bell shape or lotus bud with series of
fluted petals
Above the capital is abacus which is circular, having broad edge carved with
ornamental borders, containing four figures or animals such as elephants, bull,
horse and lion in high relief, alternate with four small wheels
These animals symbolise the guardians of four quarters of the universe
Wheel symbolises the first sermon delivered by Budhhaat Sarnath
The replica of Ashoka pillar is adopted as the national emblem of Republic of
India

26. Caves are situated in
horse shoe shaped
valley, spreading over a
length of more than 500
m
30 caves out of which 9,
10, 19, 26 and 29 are
chaitya halls and others
are monasteries or
viharas.
Cave 26 is the most
representative
AJANTA AND ELLORA CAVES

28. Small rectangular doorway with a
horse shoe shaped window above,
tracery work through which light is
admitted
Vaulted hall has an apsidal end
At the end, a stupa is carved out with
statue of Buudhha seated in front
with his feet down, surrounded by
his attendants and heavenly figures
Standing image of Bodhhisatva at the
enterance

29. Frescos
Paintings and illustrations of Budhha
1cm thick plaster, of hay, cowdung and
rice husk
Evenly plastered surface was coated with
lime, outlines were drawn and colors
were applied

30. 12 Buddhist caves, 17 jain caves and 5
hindu caves
1 chaitya and rest vihara
Cave no 10 vishwakarma cave is a prayer
hall, vaulted with apsidal end
Columns are rectangular with shallow
flutes and wide capitals at the top
Carry heavy and deep entablature which
is elaborately sculptured
Vaulted roof is supplemented with ribs
and groins cut from natural rock

32. Make a presentation on any one example of Budhhist architecture, other than those
discussed in the class
Built by, time, place, purpose or function of the structure and characteristic features
spported by plan, section and photos/sketch
The activity is to be done in a group of two