BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE

The early structures that were built during the empires were
permanent in nature and long lasting .
INTRODUCTION
The Buddhist Architecture began
with the development of various
symbols, representing aspects of the
Buddha's life
(563BCE-483BCE)

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, Chaityas,
Viharas.
Beginning of Buddhist architecture in India

• Buddhist religious architecture developed in the Indian Subcontinent in

the 3rd century BCE.

• Three types of structures are associated with the religious architecture of

early Buddhism : monasteries (Viharas), places to venerate relics (stupas),
and shrines or prayer halls (chaityas also called chaitya grihas), which later
came to be called temples in some places.

• This religion initially did not involve making of figures or idols but
gradually the followers started making sculptural representations of
Buddha.

There are 2 phases of Buddhism:

1.HINAYANA- 2ND CENTURY BC- 2ND CENTURY AD

2.MAHAYANA- 3RD CENTURY AD – 7TH CENTURY AD

• Viharas initially were only temporary shelters used by wandering monks
during the rainy season, but later were developed to accommodate the
growing and increasingly formalized Buddhist monasticism(monkhood).
An existing example is at Nalanda (Bihar).

• The initial function of a Stupa was the veneration and safe-guarding of

the relics of the Buddha. The earliest surviving example of a stupa is in
Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh).
In accordance with changes
in religious practice, stupas
were gradually incorporated
into chaitya- grihas(prayer
halls).
•These reached their high
point in the 1st century BC,
exemplified by the cave
complexes of Ajanta and
Ellora (Maharashtra).
•The Pagoda is an evolution
of the Indian stupa .
Early Buddhist temples
Early temples were often timber, and little
trace remains, although stone was increasingly
used.
•Cave temples such as those at Ajanta have
survived better and preserve the plan form,
porch and interior arrangements from this
early period.
•As the functions of the monastery-temple
expanded, the plan form started to diverge The Borobudur Temple, Indonesia
from the Brahmanist tradition and became
• One of the earliest Buddhist sites still in
more elaborate, providing sleeping, eating and
existence is at Sanchi, India, and this is
study accommodation.
centred on a stupa said to have been built by
•A characteristic new development at religious
King Ashoka (273-236 BCE).
sites was the stupa. Stupas were originally
• The original simple structure is encased in a
more sculpture than building.
later, more decorative one, and over two
centuries the whole site was elaborated upon.
The four cardinal points are marked by
elaborate stone gateways.
• As with Buddhist art, architecture followed
the spread of Buddhism throughout south and
east Asia and it was the early Indian models
that served as a first reference point, even
though Buddhism virtually disappeared from
India itself in the 10th century.
• Decoration of Buddhist sites became steadily more
elaborate through the last two centuries BCE, with
the introduction of human figures, particularly on
stupas.
• However,the Buddha was not represented in human
form until the 1st century CE. Instead, an iconic
symbols were used.
• This is treated in more detail in Buddhist art ,An
iconic phase.
• It influenced the development of temples ,which
eventually became a backdrop for Buddha images in
most cases.
FEATURES OF BHUDDHIST
ARCHITECTURE
The major features of this style are:
• Stupas (Buddhist shrine)
• Stambhas (Pillars)
• Chaityas (Caves)
• Vihaaras (Monasteries)

• Out of these, the prominent examples of Chaitya Hall and Viharas can be found
in Rock-Cut Architecture.

• Even the Stupa can be found in certain Chaitya halls in a miniature form.
Stupas (domes)
• DEFINITION: Dome-shaped structures used to house sacred relics of the
monks and hence also known as “Relic-shrines”.

• CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS: Earth materials covered with stones or bricks.

The plan, elevation and the basic structure all derived from the circle.
RESTORATION
DERIVED FROM BASS RELIEFS OF THE AMRAVATI STUPA , 3RD century A.D
Stupa or Topes or Domes
• The spherical dome symbolized, the
infinite space of the sky abode (house)
of God.
• It is also called as Anda or Egg or
Womb (Garbha) as it contains the seed
or bija namely the relic of the monk.
• At the top of the dome, was a small
square balcony in decorative form
called ‘ Harmika’
• As a mark of dignity a 3-tiered stone or
wooden Umbrella (Chhatravali)
supported on shaft (Chhatrayasti) was
raised over the pedestrial, which was
the Vedic altar of burnt scarifies and
represented the village shrine.
• This umbrella over the reliquary (a
container for holy relic) originally the
sign of the young prince Siddhartha
was once the Buddhist equivalent
symbol for the mystic tree of lord
Vishnu.
CLASSIFIED INTO THREE TYPES.
• SARIKASTUPA- raised over body relics.
• PARIBHOJIKA STUPA -erected over the articles, like the bowl, the sanghati
• UDDESHIKASTUPA-Stupas built as commemorative monuments.
Stupa or Topes or Domes
• In the later period more universal kind was used
in which Harmika was expanded above into a
inverted stepped pyramid and covered by an
umbrella forming the finial of the stupa.
• The brickwork surface of the dome was finished
off with thick layer of lime mortar while in some
Stupas, the dome was coloured and even gilded
and some recesses were left at intervals for
receiving small lamp to be lit at the time of
festival.
• The Stupa was enclosed with a stone or wooden
railing ‘Vedica’ leaving an ambulatory passage
with gateway called Toranas at each end of the
cardinal points.
• These ceremonial gateways originally based on
timber on bamboo gateways of aryan village are
similar
Chinese Pai Lou
Japanese torii
And was known as a great architecture feature of
Buddhist style.
• Sometime around the base of the dome, a HARMIKA
terrace of Medhi was added from the ground
thus forming a separate upper ambulatory ANDA
passage or Pradakshina Path
• So that the worshipping devotees could MEDHI
move in homage round the stupa and access UPPER
to it was provided by a double staircase or PRADAKSHINA
Sopana with high balustrade on south. PATH
• The Upper Pradakshina Path was reserved LOWER
for the monks and one at ground floor was PRADAKSHINA
open to all common devotees. PATH
• In some Stupas to improve architectural
appearance , rectangular projection to the
base of the dome was provided at the four
cardinal points
• Interior of this, a staircase leading to the
upper Processional Path was provided while
at top a row of 5 graceful pillar were
constructed .
• These pillars so called Aryaka pillars
standing just opposite to four gateways
marked the arms of cosmic system and
represented 5 Dhyana Buddhas and also 5
episodes in the life of Buddha.
Upper Ambulatory
Features

Harmika or triple umbrella

Upper Ambulatory Stone vedica

1.8m wide3.35m high
Ushnisha

Urdhava patas
45cm diameter
60-90 cm c/c
Suchi 60 cm dia

Lower Ambulatory 3.35 m. high Steps leading to upper ambulatory

Features

Front View Of Sanchi Stupa

Column of Torana
Front View of Torana

Niche
Elephants and Yakshi of the Eastern Torana, View of Torana from
Great Stupa, Sanchi upper ambulatory