buddhist rock cut architecture in india

7/21/2019 Buddhist Rock Cut Architecture in India

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BUDDHIST ROCK CUT ARCHITECTURE IN INDIA

The Rock-cut structurespresent the most spectacular piece of ancient Indian art specimen. Most of the rock-cut

structures were related to various religious communities. In the beginning, remarkable Buddhist and Jain monuments

were produced in areas such as Bihar in the east and Maharashtra in the west. Numerous caves were excavated b

the Buddhist monks for praer and residence purposes. !he best examples of this are "haitas and monasteries.

Inside these rock-cut structures monks carved windows and balconies and gates in the shape of huge arch shaped

openings.

#ock-cut architecture occupies a ver important place in the histor of Indian $rchitecture. !he rock-cut architecture

differs from traditional buildings in man was. !he rock-cut art is more similar to sculpture than architecture as

structures were produced b cutting out solid rocks. %ome prominent rock-cut structures of ancient India are "haitas,

&iharas, temples etc.

Buddhist architecture in $ncient India was a good combination of traditional structure and modern concepts of the

time. !he principle contributions made b Buddhist architecture and art of the time were these six. '() a series of

edics inscribed on the rock '*) a number of tumuli or stupa '+) certain monolithic pillars ') several monolithic

accessories to shrine ') the remains of vast palace ') a group of rock cut chambers.($mong them that more

directl affected the course of art of building were the stupas.

Buddhist architecture nowadas can be seen through Stupa, Vihara & Chaityagruha. Stambha andCavesare also of great importance.

Chaityas And Viharas

"haitas and &iharas are those rock-cut structures that were hewn out for Buddhist and Jain monks.

"haitas were places of worship. "haita derived from %anskrit word chita or a sacred spot.!he traditional chaita

was a grove of trees in the middle of which small tumuli of earth had been built up over the ashes or relics of the

Buddha .Buddhist monks instead of wandering and begging for alms started settling down around such chaitas.

Monks in viharas erected stupa along with viharas also called "haita /ruha. !he plan consists of an apsidal ended

hall with closel spaced pillars at each side, forming aisles or ambulatories. $ stupa shrine is placed in the apse,

farthest from the entrance. !he roofs are semicircular in section and ribs represent the original timber members of the

prototpes are cut from the rock. !he fascade normall contains above a low entrance portico, a horseshoe shaped

window filled with rock-cut or wooden tracer which admits light to the interior. whereas

&iharas were residence of monks. &ihara is a simple dwelling for monks and nuns. 0hen it is raining outside. Buddha

prescribed five kinds of abodes for the monks. &i1 &ihara ' monaster). $ddhoga ' 2inneled house), 2asada ' Big

building), 3ammia ' $ttic ) and /uha ' cave). !he term &ihara was generall used in the sense of monaster.

!he Buddhist and Jain monks usuall staed awa from the towns therefore the developed "haitas and &iharas in

the hillside. Most of the "haitas and &iharas were constructed in western India. %ome of the prominent places having

"haitas and &iharas are 4arle, Nashik, Bha5a and 4anheri. !he rugged hills of the 0estern /hats were naturall

suited to the creation of living space in the hillside.

Chaitya place of worship Vihara dwellings ofmonks


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Karla Caves Architecture

Buddhist 4arla "aves are one of the finest examplesof ancient rock cut caves to be found in India. !hemagnificent hall that adorns the main cave reflects thehigh degree of architectural skills of the artisans whocarved the caves on such a beautiful and difficulthillside.

!his complex of Buddhist caves are built on a hillsideand is one of the finest examples of ancient rock cutcaves. /reat windows light up the interiors and thehave the large collection of "haitas or halls. $t theentrance is a recentl built temple, accompanied b apillar from the Buddhist period. !he facade of thetemple has some carved temple screens, with railingornaments and human couples. 6uter and innerscreens form an antechamber to the main cave. !he panels of wooden doors and windows are ex7uisitel decoratedwith intricate sculptures of couples embracing. $t the central doorwa there are sculptures of the Buddha preaching ona lion supported throne along with magnificent carvings of three elephants. 8ifteen pillars adorned with carvings ofelephants, men and women riding separate the narrow aisles from the central arch. !he portico of karla caves iscarved in such a wa so as to give it an appearance of finished wood and has a large horse shoe arch at the centre.

The Caves

#ock cut structures are one of the most

primitive forms of architecture and are found in

man places in India. !he first rock cut temples

are a part of the Buddhist stle of architecture,

which originated in India after the death of

/autam Buddha 9 the founder of Buddhism.

!he large number of cave shrines abandoned at

various stages of construction gives us a hint on

how the were dug out. "aves were created ingroups to provide accommodation to workers as

there were not man resources in this ver

small religious communit.

!he 4arla "ave complex has a number of

"haitas or praer halls which have been

carved in a great precision were for

congregational worship which distinguishes

Buddhism from 3induism. %imilarl carved viharas were dwelling places of monks which consisted of cells cut into

walls around three sides of a hall. !here are no images of Buddha but onl smbolic descriptions. !he caves had

arched entrances and precisel carved interiors.

$5anta caves


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Stupa

0ord stupa is derived from the root stup, meaning to heap

and suggest the mound shape and method of construction

of these editices.

!he initial function of a stupa was the veneration and safe

guarding at the relics of the Buddha. !he evolved into

large hemispherical mounds with features such asthe !orna - /atewa

the &edica - 8ence like enclose

the 3ermika - $ s7uare platform with railings on the

top of the stupa.and "hatraashti - !he parasol or

canop.

%anchi, Barhut, "haukhandi, :eorkothur, :hamek

stupa at %arnath, &aishali, Nalanda, #ambhar are some

of the welknown stupas. %tupas show the diversities in shapes but unit in techni7ue and purposes. !he original

models for stupa were those raised in brick and stone. !he well preserved earl stupas at %anchi and elsewhere show

that the drum and dome were constructed solidl and the capital and umbrella were later added as separate pieces in

stone.

+

!he forms of the later two items happen to be copies of wooden models, so it can be presumed that originallthese parts were in wood onl.

Stambha

!hese are monumental pillars standing free without an structural function

with circular or octagonal shafts. Inscriptions were carved on the shafts.

!he capital which was usuall persepolitan in form was bell shaped and

crowned with animal supporters bearing the Buddhist chakra or wheel of

the law. !he $shoka pillar consists of four components ; $ lotus at the

base, a circular abacus carved with an elephant, a bull, a horse and a lion

separated from one another b a wheel and four lions set back to back over

the abacus. !his capital is the emblem of the #epublic of India.

Buddhist temple architecture

$t the age of Mauranemperor$shoka the greattheMahabodhi

!emplewas built in the form of vihara.

!he Mahabodhi !emple at Bodhgaa 'Buddhagaa), Bihar, since


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buddhist rock cut architecture in india

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