ARCHIBLOG'S

BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE IN INDIA

Buddhist architecture emerged slowly in the period following the Buddha’s life, along with the Hindu temple architecture. The major features of this style are stupas or topes, stambhas or lats, chaitayas, viharas or monasteries. Though primitive Buddhism rejected any form of image worship, they represented Buddha by means of symbols like stupa, bidhi tree indicating enlightment, wheels of law, as first sermon as well as corporeal vehicle of Buddha, and his foot prints.

GREAT STUPA AT SANCHI

 
The construction of stupa is a meritorious work as the monument propagates the doctrine. These stupas are the circular tumuli of earth, covered with stone or brick. The plan, elevation, section and the total form of which were all derived from circle-the embryo of the most powerful architectural form of Buddhism.The stupa was enclosed within a wooden or stone railing called 'Vedica' leaving an ambulatory passage with gate-ways called 'Toranas'.
The great stupa at Sanchi is the world famous stupa, and is about 40 km from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. The reconstruction of the stupa was         started as early as 150 B.C. when the existing stupa was enlarged nearly twice its previous size.
There is an another example at sarnath which is situated at a distance of 6.5 km to the north from Benares. Gautama buddha is said to have delivered his first preachings at Sarnath.
The stupa at Budh-Gaya was built in the memory of the Buddha who attained his enlightment after meditating for seven years undert5 peepal tree. As compared to Sanchi stupa, it's less massive.

CHAITAYA AT KARLI

  Chaitayas are the temples as well as Assembly halls created out of the particular demands of  Buddhist religion.These have a small rectangular door-way which opens to a vaulted hall, with apsidal end and divided longitudinally by two colonnades forming a broad nave in the centre and two side aisle. The rock- cut chaitayas at Bhaja, Nasik , Karli and the very famous Ajanta and Ellora are a few original structures.
Viharas initially were only temporary shelters used by wandering monks during the rainy season, but later were developed to accommodate the

VIHARAS AT ELLORA

growing and increasingly formalised Buddhist monasticm. They consist of assembly hall, dining chambers and cells for mrditation. An existing example is at Nalanda (Bihar). A distinctive type of fortress architecture found in the former and present Buddhist kingdoms of the Himalayas are dzongs. The pagoda is the evolution of the indian stupas.