Presented by : Abhijeet kumar B’Arch xth sem

Kits ramtek.

The Buddhist ArchitectureThe Forbidden Art

Contents of the Seminar

Introduction

H i s to ry

o O r i g i n o f b u d d h i s t a rc h i t e c t u reo Fo rm , s h a p e s & a rc h i t e c t u r a l e l e m e n t s u s e d Present scenar io

Initials in Buddhist ArchitectureThe Buddhist architecture has its root deeply

implanted in the Indian soil- the birthplace of the Buddha's teachings. The Buddhist architecture began

with the development of various symbols, representing aspects of the Buddha's life (563 BCE -

483 BCE). For the first time, it was the Indian emperor Ashoka, who 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. Distinctive Buddhist

architectural structures and sculptures such as Stupas, Pagodas, monasteries and Caves, which have been mere spectators of different eras quietly speaks

about the phases of the Buddhist stages.

Indus val ley c ivi l izat ion have i ts great impact on every emergence of architectural style in India and so on Buddhist architecture. Though there is no evidences of temles in Indus val ley c ivi l izat ion but buddhist architecture has i ts resmblance with the architectural e lements used during vedic period.

Aim : - To present the nature of evolut ion of buddhist forms in respect wi th changing era.

Objective: -To understand the bui ld ing typologies in buddhist architecture

To study the essential features of architectural elements used in buddhist architecture

Need: - To understand exact ly the buddhist arch i tecture and i ts scope in our modern arch i tectura l s ty le .Buddhist arch i tecture is on ly the sty le which has i t s roots tota l ly embedded in Ind ian soul and so to prevent i t by d isappear ing

Stupas or Topes

Distinctive Features of Buddhist Architecture

Stambhas or Lats

Chaityas or Caves

Viharas or Monasteries

The basic elements of buddhist philosophies which were produced in the

form of architectural features :- -The square base represents earthThe hemispherical dome/vase represents waterThe conical spire represents fireThe upper lotus parasol and the crescent moonrepresents airThe sun and the dissolving point represents theelement of space.

Stupas ….STUPAS ARE ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT AND POWERFUL ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENT USED IN BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE . A STUPA IS A DOME-SHAPED MONUMENT, USED TO HOUSE BUDDHISTS' RELICS OR TO COMMEMORATE SIGNIFICANT FACTS OF BUDDHISM.

Outer terracePaved terraceDome

Stupas typical layout

Torana or Gateway

Stambha or Pillar

Anda or EggHarmikaChhatravali or Umbrella sticks

Elements of stupas

"The shape of the stupa represents the Buddha, crowned and sitting in meditation posture

on a lion throne. His crown is the top of the spire; his head is the square at the spire's base; his body is the vase shape; his legs are the four steps of the lower terrace; and the base is

his throne."

Shapes of stupas

1) DHANYAKARA (paddy heap shape)2) GHANTAKARA (bell shape)3) BUBBLAKARA (bubble shape)4) GHARHAAKARA (pot shape)5) PADMAKARA6) AMALTAKA

Stupa at sanchi Stupa at myanmar

Stupa at ruwanwelsia ,

srilanka

Stupa at chedi , china

Stupa at islamabad

Shapes of the stupas goes on changing as each one were having its own way to represent

Stambhas or Lats ….Stambhas are best known as columns, which were carved with inscriptions and crowned with emblems, such as the elephant and lion, often reminiscent of Persepolitan architecture or a Graeco-Roman type . The origin of these columns are still argued as if an Indian origin or persepolitan type.Figures of animals in these columns represent the guardians of four quarters of universe • Elephant is the guardian of East• Bull the guardian of South• Horse is of West • Lion is of EastThe wheel symbolizes the first sermon delivered by Buddha at Sarnath

Ashokan pillar at Vaishali

The replica of capital of Ashoka pillar at Sarnath is now adopted as a national embelum of republic of india

The bull capital of Ashokan pillar at Rampurva

A lion capital of a monolithic column , showing the bhuddhist symbol the “wheel of the law” that originally supported on the lions back ̀Ashoka pillar at near Chiang Mai, Thailand showing Dharma Chakra prevails over beasts (lion). A similar four "Indian lion" Lion Capital of Ashoka atop an Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath which was destroyed during Turk invasions of India missing the larger Dharma Chakra / Ashoka Chakra atop the four lions

Viharas originally meant "a secluded place in which to walk", and referred to "dwellings" or "refuges" used by wandering monks during the rainy season.

Viharas or Monasteries ….

In the early decades of Buddhism the wandering monks of the Sangha, dedicated to asceticism and the monastic life, had no fixed abode. During the rainy season (cf. vassa) they stayed in temporary shelters. These dwellings were simple wooden constructions or thatched bamboo huts.

In the second century b.c. a standard plan for a vihara was established. It could be either structural, which was more common in the south of India, or rock-cut like the chaitya-grihas of the Deccan. It consisted of a walled quadrangular court, flanked by small cells. The front wall was pierced by a door, the side facing it in later periods often incorporated a shrine for the image of the Buddha. The cells were fitted with rock-cut platforms for beds and pillows. The unwanted rock was excavated, leaving the carved cave structure.

This basic layout was still similar to that of the communal space of an ashrama ringed with huts in the early decades of Buddhism

These viharas consist of the simple cells with no decoration. It undoubtedly represent the initial stage in construction

Vihara at Kanheri

The interior walls were having inscription about buddha’s life but their were no frescoes and paintings

These were the residential places of buddhist priest , there are 25 rock cut viharas at ajanta .

With the progress in the design …Viharas of ajanta were the outcome. The walls were having figures of celestial beings ,dancers & deities

In ellora there are 11 residential places for the priests. These were carved out of an solid rock with the interior walls were adorned with images of buddha seated on throne flanked by two attendants

Thus viharas and caves with its rich architectural embroydery can be termed as gardens of monastic precints

Thus ajanta and ellora caves are famous for its pulsating frescoes

Chaityas were the “sacred spots” ,temples as well as assembly halls created out of particular demand of Buddhist religion..

Chaityas or Caves ….

Architecturally they show similarities to Roman design concepts of column and arch. The monks built many structures which were carved out of a single massive rock, done with hammer and chisel, bare hands. These were known as cave temples. About 1200 such cave temples were built throughout India. The most important are at Karle, Ajanta, Ellora, Udaigiri, Aurangabad and Nasik. They were rectangular halls, with finely polished interior walls. There were a number of well proportioned pillars, generally around 35, and a semi-circular roof. Opposite one entrance stood a stupa. All the pillars have capitals on them, with carvings of a kneeling elephant mounted on bell-shaped bases.

The earliest rock-cut chaityas, similar to free-standing ones, consisted of an inner circular chamber with pillars to create a circumambulatory path around the stupa and an outer rectangular hall for the congregation of the devotees. Over the course of time the wall separating the stupa from the hall was removed to create an apsidal hall with a colonnade around the nave and the stupa.

Their were 12 buddhist cave in ellora all were adorned with the budha seated on the throne and flanked by two attendants .

These caves were with vaulted hall with apsidal end divided by two rows of columnades forming a broad nave in centre

In the present scenario architectural style used in buddhist architecture were in extinction in India . It can only be seen stupas being erected at some places.

But outside India in countries like China , Japan Srilanka ,Malaysiaare attaining a new design theory using a previous ones to obtain an marvellous structures.

Eco quarry hotel is an great masterpiece by an architect Juan manuel bustos .This was formulated with the design concept of ajanta cave having horse shoe shaped valley and spread over an area more than 500mts wherein flows the small rivulet

The site of the hotel was the quarry site which was already destroyed by humans but the firm Atkins positively designed and proposed this hotel that will be placed in 100 mts deep quarry .Another great feature of this hotel is that it will use geothermal energy to power up its electric supply.

Hotel Eco quarry in the Songjiang province of China

China ,japan ,myanmar and some other south asian countries greatly used pargolas in their normal architectural buildings

As bhuddhism spreaded throughout the world its extracted the style and shapes of the prevailing architectural style at that existing place and thus so we have different shapes of stupas ,chityas, monasteries.

.Such a versatile form of architectural features are present only in bhuddhist architecture

Bibliography :-

Books …

H i s t o r y o f a rc h i t e c t u re b y H i r a s ka r & B a n i s t e r fl e t c h e r

www. history of buddhism,www.Evolut ion of Indian architecture,www.sl ide share.com

Sites …