Buddhism Architecture

In the third century BCE Buddhist Architecture was developed in the Subcontinent of India.There are actually three types of structures in early Buddhism, namely stupas, chaityas and viharas.

• Stupas (Places to venerate relics): These are bell shaped structures that contain a scripture or holy relic
• Chaitya Grihas (Prayer halls): These are somehow similar to Church
• Viharas (Monasteries): These are meditation cells and  living quarters or the monks

Architecture- Stupas, Chaityas, and Viharas are the three main elements of Buddhist architecture. However, several pillars were built to commemorate Buddha during Mauryan rule.

Stupas

• Stupas are usually solid and bell shaped structures that have a holy relic, for instance tooth or hair from Buddha, sacred Buddhist scripture or eminent figures of Buddha
• Stupas are the symbol of Buddha. The Buddhist concept of the Universe is symbolized by the Buddhist stupas
• In all the stupas there is a treasury that is filled with various objects
• Many of such objects are jewelry and other precious objects. The jewelry has symbolic value rather than aesthetic
• It only believes that if more objects are placed into the stupas, the energy of the stupas will be stronger
• Stupas are generally a wooden pool covered with gem, tree of life and thousands of mantras
• Of all the earliest Buddhist architecture, the stupas are the most significant. They include the earliest sculptural depictions of significant events in the Buddha’s life as well as the Jataka tales
• A stupa is a brick dome-shaped holy burial mound used to house Buddha’s artifacts or to commemorate important events and facts related to Buddhism

Stupa Architecture

Chaityas (Prayer Hall)

• Buddhist monks conduct congregational worship in a shrine hall that has a stupa at one end. It is known as Chaitya
• The monks can enter the Chaitya from one end, and on the other end, a small stupa is located
• Chaityas were often found inside the vihara, a monastic complex. Ellora, Ajanta, Bhaja, Bagh, Karle, Nasik, and Kanheri are some of the most beautiful Chaitya caves

Viharas (Monasteries)

• Buddhist monks were housed in viharas or monasteries
• The term Vihara in  Ajivika, Hindu, and Jain monastic literature, means a temporary shelter for traveling monks during monsoon
• These monastic structures, which were cut out of rocks or made of bricks, were self-contained units with a Chaitya hall and a Stupa – the main focus of worship – attached to them

Buddhist Temples History

• Many old Buddhist temples look like ‘artificial caves’
• These are like ‘Pagan’: Art and Architecture of old Burma
• The architectures of Buddhist temples are influenced by the various traditions of Buddhist architecture of the world
• For example, Japanese pagodas have a unique Japanese style and all its features are modeled like the Chinese-style pagodas. The models of these pagodas are like Indian Stupas
• As the ancient wood temples are mostly destroyed by fire, nowadays Buddhist temples are made of stones and bricks with iron and brass ornaments
• The  Chinese pagodas are often built in the names of important leaders or houses or events or important documents or artifacts
• Many Buddhist temples are located in the mountains or in the forest

The main reasons they choose remote location are the following:

• Firstly, mountains and forests are always in association with spiritual purity
• Secondly, remote locations gave the Buddhist monks some safety. But in China, Thailand and Japan these temples are always in the middle of the town

Features of Buddhist Temples

• In all the Buddhist temples there are many Buddhist statues. In the center there is a Buddha image surrounded by burning incense sticks. Devotees offer flowers and fruits to the Buddha image. Many Buddhist temples face south and sometimes to the east but these temples are never faced to the north or west
• In the center of temple grounds the main hall is situated. In this center images of Buddha, altars, other Buddhist images are situated. There is also a place for worship and space for monks. In the other building there is a library, a sutra depositor, eating, living and sleeping areas of monks
• Many Buddhist temples have large bells that ring during the new year and other occasions and cemeteries. The pathways to the temples are often lined with stones

Buddhist Universities

Conclusion

In this article, we have learnt about the various Buddhist architecture, Stupas, Viharas and Chaitya Grihas. Stupas are usually solid and bell shaped structures that have a holy relic, for instance tooth or hair from Buddha, sacred Buddhist scripture or eminent figures of Buddha. Stupas are the symbol of Buddha. The Buddhist concept of the Universe is symbolized by the Buddhist stupas. In all the stupas there is a treasury that is filled with various objects. Many of such objects are jewelry and other precious objects. Buddhist monks were housed in viharas or monasteries. The term Vihara in  Ajivika, Hindu, and Jain monastic literature, means a temporary shelter for traveling monks during monsoon.   Buddhist monks conduct congregational worship in a shrine hall that has a stupa at one end. It is known as Chaitya. The monks can enter the Chaitya from one end, and on the other end, a small stupa is located. Chaityas were often found inside the vihara, a monastic complex.

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