Chaitya Hall At Karli

Bhuddism elements/ chaitya Hall/ Chaitya Hall At Karli/ Architectural features

1. Chaitya Hall KARLI, MAHARASTRA

2. Presented By Anusree Ayana Behja Chandana Sidharth

3. Introduction The earliest Buddhist monuments in India are attributable to Asoka (273-232 A.D); who exerted energies and resources of his empire for propagation of Buddhism. Three main type of structures are associated with Buddhist architecture in India: Stupas , Viharas and Chaithyas .

4. Chaitya Buddhist shrine or prayer hall with stupa at one end. Made for large gatherings of devotees Made in rock-cut due to permanency of structure Chaityas were influenced by ascetic lifestyle of Vedic period and tendency of hermits to retire in solitude.

5. History The original Chaitya hall (from chaiti meaning: sacred place) of worship probably a wooden shed with a thatched roof and a small stupa at one end. During monsoon this proved to be in adequate shelter and the monastic congregation found it necessary to move to places that offered better protection. This they sought in natural caves used by ascecits for centuries, knowns as varshavatika or the permanent chaitya .

6. Karli caves, Maharashtra Entrance of Chaitya Hall at Karli

7. Chaitya Halls: Karli The earliest examples of rock cut Chaitya Halls date back to about the 3rd century BC. Clues to the process of rock cutting are available at the unfinished caves. The process started at the ceiling level and moved down, and thus eliminating the need for scaffolding in the early stages. Many Categories of workers and types of skill were employed in the process , rock cutters who did the initial removal of the rock , masons who executed the more precise cutting and sculptors and polishers who performed the final finishing Stupa

8. The 16 caves at Karli in Maharashtra were part of the great wave of early rock-cut architecture in India. The Great Chaitya or prayer hall at Karli is a key Buddhist archetype. It is entered via a courtyard, in which stands a huge ‘ Simha Stambha ‘(a column bearing an inscription and a bell-shaped capital topped by four lions). The cave porch is adorned with some of the finest carvings of ancient India, including depictions of ' mithunas ' (couples). The facade of the cave has a wide horseshoe-shaped window. Inside the hall the nave and aisles are separated by collonades , and there is a large Buddhist monument known as a dagoba or stupa. The cave sculpture dates from some time between the first century BC and the first century AD. The Satavahana dynasty helped support the Karli caves and the monks who inhabited them. The Chaitya Halls: Features

9. Ground plan Cave of Karli

10. Section

11. Architectural Features The basic plan consisted of a hall deep into the cave ending in an apse containing a stupa, with space around it for circumbulation . The roof was barrel-vaulted with the ribs of the wooden prototype clearly replicated in stone. The pillars used to support the beam of the original prototype were also replicated faithfully, though they were of no structural value in this essentially sculpted buildings. These stone replicas are evident that ancient Indians had a well developed tradition of wooden architecture The openings of the Chaitya or entrance portals had sculpted facades , and were defined by a horseshoe arch reminiscent of the lift of the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha is believed to have gained enlightenment. This motif of Bodhi tree was appropriated and later used in Hindu architecture as well. Vault has wind braces

12. Gallery Interior vault ribs Columns (Interior) Exterior view of Entrance Interior

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