Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c15.28

c15.28

The great Stūpa at Ghaṇṭaśāla (ancient Kaṇṭakaśaila) was on the same southern path that of Bhaṭṭiprolu and possessed the same architectural features being 122' in diameter at the base and 111' wall above it. A central 10' square solid brich work forms the core rising to the top of the Stūpa. This was encased by a bigger structure 22' square. Between these two squares were radiating walls forming hollow spaces filled with mud and mortar. This outer square was enclosed by a circular wall of 56' diameter externally and its inner side is touched by the extended walls of the square. Beyond this circle and concentric with it at a distance of 11½' is another wall of massive construction, the intervening space between the two peripheral circles being filled with subsidiary cross-walls forming cells that were filled with waste material. This resulted in great economy in building material while retaining strength of the whole structure. The inner circle formed the basis of the dome and the outer circle the basis of the first ground terrace (Medhi) used as the round path-way. In this planned architecture of the Stūpa comprising the two outer circles and two inner squares there were thirty-two compartmental cells in all, viz. 16 between the outer circles, 12 framing the outer square and 4 outside the solid brick square-core, all being filled with rammed mud conferring a massive solidity on the stupendous structure of the whole Stūpa. Thus it was a controlled architectural effort from beginning to end, the builders exercising their minds with respect to the details of construction, principle of durable building and economy of material. It has been found that a similar plan of architecture was adopted in the big Stūpa at Peddaganjam indicating that such architectural planning had taken the form of a movement. Fragments of carved marbles have been found at Ghaṇṭaśāla showing that at one time there were as good sculptures at this place as in any other Andhra Stūpa.