Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c11.10

c11.10

Somewhat similar changes as those effected at Sanchi appear to have been carried out in the stupa of Barhut, a site which was possibly a halting-place on the pilgrims' route to the Buddhist holy land. In this instance, however, the brick stupa was not enlarged, as it retained its original dimensions of some 68 feet in diameter, but the railing around it was reconstructed In size the Barhut stupa was only about half that of Sanchi, its railing being a little over seven feet in height, but in marked contrast to the solid simplicity of the latter, every portion of its stonework is richly carved in bas-relief portraying incidents in the *jatakas*, or scenes connected with the life of the Buddha. What remains of the railing is now preserved in the Indian Museum, Calcutta, where, apart from its Buddhistic significance, its sculptured stones display incidents of contemporary social life of surpassing interest. At another site more intimately associated with the Buddha, namely the great shrine at Budh Gaya, an important railing was also erected, its shape, having however, to conform to the square plan of the building it enclosed, was not circular but disposed around a quadrangle measuring 145 feet by 108 feet. Although in much the same style as the Barhut railing, in size it is slightly smaller, as it is only 6 feet 8 ins high, and its general dimensions are less massive. From these more slender proportions and its refined treatment, as well as from the character of the bas-reliefs it is presumed to be later than either the Barhut or Sanchi examples, and has been assigned to the early part of the first century B.C. This date has been substantiated by inscriptions on two of the rail pillars, which appear to connect its erection with the Sungan period. There is considerable variation in the quality of the carving, some of it showing the rather crude ingenuousness of the Barhut style, while other parts denote the beginning of a fluency in line and composition particularly noticeable in the border of animals on the coping. This is due perhaps more to the varying skill of the carvers than to any differences in style or date. With the railing at Budh Gaya there was also constructed a *chankrama* or promenade consecrated by the Buddha as he walked on this spot, which was afterwards converted into a pillared passage or corridor and possibly covered by a roof. The pillars had stepped pedestals with vase-shaped bases, and one shaft remains, decorated with a very graceful caryatid figure. This type of figure found much favour with the stone-masons of the early Hindu period specially in the Muttra district, the place of contact of several schools, where fragments have been found of a caryatid motif very attractively rendered. Unfortunately the buildings at Budh Gaya at different times and from various causes have suffered much, and although even now they might solve several constructional and artistic problems, well-meaning, but injudicious restorations have obscured such evidence as remained.