Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c12.4

c12.4

The fashioning of architectural forms out of the living rock, or rock-architecture, occupies a very prominent place in the development of creative art in India. Yet in spite of the admittedly high aesthetic character of these productions they have never been allowed that position in the field of art to which they are fully entitled. Ever since these examples of rock-architecture became a subject of study, it has been the custom to refer to them as "caves", implying that they were natural grottoes in the mountain side, the haunt of wild people, and still wilder animals. No word would be more misleading to designate these wonderful records of man's handwork, as many of them are large and well planned temples, skilfully wrought and chiselled out of the solid cliff, and to define which the term rock-architecture is the only one which can adequately describe their workmanship. If, however, the usually accepted definition of architecture as "good construction truthfully expressed" is applied, then on account of their technique alone they cannot be classed as architecture in the strict sense of the work. These rock-hewn forms are expert achievements but they involved no constructional principles, nor do they display any functional properties, their columns signify no adjustment of support to load, the arches carry no weight, nor do they counteract any thrust, in the whole operation no structural intelligibility is required, as no problems of this nature arise. In a word rock-architecture to all intents and purposes is not architecture it is sculpture, but sculpture on a grand and magnificent scale.