Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c13.s2.3

c13.s2.3

An illustration of the Hinayana system of monastic retreat may be seen at the famous Buddhist settlement of Ajanta, where, for a long period, a relatively small group of the early type were the only examples. This first series consisted of five excavations in all, two of which, Nos 9 and 10, are chaitya halls, while there are three viharas, Nos. 8, 12, and 13 (Plate XXV). It will be noted that No. 11 is omitted from the series as it is a Mahayana vihara rather awkwardly interposed at a much later date. Chaitya hall No. 10, with its attached vihara No. 12, were the first to be cut, vihara No 13 being added shortly afterwards to accommodate the increasing body of monks. Then, most probably because the priestly community had been still further augmented to justify the production of another house of prayer, chaitya hall No. 9 was excavated, together with vihara No. 8 as its accompanying monastery. Of these early viharas, No 12 provides a simple but typical example of the single-storied variety, although its facade has almost entirely disappeared. Around its square central hall is carved that horse-shoe arcading characteristic of the work of this phase, its upper portion resolving itself into a pleasing frieze. Every feature is planned and cut with remarkable precision, the facility with which the artificers chiselled out the surfaces and finished off the ornamentation being noteworthy.