[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Architecture and art](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art) › [Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods)](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.brown-1942) › c19.30 # Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c19.30 Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c19.30 - **Language:** English ### [c19.30](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.brown-1942.c19.30) There now remains of this sub-group, the most notable production of the whole Buddhist series at Ellora, namely chaitya hall No. 10, commonly known as the Visvakarma, or "Lord of the Arts", as it has the reputation of being specially frequented by artisans particularly those of the carpenter caste. As a more orthodox type of Buddhist prayer-house, and the only one of its kind on the site, it resembles in many respects the two almost contemporary Mahayana chaitya halls at Ajanta previously described, although it is appreciably larger, as inside it measures 85 feet by 44 feet, with a height of 34 feet. It is not quite so richly carved as the Ajanta examples, as the twenty-eight pillars of the "vase and foliage" order, which divide it into nave and aisles, are, for the most part, comparatively plain, but otherwise its interior is planned and decorated on much the same general principles. The central feature of the hall, the stupa, manifests in its particular treatment a still further stage of development, showing that, although retaining the shape of a reliquary, it becomes little more than a substantial foundation for the support of a large projecting shrine or niche, containing a seated figure of the Buddha. As a whole, the interior of the Visvakarma chaitya hall marks a logical step in the evolution of the Buddhist house of prayer, its appearance changing gradually but surely in response to the changing character of the creed - [Previous: c19.29](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.brown-1942.c19.29) - [Next: c19.31](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.brown-1942.c19.31) - [Up: c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.brown-1942.c19) ## Linked texts (1) - [Viswakarma Cave](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.viswakarma-cave) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.brown-1942.c19.30](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.brown-1942.c19.30) · Pramāṇa