Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c42.11

c42.11

The style of the monuments at Pagan is such as to give support to a credible theory. History has revealed that in the evolution of the building art throughout the ages, and viewed in its broadcast aspect, some mysterious law of compensation has manifested itself so that architecture has developed in alternating cycles the result of two major elemental forces. These are Repose on the one hand and Energy on the other. In Europe the outstanding instance of this evolution by balanced movement is the underlying ideal of Classical architecture signifying Repose, being succeeded by Gothic architecture implying Energy. In India and beyond, to a somewhat lesser degree, a similar sequence is observable, beginning with the Buddhist stupa, a monument static in principle and even earthbound in structure, followed by the Hindu temple, with its qualities of animation and aspiration as shown in the sikhara and other features expressive of beauty in energy. In the vast expanse of stupas and temples spread out over the plain at Pagan, these appear to illustrate that stage in the process of architectural development when the two forces were silently contending for supremacy, to culminate finally in the emergence of energy in the form of the more modern soaring pagoda.