History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v1.c16.69

v1.c16.69

In the Gandhâra monasteries they exist literally in hundreds—on the base of the stûpas, on the walls, and in the cells. The latter is, indeed, the most remarkable peculiarity of any. Among the Jains, it is the practice to surround the courts of their temples with cells which are small shrines; and here we find also numerous small cells surrounding the courts of the stûpas all consecrated as shrines for images of Buddha and saints, the monastery being quite separate from the structures for worship. And further, here are even separate courts constructed for secondary stûpas and numerous additional image chapels. This wealth of imagery, however, is accounted for by the fact that the Mahâyâna or Greater Translation was much more prevalent in the north of India than in the peninsula, and was considerably in advance of the Hînayâna school of Central India in all complications of ritual observances.