The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c10.5

c10.5

As the purpose of this work is architectural rather than archæological, it is unnecessary to repeat the detailed descriptions of the existing remains of early Buddhist and Jain stûpas, dating from about the fifth century b.c., which are given by Fergusson and other writers. The plan (fig. 9) and the section of the great Sânchî stûpa (fig. 14) will indicate the usual form and construction, and Pl. X the appearance of one of them from the outside, as shown in the Amarâvatî sculptures. The latter, however, representing the development of Indo-Aryan religion in the second or third century a.d., belongs to the Mahâyâna school of Buddhism, but the form and structure of the stûpa and enclosing rail remains practically the same as in Asoka’s time. The chaitya of the Kârlê Chapter-house, Pl. XIX, indicates better the austerity of early Buddhist ritual, and, making allowance for the fact that the rails are only carved in relief on the face of the stûpa instead of enclosing it, one can realise from it the exact appearance of one of the 84,000 stûpas which Asoka is said to have built.