Buddhist Architecture

Many of the architectural traditions in India owe its origin to both Buddhism and Jainism. Between fifth to fourteenth centuries, developments in Buddhist were equally vibrant, and often went hand-in-glove with Hindu ones. Sites such as Ellora have Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monuments

The pre-eminent Buddhist site in India is Bodhgaya. Bodhgaya is a pilgrimage site since Siddhartha achieved enlightenment here and became Gautama Buddha. While the Bodhi tree is of immense importance, the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya is an important reminder of the brickwork of that time.

Remember: The first shrine at Bodhgaya, located at the base of the Bodhi tree, is said to have been constructed by King Ashoka

The design of the Mahabodhi temple is unusual. It is, strictly speaking, neither Dravida nor Nagara. It is narrow like a Nagara temple, but it rises without curving, like a Dravida one.

Nalanda university

The monastic university of Nalanda is a mahavihara as it is a complex of several monasteries of various sizes

Most of the information about Nalanda is based on the records of Xuan Zang—previously spelt as ‘Hsuan-tsang’— which states that the foundation of a monastery was laid by Kumargupta I in the fifth century CE

There is evidence that all three Buddhist doctrines— Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana—were taught here and monks made their way to Nalanda and its neighboring sites of Bodhgaya and Kurkihar from China, Tibet and Central Asia in the north, and Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma and various other countries from the south-eastern parts of Asia.

The excavated ruins of the institution indicate that bright red bricks were used in its construction.

It has been included in UNESCO’s World Heritage Site

Sirpur in Chhattisgarh

It is an early-Odisha style site belonging to the period between 550 and 800, with both Hindu and Buddhist shrines

Such sites later developed in other regions such as- Lalitagiri, Vajragiri and Ratnagiri

Stupas

The older stupas were enlarged during the time period between Mauryas and Guptas

The famous amongst these are- Sanchi, Bharhut and Amaravati

Stupa has a cylindrical drum or a circular anda over which one can see harmika and chhatra. The circumambulatory path, Pradakshina path, is enclosed by railings called vedika.

Bharhut stupa

Located in MP

A brick stupa was constructed at the site during the time of Ashoka

The carvings of these stupas depict the Jataka tales and stories

A stone railing was constructed here during the time of Sungas

An important feature of this site is that the narrative art is accompanied by an inscription which is not found elsewhere

Bharhut stupa is made of red sandstone

Sanchi stupa

It is the most-well preserved stupa amongst the three

The foundation of this stupa was probably laid by Ashoka

It was enlarged during the time of Sungas

During the rule of Satavahanas, toranas were added

The railings depict the Jataka tales

The Sanchi Stupa is made out of locally quarried sandstone.

Amaravati stupa

It was completed around 200AD

It has carved panels telling the story of the life of Buddha

Its surfaces were carved in the Bharhut style but some features of the Mathura and Gandhara sculptures were also adopted

White marble limestone was used in the construction

Nagarjunakonda stupa

It is AP

It belongs to Saka-Satavahana era

It reflects Mahayana Buddhism

Excavations have unearthed stupa, chaityas, mandapams

Viharas

It was the ancient Indian term for a Buddhist monastery.

Originally, viharas were dwelling places used by wandering monks during the rainy season but eventually they evolved into centers of learning and Buddhist architecture through the donations of wealthy lay Buddhists.

Life in “Viharas” was codified early on. It is the object of a part of the Pali canon, the Vinaya Pitaka or “basket of monastic discipline.”

Typical large sites such as the Ajanta Caves, Aurangabad Caves, Karli Caves, and Kanheri Caves contain several viharas.

Chaityas

It refers to a shrine, sanctuary, temple or prayer hall in Indian religions.

Most early examples of chaitya that survive are Indian rock-cut architecture

Chaityas have a gigantic hall with high vaulted roof, with a lot of sculpture work on the pillars and the entrance

The largest Chaitya-Griha among all Buddhist monuments in India is the Karle caves.

Many Chaityas show a stupa at the back. Chaityas were carved either as rectangular halls or apsidal vault-roof or apsidal vault pillarless halls

Q1 Buddha means

a. The enlightened one

b. The religious preacher

c. the genius

d. the power

Ans. a. the enlightened one

Explanation: Buddha's original name was Siddhartha Gautama. His father's name was Shudhodhana and mother's name was Mahamaya. Gautami was his stepmother. Yashodhara was his wife and Rahul his son. Kanthak was his horse. His first teacher was Alar Kalam

2. Name the clan buddha belonged to

a. Gnathrika

b. Maurya

c. Sakya

d. Kuru

Ans. c. Sakya

Explanation: Shakya was an ancient tribe (janapada) of the Indian subcontinent in the first millennium BCE. In Buddhisht text the Shakyas, the in habitants of Shakya janapada, are mentioned as a Kshatriya clan of Gotama gotra.

3. 'Bull' in Buddhism is associated with which event of Buddha's life?

a. Birth

b. Great departure

c. Enlightenment

d. Mahaparinirvana

Ans. a. Birth

Explanation: 

Birth - Lotus and Bull

The Great Departure (Mahabhinishkramana) - Horse

Enlightenment (Nirvana) - Bodhi tree

First Sermon (Dhammachakraparivartan) - Eight spoked wheel

Death (Parinirvana) - Stupa

4. Vaishakha Poornima has a great significance because it was on this day: 

a. Buddha was born

b. Buddha got enlightened

c. Buddha died

d. All

Ans. d. all

Explanation: Self explanatory

5. Buddha gave his first religious message at: 

a. Rajagriha

b. Pataliputra

c. Gaya

d. Sarnath

Ans. d. Sarnath

Explanation: Buddha gave his first religious message at Deer Park in Sarnath.

6. Which one of the following is not a sect of Buddhism?

a. Mahayana

b. Hinayana

c. Digambar

d. Theravada

Ans. c. Digambar

Explanation: Digambar and Shvetambar are sects of Jainims.

7. What is the first sermon of Buddha called as?

a. Brahmajalasutta

b. Dhammachakkapabattanasutta

c. Kachchayanagottasutta

d. Mahaparinirvanasutta

Ans. b. Dhammachakkapabattanasutta

Explanation: The Brahmajala Sutta is the first of 34 suttas in the Digha Nikaya (the Long Discourses of the Buddha). The Kachchayanagottasutta is the first sermon of Buddha. The Mahaparinibbana concerns the end of Gautama Buddha's life - his parinibbana. 

8. Buddha, Dhamm and Sangha together are known as: -

a. Triratna

b. Trivarga

c. Trisarga

d. Trimurti

Ans. a. Triratna

Explanation: 

Buddha - self

Dhamma - The teachings of Buddha

Sangha - Community of Buddhist monks and nuns

9. The concept of the 'the four noble truths' belongs to which of the following religions?

a. Jainism

b. Sikhism

c. Hinduism

d. Buddhism

Ans. d. Buddhism

Explanation: The four noble truths of buddhism are: 

a. The world is full of sorrow

b. the cause of sorrow is desire

c. if the desires are conquered, all sorrows can be removed

d. this can be achieved by following the eightfold path. 

10. The Chaitya and Viharas were constructed for the monks of which religion?

a. Judaism

b. Christianity

c. Buddhism

d. Hinduism

Ans. c. Buddhism

Explanation: Chaityas were the places of worship in Buddhism, whereas Viharas were the dwelling places of monks. The salient features of Chaityas and Viharas are : A square mandapa was constructed inside the cave, which was surrounded by the dwelling places for the monks.

11. Which one of the following is not included in the 'Eight Fold Path' of Buddhism?

a. Right Speech

b. Right Contemplation

c. Right Desire

d. Right Conduct. 

Ans. c. Right Desire

Explanation: The Noble Eightfold path is one of the principal teachings of the Buddha, who described it as the way leading to the cessation of suffering (dukkha) and the achievement of self-awakening. The path comprises the right view, right aspiration, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. 

12. The Buddhist monk who spread Buddhism in Tibet was:

a. Nagarjuna

b. Ananda

c. Asanga

d. Padmasambhava

Ans. d. Padmasambhava

Explanation: The most important event in the history of Tibetan Buddhism was the arrival of sage Padmasambhava in the 8th century. Padmasambhava translated numerous Buddhist texts into Tibetan language and combined tantric Buddhism with the local Bon religion to create what is today widely known as the Tibetan Buddhism.

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