Ancient Indian Architecture

[Indrani]

Stupa of Angulimala:

Srāvastī or Sāvatthī (Hindi: श्रावस्ती), a city of ancient India, was one of the six largest cities in India during Gautama Buddha's lifetime

The Buddha passed the greater part of his monastic life in Savatthi. His first visit to Savatthi was at the invitation of Anathapindika, whom he met in Rajagaha. The main monasteries in Sravasti were the Jetavana and the Pubbarama. Savatthi also contained the monastery of Rajakarama, built by Pasenadi, opposite Jetavana. Not far from the city was a dark forest called the Andhavana, where some monks and nun went to live. Outside the city gate of Savatthi was a fisherman's village of five hundred families.

Savatthi is the place where the Twin Miracle (Pali:Yamaka Patihara) took place, in which Buddha made a demonstration of his supernatural powers.

The Chinese Pilgrim Hiouen Thsang found the old city in ruins, but recorded the sites of various buildings.

Of the ancient Savatthi the city walls are still standing. Within these, the remains of 3 ancient buildings can be visited: Angulimala's stupa, Anathapindika's stupa, and an old temple dedicated to a Jain Tirthankara. Outside of Savatthi is located the stupa where the Twin Miracle (Pali:Yamaka Patihara) took place. The site of Jetavana monastery is the main pilgrim destination, with meditation and chanting mainly done at the Gandhakuti (Buddha's hut) and the Anandabodhi tree.

 

[OrionHunter]

 

[Indrani]

LOL. Wait will transfer all the pics from that church thread.

 

[Indrani]

Stupa of twin miracle

Ancient Jain (Mahavira) Temple:

Bedse caves, Pune, Maharashtra
Copyright soumitra911@flickr

These Buddhist caves can be traced back up to 1st century B.C. There are two major caves. The main cave which is the Chaitya (prayer hall) has a beautiful Stupa.

 

[Indrani]

Lenyadri, Junnar, Maharashtra
Copyright Niemru@flickr

The Lenyadri or Ganesh lena group of caves is located on a hill variously known as Sulaiman Pahar and Ganesh Pahar, the latter due to the location of a Ganesha shrine in one of the caves, which is a later addition. The Sthalapurana calls it as Lenyadri and an ancient inscription gives the name of this hill as Kapichita (Kapichitta). There are nearly 40 caves in this group of which the main group of 30 caves are located in a line and stretch from east to west, all facing south and overlooking the valley of Kukdi river.

The caves are numbered from east to west and among them Cave 6 and 14 are chaityagrhas and the remaining are viharas (monasteries) of which Cave 7 is the largest and also houses the image of Ganesha. The remaining monasteries are small in size which has two or three cells, in some cases with a front verandah. They range in date from 1st century to 3rd century A.D.

Bojjanakonda, Andhra Pradesh

These Rock-cut Buddhist Viharas and hilltop stupa were carved from 200 B.C. to 700 A.D.

Buddhist ruins at Nagarjunakonda, Andhra Pradesh
Copyright SAM@flickr

Nagarjunakonda (meaning Nagarjuna Hill in Telugu) is a historical Buddhist town, now an island located near Nagarjuna Sagar in Nalgonda district in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is 150km south east of the capital, Hyderabad.

It is one of India's richest Buddhist sites, known in the ancient times as Sri Parvata. It now lies almost entirely under the NagarjunasagarDam.It is named after Nagarjuna, a southern Indian master of Mahayana Buddhism who lived in the 2nd century AD, who is believed to have been responsible for the Buddhist activity in the area. The site was once the location of many Buddhist universities and monasteries, attracting students from as far as China, Gandhara, Bengal and Sri Lanka.

Chaitanya Hall

Bathing tanks

Bathing Ghats

 

[Indrani]

Buddhist ruins at Deur Kothar, Madhya Pradesh
Copyright Buddha Stupa-Deur Kothar@flickr

The Deur Kothar stupa may have been established by the Maurya king Asoka in the 3rd century BCE. In the ancient times, the site was located on the Dakshinapatha (Southern Trade Route) running east-west from Patliputra (Patna) to Pratishthana in Maharashtra through Central India. Being situated centrally amongst the famous Buddhist places like Sanchi, Sagar, Kaushambi and Sarnath, Deur Kothar used to be visited by Bhuddhist monks frequently.

The Deorkothar complex boasts four brick stupas, the most ever found at a site of this period. The varying sizes of bricks used in construction point to an early date. Such motifs as twirling lotus, conical lotus bud, and a simple flower pot on a three-tiered pedestal-the carving of which foreshadows early Buddhist art, can be seen on the railing posts of the largest brick stupa, which rises to a height of nearly 30 feet. The stencil-cut effect of the friezes, along with their simple ornamentation and the paucity of human and animal figures, suggests these are early attempts at stone railing art. It would therefore seem that the stupa at Deorkothar was built before the famous early free-standing stupa at Sanchi.

The site of Deorkothar also comprises monasteries, a water channel system, an ancient pathway, and 30 stone stupas, many of which contained sherds of high quality northern black polished ware, the pottery of everyday use between 700 and 300 B.C. Such sherds are absent from Sanchi, further indicating that Deorkothar predates that site.

 

[halupridol]

 

[Indrani]

Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa
Copyright amsey@picasaweb

The caves are situated on two hills Udayagiri and Khandagiri, mentioned as Kumari Parvat in Hathigumpha inscription and face each other across the road. It is believed that most of these caves were carved out as huge residential blocks for Jain monks, during the reign of King Kharavela. Udayagiri meaning Sunrise Hill, has 18 caves while Khandagiri has 15 caves. They date from around 2nd century BC.

Buddhist ruins at Lalitgiri, Orissa
Copyright Anirudh@picasaweb

The earliest Buddhist complex, dating back to 1 st century A.D., has a huge brick monastery, the remains of a Chaitya hall, a number of enigmatic stupas and a relocated stone Stupa at the apex of a small rugged sand stone hill (Pushpagiri Hill), dominates the rustic greenery around.
Hieun Tsang, the Chinese traveler of the 7th century, was amazed to see the Pushpagiri University under the Buddhist complex at Lalitgiri and its synergism with other places of the triangle. He even wrote of a magnificent stupa on the hill top which emitted a brilliant light because of its sacredness. In the 8th century, Lalitgiri became an important center for Tantric Buddhism or the Vajrayana school of art and philosophy.

 

[Indrani]

Kondana Caves, Karjat, Maharashtra
Copyright Saurabh@picasaweb

These Buddhist Rock-cut caves date from the Satavahana period (2nd cent. BC - 3rd Cent. AD). The group of 4 caves features a Chaitya Hall and living quarters. The caves were damaged during an earthquake in 1900.

Thiruvanaikaval temple, Thiruchipalli, Tamil Nadu
Copyright Arvind@picasaweb

Thiruvanaikaval (Tamil: திருவானைக்காவல்) (also Thiruvanaikal) is a famous Shiva temple in Tiruchirapalli (Trichy). The temple was built by Kocengannan (Kochenga Chola), one of the Early Cholas, around 1,800 years ago.

Thiruvanaikal is one of the five major Shiva Temples of Tamilnadu(Panchabhoota Sthalams) representing the Mahābhūta or five great elements; this temple represents the element of water, or neer in Tamil.

It will be better if you take some medicine to kill those secular worms in your stomach than post vacuous icons.

 

[halupridol]

Kondana Caves, Karjat, Maharashtra
Copyright Saurabh@picasaweb

These Buddhist Rock-cut caves date from the Satavahana period (2nd cent. BC - 3rd Cent. AD). The group of 4 caves features a Chaitya Hall and living quarters. The caves were damaged during an earthquake in 1900.

Thiruvanaikaval temple, Thiruchipalli, Tamil Nadu
Copyright Arvind@picasaweb

Thiruvanaikaval (Tamil: திருவானைக்காவல்) (also Thiruvanaikal) is a famous Shiva temple in Tiruchirapalli (Trichy). The temple was built by Kocengannan (Kochenga Chola), one of the Early Cholas, around 1,800 years ago.

Thiruvanaikal is one of the five major Shiva Temples of Tamilnadu(Panchabhoota Sthalams) representing the Mahābhūta or five great elements; this temple represents the element of water, or neer in Tamil.


It will be better if you take some medicine to kill those secular worms in your stomach than post vacuous icons.

stop being nasty,,,,,
i just try to be a gud citizen n abide by the constitution of India..

 

[Indrani]

Ajanta Caves, Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Copyright mustlane@flickr

Ajanta Caves (Ajiṇṭhā leni; Devanagari: अजिंठा लेणी) are 28 - 30 rock-cut cave monuments created during the first century BCE and 5th century AD, containing paintings and sculptures considered to be masterpieces of both Buddhist religious art and universal pictorial art.

Since 1983, the Ajanta Caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Most of the work took place over short time period, from 460 to 480 AD, during the reign of Emperor Harishena of the Vakataka dynasty. Some 20 cave temples were simultaneously created, for the most part viharas: monasteries with a sanctuary in the structure's rear centre. Each of cave temples seem to be patronised by influential authority, numerous best available artists have been involved in the work with fruitful rivalry between the neighbouring construction sites.

According to Spink, Ajanta Caves seem to be abandoned shortly after the fall of Harishena circa 480 AD. Since then these temples have been abandoned and gradually forgotten. During the next 1300 years the jungle grew back and the caves were hidden, unvisited and undisturbed.

stop being nasty,,,,,
i just try to be a gud citizen n abide by the constitution of India..

Yeah constitution of India asks you to trample on your heritage while be entralled and enslaved to something that is not Indian.

 

[Indrani]

Pandav Leni, Nashik, Maharashtra
Copyright john164694@flickr

The caves were carved out from the 1st century BC till 12th century CE. The caves lodge idols of Buddha and Bodhisatva and the icons of Jain Teerthankara Vrishabhdeo, Veer Manibhadraji and Ambikadevi. The name of the caves originates from the legend about Pandavas.

 

[halupridol]

Ajanta Caves, Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Copyright mustlane@flickr

Ajanta Caves (Ajiṇṭhā leni; Devanagari: अजिंठा लेणी) are 28 - 30 rock-cut cave monuments created during the first century BCE and 5th century AD, containing paintings and sculptures considered to be masterpieces of both Buddhist religious art and universal pictorial art.

Since 1983, the Ajanta Caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Most of the work took place over short time period, from 460 to 480 AD, during the reign of Emperor Harishena of the Vakataka dynasty. Some 20 cave temples were simultaneously created, for the most part viharas: monasteries with a sanctuary in the structure's rear centre. Each of cave temples seem to be patronised by influential authority, numerous best available artists have been involved in the work with fruitful rivalry between the neighbouring construction sites.

According to Spink, Ajanta Caves seem to be abandoned shortly after the fall of Harishena circa 480 AD. Since then these temples have been abandoned and gradually forgotten. During the next 1300 years the jungle grew back and the caves were hidden, unvisited and undisturbed.

Yeah constitution of India asks you to trample on your heritage while be entralled and enslaved to something that is not Indian.

yo,where did u get that idea about me,,,dusre ka gussa mujh pe may nikalo

 

[Indrani]

yo,where did u get that idea about me,,,dusre ka gussa mujh pe may nikalo

You know right the thread had gone a different way long ago? We were discussing Greco-Roman architecture with Indian and some guys were claiming St. Thomas martydom in India despite @wolfschanzze disproving such by laboriously posting all the research material available there as documented in the book by Mr. Rajiv Malhotra? How come you never seem to find your voice there?

 

[halupridol]

You know right the thread had gone a different way long ago? We were discussing Greco-Roman architecture with Indian and some guys were claiming St. Thomas martydom in India despite @wolfschanzze disproving such by laboriously posting all the research material available there as documented in the book by Mr. Rajiv Malhotra? How come you never seem to find your voice there?

when did i object about u having a discussion with water car.?
but u continuosly posting pics,,even when he's not online..that going overboard,,isn't it?
n blast him not me.

neway this is a nice thread..