developments in buddhism

7/30/2019 Developments in Buddhism

1/9

South: Buddhist monks in western India sought refuge from the vicissitudes

of unending feudal wars in secluded inaccessible sites.

North: They continued to play an active role in rapidly changing political

situation of Trans Indus Gandhara Region.

The Greek king Menander gained control over Punjab & Sindh and founded

his capital at Sagala ( modern Sialkot)

CITY OF SAGALA Described by a contemporary chronicle as

1. Laid out by wise architects

2. Various strong ramparts

3. Splendid with hundreds of thousands of magnificent mansions and bazaars.

Buddhist monk Nagasena visited Sagala, influenced king to become his

disciple.

Nagasena accepted Buddha as God & Saviour & worshipped him as deity.

This interpretation of Buddhism: Mahayana or large vehicle, the originalBuddhism: Hinayana or smaller vehicle.

REINTERPRETATION OF BUDDHISM:

GREEKS, KUSHANS & LARGE VEHICLE


2/9

FUSION OF GREEK, ROMAN & INDIAN STYLE

Under royal patronage of Menander, Buddhist monks started the task of

making stupas & monasteries.

Used the talents of the immigrant craftsmen, better acquainted withRoman & Greek rather than purely Indian traditions.

First edifice: Shrine of double headed Eagle at Sirkap ( nearTaxila).

Square platform faced with local Kanjurstone, adorned with grid of

pilasters of Roman composite style.

On platform, stood an elongated version of Sanchi type Stupa, now

vanished

Spaces between pilasters filled with relief of Roman classical pedimented

aedicule, indigenous torana& a chai tyahall.

GANDHARA STYLE: expedient mixing of Roman, Greek & Indian Styles.

Support of Indo Greek kings to Buddhism was unfortunately short lived.

Ruled for 100 years, overpowered by Scythian tribe of China/ Shakya


3/9

SCYTHIANS & KUSHANS

Chinese Emperor Chi Husang Ti, responsible for completion of China wall.

Emperor closed Chinese pastures for nomadic tribes of Yeu Chi.

Yeu Chi moved to western region of Aral Sea, original homeland of Scythians

Scythians were forced to move towards India through Bolan Pass near Quetta.

They defeated then Greek King Hippostratus.

Brief rule of Scythians: no impression on Buddhist architecture

Classical example at that time: Fire Temple at Jandial, near Taxila

THE 200 BC FIRE TEMPLE OFJANDIAL IS A CURIOUS

MIXTURE OF A GREEK

ARCHITECTURAL

SHELLAMENDED FOR

THE PERFORMANCES OF

ZOARASTRIAN RITUALS

1. NAOS

2. PRONAOS3. PERISTYLE


4/9

Mixture of Greek motivated architectural shell for the performance of

Achmenid Persian religious rituals

In plan, classical Greek peripheral temple in antis with columns in ionic order.

No imagery, platform at the back of the temple for fire tower dedicated to

Mazda, god of Zoroastrian pantheon worshiped by Scythians & Parthian.

Scythians or Shakya overpowered by Yeu Chi

Shakya moved into western India and were absorbed by Hindu fold.

Yeu Chi; the invaders established themselves as Kushana Dynasty.

KUSHANA DYNASTY

Greatest KushanaKing, Kanishka ascended the throne in 78 AD

Kushana Kingdom: up till Sanchi in South, modern Varanasiin East, included

entire Gandhara region in North west

Two great foci of empire: City of Purushapura (modern Peshawar) & Mathura

Favourism of king was sought by both Buddhist & Brahmins

Mahayana Buddhism with its direct simple approach influenced the King.

Asvaghosa, a Brahmin convert, persuaded the king to adopt Buddhism.

Ashoka to Buddhism: Kanishka to Mahayana Buddhism


5/9

Unending foreign invasions of Greeks, Parthian, Scythians & Kushana

resulted in trade routes, both land & water up to west.

At one time borders of Kushana and Roman empire were 600 miles apart.

Overseas trade route resulted in prosperity of mercantile class.

Buddhist monks were enjoying the patronage of state and mercantile class.

Over a period of 100 years, number of richly patterned stucco painted and

even gilded shrines and monasteries doted the Gandhara countryside.

MONASTERY OF TAKHT E BAHI

Impressive, schematically planned.

50 ft. (15.2 mt.) high elongated boat keel profiled stupa rested on a 20 ft wide

square platform, set within a 45 ft. (13.7mt.) X 55 ft. ( 16.7 mt.) quadrangle

along the periphery of which were subsidiary chapels housing the

Bodhisattvas of Mahayana creed.

Roofs of cells surrounding chapels: dome derived from the shape of rural

beehive hut, barrel vault derived from chaitya hall

Built in stone, roof shapes were achieved by corbelling rather than true

arching.

Stone masonry covered with thick layer of lime plaster relieved with stuccodecoration.


6/9

Central axis of

stupa court leads to

familiar monastery

with series of cells

around quadrangle.

In between the

stupa court & the

monastery court is

an open terrace

adorned with small

chapels & votivestupas.

Around the well knit

plan of the central

area, other

haphazardly

situated ancillary

structures are

assembly hall,

refectory, vestment

chambers.1. COURT OF STUPA 2. MONASTERIES 3. ASSEMBLY HALL 4. REFRACTORY

5. VESTMENT CHAMBERS


7/9

ALI MASJID STUPA

Better preserved in Khyber Pass, decorative

scheme of Gandhara stupas.

Stucco frieze applied to the base of the drum is

a series of chaitya arches supported onCorinthian pilasters.

Each niche being filled with a Grecian version

of the different aspects of the defied Buddha of

Mahayana.

Stupa: domical structure transformed to

elongated vertical structure.

Traditional white dome: not matching with hilly

terrain

Bell shaped stupa stood out against the

countryside.

Vertical umbrella (chattra) & harmika at the top

gradually came to dominate the entire

composition, often becoming higher than the

brick & plaster mound.

Not a very pleasing composition

BUDDHIST BUILDER ELONGATED

STUPA IN TO A VERTICAL

MONUMENT SO THAT IT WOULD

BE DISTINGUISHABLE FROM THE

GENTLY ROLLING GANDHARA

STYLE.


8/9

May be, builders wanted a taller building.

PROTOTYPE OF PAGODA

Passion for verticality culminated in a tower built by

Kanishka.

Only ruins of bases are existing.

A veritable Buddhist wonder of the world

Shun Yat Sen, a Chinese pilgrim of 6th century

testifies:

1. Timber tower , 628 ft (190.7 mt.) high

2. 13 receding storey

3. Tower was surmounted by iron pinnacles, adorned

with copper gilt umbrellas

4. Rested on massive 285 ft (86 mt.) sq. brick platform

5. Destroyed by attack of lightening

6. Before destruction, Chinese pilgrim carried

descriptions of edifice to their homeland.

7. Design developed under genius carpenters, familiarpagoda of China

PLATFORM IN THE GREEK

TRADITION BECAME THEBASE OVER WHICH

STUPAS WITH AN

ELONGATED UMBRELLA

WERE PLANTED. THIS

ACCENT ON HEIGHT

CULMINATED IN THE

DESIGN OF THE FAMOUS

CHINESE PAGODAS.


9/9

MAHAYANA SCHOOL OF MATHURA

Mathura, centrally situated city of Kushana empire

Buddhist & Jaina architectural activity

Indigenous building style, inspired by art of Sanchi & Bharhut Spiritual content of Mauryan School

Fa Hien, contemporary Chinese pilgrim, saw over a score of monasteries

inhabited by 300 monks

A number of stupas & towers

Unfortunately, demolished by iconoclastic zeal of later invaders

END OF KUSHANA DYNASTY

Long & prosperous reign, came to an end in 162 AD after the death of

Kanishka

Sons Vanishka & Hanishka remained patrons of Buddhism

Empire threatened from west by newly rising & powerful Persian Dynasty of

Sassanians

Trans Indus region passed under Persian dominance & was cut from

mainstream history for some time.

developments in buddhism

Documents