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| Tulja caves upload.wikimedia.org Image Credit: Kevin Standage |
Above image: Remains of the circular rock-hewn circular Chaitya with columns supporting the roof., Tulja Caves Circular plan spans more than 25 ft across. The Tulja Lena caves lie in a hill about two miles north-west from Junnar, MH beyond the north end of Sivaneri hill. The caves owe their name to a shrine of Tulja Devi, a form of Bhavani, the consort of Shiva.Image Credit: Kevin Standage........
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| tall circular Buddhist temple,uploadwikipedia.org |
Above image: Tall circular Buddhist temple of first century.Govt. Museum, Mathura. Image Credit: Biswarup Ganguly.....
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| Bodhi tree Sanchi, Biharuploadwikipedia.org |
Above image: Depiction of Bodhi tree Sanchi, Supa, South gateway, Bihar Image Credit: Dharma from Sadao, Thailand...........
Buddhist temples and monasteries serve as places of worship and meditation for followers of Buddhism. These sacred structures, known by various names such as vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat, and pagoda, represent the pure land or spiritual realm of a Buddha. The architectural styles of Buddhist temples vary across regions, reflecting local traditions and beliefs while maintaining core symbolic elements that inspire peace and devotion. The design of these temples often incorporates five fundamental elements: fire, air, water, earth, and space, embodying the Buddhist understanding of the universe similar to the Pancha Bootha concept in Hinduism..
However, the Buddhist religious architecture owes its origin to the Indian subcontinent. It is said three structures are closely linked to the religious architecture of early Buddhism: monasteries (viharas), places to venerate relics (stupas), and shrines or prayer halls, which later came to be called temples in some places.
No doubt the concept of a temple as a microcosm of the universe is deeply enshrined in Indian Buddhist architecture. Hence many temple complexes feature a central tall structure, symbolizing Mount Meru, surrounded by smaller shrines, walls, and water bodies representing the cosmic ocean. An integral architectural feature in Buddhist religious structures is the chaitya, a prayer hall housing a stupa with an apse-like rounded end and a high, vaulted ceiling. Early examples of chaitya halls, such as those found in the Ajanta and Karla caves, were often carved directly into rock faces, showcasing intricate craftsmanship and artistic skills. The relation of the humans with the elements of nature is a fundamental to Buddhism, Hinduism and related religions. It is often mentioned by the researchers that the concept of Gopuram (tower) in Hinduism actually evolved from the concept of cosmic mountain of Mount Meru or Himalayan Kailasa, the abode of gods according to its ancient mythology.
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| Mahabodhi temple of Gaya en.wikipedia.org Image Credit: B pilgrim |
Some of the earliest Buddhist temples were circular in shape, a form that can be traced back to the reign of Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE. The Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, originally built by Ashoka, featured a circular structure protecting the sacred Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. Archaeological remains, such as the Bairat Temple, further attest to the prevalence of circular temples in early Buddhist architecture. Depictions of these temples appear in ancient relief sculptures at sites like Bharhut and Sanchi, illustrating their significance. Rock-cut caves, including the Tulja and Guntupalli caves, continued to preserve this architectural tradition, demonstrating the evolution of Buddhist religious structures over time.
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