The Chaitya Hall is a type of prayer hall in a Buddhist or Jain shrine.
1. Period and Location: Chaitya Hall in Karle
Construction on Chaitya Hall began in the first century BC, but elements were added in the first century AD. Karle, India, is near Sanchi, India, where the Great Stupa is. This area is near the west coast of India and the Indian Ocean.
hint
Sanchi, India, and the Great Stupa were explored in previous lessons.
2. Stylistic and Architectural Elements of Chaitya Hall
Chaitya Hall in Karle incorporates stylistic elements from the Gandhara period in India. This style is called the Gandhara Style, and it demonstrated a blending of Greek and Indian styles.
The spread of the Greek Empire during the reign of Alexander the Great went as far as the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. Because of this expansion, an exchange of cultural ideas is apparent in the architecture of Chaitya Hall, particularly in the stone columns that line the central hall.
did you know
The other interesting architectural element is the use of rounded arches. These arches were made of wood rather than stone. This combination of the columns in the rounded arches resembles the architectural design of Christian churches built hundreds of years later.
terms to know
Chaitya Hall
A prayer hall in a Buddhist or Jain shrine
Gandhara Style
Stucco or stone sculptures, a style of Buddhist art that showed Greek and Indian influences
3. Examples of Stylistic and Architectural Elements
Take a look at the image below. Notice how the architectural style of later Christian churches is similar to this.
Chaitya Hall in Karle caves
The next image shows such stylistic and architectural characteristics as:
The wooden, rounded arches
The Greek-style stone column
The stone stupa (characteristic of a Buddhist shrine)
summary
Stylistically and architecturally, Chaitya Hall in Karle, India, is unique. In this lesson, you learned about the period and location of Chaitya Hall in Karle.
The stylistic and architectural elements of Chaitya Hall include elements from the Gandhara period in India, which demonstrated a blending of Greek and Indian styles.
Finally, you explored examples of these stylistic and architectural elements that are similar to those of Christian churches constructed much later.
Source: THIS TUTORIAL WAS AUTHORED BY IAN MCCONNELL FOR SOPHIA LEARNING. Please see our Terms of Use.
Terms to Know
Chaitya Hall
A prayer hall in a Buddhist or Jain shrine.
Gandhara Style
Stucco or stone sculptures, a style of Buddhist art which showed Greek and Indian influences.
