What is the origin of the Chaityas?
chaityas of ajanta caves The word chaitya has its roots in sanskrit chita ~ meaning a pyre or a pile of ashes. The ancient rock-cut buddhist caves of Ajanta…
What are the Chaityas and viharas?
Viharas were for the purpose of living, Chaityas were assemblies for the purpose of discussions. Further, Chaityas were with Stupas, Viharas did not have stupas. Both early Chaityas and Viharas were made by woods and later stone-cut Chaityas and Viharas were made. Viharas were the residences of the monks.
What do you mean by Chaityas?
Definition of chaitya India. : a sacred place : shrine, monument — compare dagoba, stupa, tope.
Who were Chaityas Class 12?
In Buddhist ideas and practices, people tended to regard certain places as sacred. These included sites with special trees or unique rocks, or sites of awe-inspiring natural beauty. These sites, with small shrines attached to them, were sometimes described as chaityas.
How many chaityas caves are there in Ajanta?
The cave complex in Ajanta comprises 30 caves. Of these, five (9, 10, 19, 26, and 29) are chaitya (prayer hall with a stupa at the far end) and the rest are vihara (monastery).
What was the purpose of chaityas during the early phase of Buddhism?
Eventually it came to mean the earth mound heaped over the ashes or relics of a saint, and thus a chaitya (or chita) became a place of worship. Chaitya and stupa both are sacred places for the Buddhist community. A chaitya is considered as the earliest form of a stupa.
What are the main features of Chaityas?
The term is most common in Buddhism, where it refers to a space with a stupa and a rounded apse at the end opposite the entrance, and a high roof with a rounded profile. Strictly speaking, the chaitya is the stupa itself, and the Indian buildings are chaitya halls, but this distinction is often not observed.
How many Chaityas are there?
Ajanta has 30 caves – five Are chaitya (prayeR hall) & the rest are vihara (Monastery). The excavation and creation of the caves seem to have been a more community effort in the earlier phase.
What is the pronunciation of Chaityas?
[ chahyt-yuh ] SHOW IPA.
Where is the oldest and the most famous Chaityas found in India?
The group at Karla is one of the older and smaller of the many rock-cut Buddhist sites in Maharashtra, but is one of the best-known because of the famous “Grand Chaitya” (Cave 8), which is “the largest and most completely preserved” chaitya hall of the period, as well as containing unusual quantities of fine sculpture.
Where is Chaityas located in India?
The Chaitya and Stupa are both sacred for the Buddhist community. The Kanheri caves are located in Maharashtra which include a group of caves and rock cut monuments. The location is in the forests of Sanjay Gandhi National Park on the island of Salsette. The complex of the caves consist of 109 caves.
When was Sanchi discovered?
1818
When it was discovered in 1818 by General Taylor, Sanchi had lain abandoned for 600 years. The site, 45 km from Bhopal, was overrun with vegetation. Excavations began in somewhat disorganized fashion until the Archaeological Survey of India stepped in and took control.