What is the meaning of chaityas?
Definition of chaitya India. : a sacred place : shrine, monument — compare dagoba, stupa, tope.
What is difference between chaitya and stupa?
Chaitya is a religious term, while stupa is an architectural term for a mound containing a relic of the Buddha and later on of leading Buddhist saints. Chaitya is a place of prayer/worship, while stupa is a funeral monument.
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 is called Vihar?
The word means a Jain or Hindu temple or “dwelling, waiting place” in many medieval era inscriptions and texts, from vi-har which means “to construct”. It contrasts with Sanskrit: araṇya or Punjabi: arañña, which means “forest”. In medieval era, the term meant any monastery, particularly for Buddhist monks.
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.
What is the pronunciation of Chaityas?
chaitya. chahyt-yuh. ch-uh-y-t-y-uh.
What are Viharas and stupas?
The viharas in India were originally constructed to shelter the monks during the rainy season, when it became difficult for them to lead the wanderer’s life. They took on a sacred character when small stupas (housing sacred relics) and images of the Buddha were installed in the central court.
Is chaitya a stupa?
Chaitya and stupa both are sacred places for the Buddhist community. A chaitya is considered as the earliest form of a stupa. In modern text on Indian architecture, the term chaitya-griha (chaitya hall) is often used to denote assembly or prayer hall that houses a stupa. In a sense it is similar to a house or griha.
What was Chaityas Class 12?
Chaitya is like a prayer hall. It has pillars on side of a passage or a pathway leading to a Stupa. Of course since it is a prayer hall, it may contain stupas as Stupas generally contain relics of Buddha and are venerated and worshipped.
Who donated land for building viharas?
The land on which a vihara was built was usually donated by a rich landlord or a king. The local people came with clothes, food, and other gifts to learn from the monks.