The Architecture of the Buddhist Period Monasteries of Taxila Valley

Abstract

Architecture is mixture of civilization .Tlns research under the title "The Architecture of the Buddhist period Monasteries in Taxila Valley" is based on the architecture of Buddhist monasteries excavated in Taxila that reveals the influence of Greek, Kushans and Mauyrians. Taxila is known for the most developed form of Buddhist monasteries. This research initiates with the evolution and development of monasteries from simplest form like avasa, arama to sangharama up to the present most developed form of monastery found in Taxila. The research also concentrates on plan and architectural feature of all the excavated monasteries of Taxila in detailed and compare them with the other monasteries found in Gandhara region. Moreover, how these monasteries passes through different architectural phases are discussed in detail by their plans. By taking part in excavation of recently excavated Buddhist monasteries "Jinnah Wali Dheri and Badalpur", their details features are described in detail. By examining the type of stones and technique involved in the construction of monasteries stone typology, mining techniques of obtaining them from quarries, wall formation and stone lithology in Taxila is discussed from geological point of view. To represent the research process in the written form, the thesis is divided into 4 chapters. It initiates with introduction of monastery how the monastery passed through different stages to reach up to present level as seen in excavated monasteries found in Taxila and Y ousafzai areas. Chapter-l includes the early references, geography and historical background of Gandhara showing how the different rulers affect the architecture of Gandhara. It is also based on glance of the previous researches and the decline of Gandhara. Chapter-2 deals with the study of detailed architecture of monasteries excavated in Taxila valley. In chapter -3 the complete report of recently excavated monasteries in Taxila "Jinnah WaH Dheri and Badalpur" is given and developmental phases of Taxila monasteries. Chapter-4 is comparison of monastic architecture in Taxila, stone typology and mining techniques, rock formation and stone lithology in Taxila valley is discussed in detail. In the end the whole work is summed up in discussion and concluding remarks are given in the end. This thesis is supported by 5 maps, 2 tables, a long list of bibliographic references and 180 figures.