Shunga+Period+c.+185-72+BCE

Rock Cut Halls
The Shunga (or Sunga) Empire was established about 50 years after Ashoka’s death by a Brahman general who killed the last Mauryan emperor. During the Shunga empire Buddhism slipped in popularity, however some of the finest monuments of the Shunga period tend to be Buddhist.

The Caitya Hall at Bhaja (c. 100 BCE) is one Buddhist monument remaining from the Shunga period. This hall is actually cut directly into a mountainside. It is believed the purpose was for congregational worship. Stylistically, the rock carvings seem to imitate wood, perhaps because structures of worship were originally wooden, but stone carvings were more practical for durability. Real wooden beams were actually used in the hall for aesthetic reasons, they have no structural purpose. The presence of a large carved relicory mound (stupa) is also remarkable and is usually found towards the back of the large chamber. This worship chamber is 55 feet long, 26 feet wide, and 29 feet high. There are other examples of these rock cut worship halls, such as the Caitya Hall at Karle (c. 120 BCE). Vihara halls or monasteries were also carved into rock with similar imitation of wood detailing found in the stone. These halls were used as residencies during part of the year.


 * [[image:chaityabhaja.jpg]] ||
 * Caitya Hall, Bhaja. (c. 100 BCE) - http://www.bergerfoundation.ch/wat4/museum1?museum=Karla&cd=7219-3282-0138:7219-3282-0137:7219-3282-0139&country=Inde&col=pays ||