L2 - Lecture 2 - Vedic Period

History of Eastern Architecture
VEDIC PERIOD (1500BC-500BC)
LECTURE-2
VEDIC PERIOD (1500-500 BC)
Origin
Migration of the Aryan people (warriors) from North-West parts of the
Indian subcontinent.
Period is known for its nature worship and formation of Hindu religious
philosophy
Later part of this period saw the rise of small kingdoms and the
formulation of the caste system in India.
Vedic Age gets its name from the four Vedas or religious-philosophical hymns that were
composed by the Aryan people, in Sanskrit language, when they came to India
Rig Veda is the oldest of the four Vedas and provides a vivid insight
into the life of the early Vedic period.
Hymns with their social, religious and philosophical doctrines, laid the foundation
of the Hindu way of thought and Hindu religion.
Origin
These communities were generally clan or tribe-based and were governed
by a tribal chief.
tribal chief was not hereditary
tribal chief and the warriors under him protected the people
priest and his juniors catered to the religious and ritual demands of the clansmen.
Religious rituals were performed mainly to protect crops or cattle and to ensure
victory in battle.
Sun, moon, wind, rain, and other natural phenomena were worshipped as gods
Animal sacrifice was a common practice
Ritual sacrifices and prayers were offered to gods for the well being of people
and cattle and to grant more wealth and to be kind to them
society and polity described in these epics are not mythological; they
have deep historical roots.
Central Europe
(Original Home) Harrapa
Hindukush
Khyber
Plain of Mesopotamia Pass
and (Iranian Plateau… Kandahar HIM

AL
AY
Stay) Bolan Mohenjodaro
Panjab
AN
R AN
Pass GE
Baluchista
Indus
Bactria (N-W of Hindukush n
River Gangetic plain
Brahmaputra
Being Nomadic SIND
Ganges
river
nature……..soon
descended to Primitive
settlement of Baluchistan ARABIAN SEA
Bay of Bengal
Indus valley
Invasion of Mohenjo-daro and Harappan people by Aryans and abandoned the
exhausted Indus Valley
urban settlement could not offer attraction to them
Survivors had to flee from there
Finally moved Eastward and settled on the Gangetic plains
>> being lured by the bountiful & life supporting nature ....started pastoral
agricultural life as of original immigrants in Indus valley.
• The period is known by the name

because Indian Great Veda like Rig
Veda, written in this period
•Besides Great epics like Ramayan,
Mahabharat and Bhagbat Gita also
written
Religion & ritual:
•The personification of symbols of
Natural phenomenon:
>>Pitra ( Jupitor), sky father (sun god)
Agni god, warrior god (Indra)
>>For sacrifices : open altars
Architectural Development
Culture & architecture of Vedic is
drastically different from the Indus
valley
Indus Vedic
culture Town dwelling Pastoral
traders agricultural
Material Brick & Mud Mainly Bamboo,

technology reed, timber,
thatch
•Almost Nothing tangible survives from the Vedic sacred

structure before 2nd Century B. C. >> due to perishable materials
•However, the ancient literature in the form of Vedas and Epic
poems like Ramayan, Mahabharat provides invaluable guidance
in the reconstruction of early settlements and bldg. forms
•Also powerful images provided by the relief or fresco cycles of
Sanchi, Barhaut, Amaravati and Ajanta
Architectural Development…
The wooden construction depicted on Rock cuts

Material used: perishable material (Bamboo,
Thatch, grass, reed)
Temporary Structure
Barrel
Vault roof
Aryan village was a conglomerate of Bamboo, timber,
and thatch huts of different types
The most elementary form :

Dwelling units hut in circular plan with domical / conical roof
walls made of upright bamboos tied with twisted twigs
Roof made water tight with overlapping thatch or grass
Circular form - functional limitations Barrel vault roof
Rectangular form
Easy to add wings

Door placed at shorter wall and square headed openings
A horse shoe type of archway, referred as chaitya / sun
window put above door
Soon some of these huts arranged in 3 – 4 around an open courtyard.
Groups of such huts increased successively forming an Aryan Village

Aryan village …..
Village was defined and screened off from wild
life of the surrounding forest ...by Bamboo /
Timber fence. Which consists of:
>> upright posts (Thaba) erected at

regular intervals
>> 3 horizontal bars/ needles
(Suchi) placed between the posts
by threading them into the holes of
upright posts
 At points of entry, the fence was projected
out in staggered manner to discourage
direct access
 Gate way constructed like the fence with
horizontal ties raised high enough to
provide controlled entry for people and
cattle.
Elements and Form of Vedic Period –the embryo stage of later Indian
Architecture (Hindu and Buddhist)
Architectural forms thus developed indeed in primitive form but were embryo stage for
further development in later phases of Indian architecture history (Hindu & Buddhist):
>> Village
gates  Torana
>> Fence  later boundaries & city walls
Architectural forms thus developed indeed in primitive form but were embryo stage for
further development in later phases of Indian architecture history (Hindu & Buddhist)
semi circular portion below Barrel Vault roof  sun / chaitya window
Timber and bamboo textures & forms carved into stone
Small courtyards (Initial form of inevitable part of

later Indian architecture) explored extensively in
neighborhood / palatial complex
Open Altars  origin for later temple architecture

Town planning……..
• According to Dhammapal, the great

Buddhist commentator, Architect Maha
govinda design the layout for several
Vedic towns in Northern India.
• The towns were rectangular in plan with
grid iron pattern
• Town divided into four quarters by two
main thoroughfares at rt. Angle, each
leading to a city gate
I quarter : Citadel and palace
II quarter : Residences of upper classes
III quarter : Residences of Middle class
IV quarter : accommodation for traders
and their workshops
Palaces…….
• The Vedic palaces built around inner courtyard

• Central window for salutation of king
• Reserve wing for Royal ladies for pleasure garden
• Office enclosure containing audience & assembly hall, court of justice,
music gallery, wrestling arena, etc.
>> these components surprisingly matches with that of Mughal
Palaces
> difference in material form : stone & marble in Mughal
Administration & Economy…………..
 As the Aryan tribe started permanent living gave rise to

individual clearing up forest ( for shelter and cultivation)
 Intensive agricultural activities led to surplus products and trading
 The concept of ownership of land evolved emergence of
wealthy landlords
 As agricultural economy & Trade became more lucrative, the Aryan
tribes began to war for control of land & townships
 Frequent wars led to formation of civil administration : Sabha
(executive body)’ & Samities ( general body)
 The elected chief (Priest) to be guided the sabha >> privilege of King
 By 800 BC, Kingship was started.
Four states appear prominent :

Kingdoms of Kashi, Koshala & Magadh,Republic of Virji’s
• Frequent war between Kingdoms and republics for control of
strategic territories
• Ultimately Kingdom of Magadh with its capital at Rajgriha got
victory over the Kashi & Koshala at time of King Bimbisara
>> Bimbisara as India’s first historically acknowledged
king
• Ajatsatru, Son of Bimbisara got victory over Virjis in 475 BC
>> established the Aryan Kingship in Gangetic plain
Four states appear prominent :

Kingdoms of Kashi,
Koshala &
Magadh,
Republic of Virji’s
• After Ajatsatru, nine Nanda kings in succession in 40 yrs

>> fierce blood shake for power >> not popular
• Around third century BC, Mahandid, last Nanda king
defeated by the Chandra Gupta, chieftain to the tribe of
Mauryas
• Vedic age came to end and Mauryan period starts.
Archaeological excavation : additional

facts……….
Excavation at Kushambi, near Allahbad
revealed:
>>The town was built largely with baked bricks of
immense size (48x30x5) cm
>> Houses built around traditional central open

to sky courts
>> City protected with Ramparts over 9m high
built in mud, riveted externally with battered facing of
bricks
>> Rectangular towers erected upon bastions

at varying intervals
>> The town was served by rudimentary sewerage

system equipped with soak pits
Archaeological excavation : additional

facts……….
Excavation at Kushambi, near Allahbad

revealed:
Archaeological evidences suggested that

Kaushambi as typical of north Indian town during
middle of first millennium BC.
By 500 BC, after 1000 yrs of settlement in , the

Aryans had established a comfortable urban way of
life in the plains of Ganga in the cities like
Kushinagar.
Archaeological excavation : additional facts……….
Besides , the city wall of Rajgriha, the capital of Magadha found:
>> city wall be composed of rough pile of massive undressed stone, each
between 3 - 5 feet in length
>> The core composed of smaller blocks with fragments of stone filled in
interstices
>>The masonry raised upto 12 ft ,above which was erected superstructure of

wood and brick or stone & brick combined
>> similar to Pelasgicum, Acropolis

Architectural Development through Material &
Technology………….
• The evidences declares that the Indo Aryans started their

settlements with small huts made of Bamboo, Reed and thatch
• With the passage of time, they developed the basic forms into
more advance forms leading to formation of village and towns.
• They improved the material knowledge gradually that changed to

mud and burnt brick and in late stages they introduced stone in
construction, yet in inferior skill
• Shows continuous desire for some stable method of construction

and development to meet the necessities
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History of Eastern Architecture

VEDIC PERIOD (1500BC-500BC)

tribal chief was not hereditary

Animal sacrifice was a common practice

and (Iranian Plateau… Kandahar HIM

• The period is known by the name

Material Brick & Mud Mainly Bamboo,

•Almost Nothing tangible survives from the Vedic sacred

The wooden construction depicted on Rock cuts

The most elementary form :

Easy to add wings

Soon some of these huts arranged in 3 – 4 around an open courtyard.

Groups of such huts increased successively forming an Aryan Village

>> upright posts (Thaba) erected at

Timber and bamboo textures & forms carved into stone

Small courtyards (Initial form of inevitable part of

Open Altars  origin for later temple architecture

• According to Dhammapal, the great

• The Vedic palaces built around inner courtyard

 As the Aryan tribe started permanent living gave rise to

Four states appear prominent :

Four states appear prominent :

• After Ajatsatru, nine Nanda kings in succession in 40 yrs

Archaeological excavation : additional

>> Houses built around traditional central open

>> Rectangular towers erected upon bastions

>> The town was served by rudimentary sewerage

Archaeological excavation : additional

Excavation at Kushambi, near Allahbad

Archaeological evidences suggested that

By 500 BC, after 1000 yrs of settlement in , the

Archaeological excavation : additional facts……….

Besides , the city wall of Rajgriha, the capital of Magadha found:

>>The masonry raised upto 12 ft ,above which was erected superstructure of

>> similar to Pelasgicum, Acropolis

• The evidences declares that the Indo Aryans started their

• They improved the material knowledge gradually that changed to

• Shows continuous desire for some stable method of construction

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