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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Vihara and Chaitya?

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The main difference between Vihara and Chaitya lies in their purpose and structure in Buddhist architecture:

  • Vihara:
  • Viharas are the living quarters of Buddhist monks, providing them with a place to stay during the rainy season.
  • They are generally one-story buildings, but multiple-storied Viharas have also been found.
  • Chaitya:
  • Chaityas are prayer halls or places of worship in Buddhism.
  • They are rectangular halls with finely polished interior walls, well-proportioned columns, and a Stupa placed at the end or in the center.
  • Chaityas are divided into three parts, with an apsidal ending (semicircular rear end), and have polished interior walls, semicircular roofs, and horse-shoe shaped windows called Chaitya windows.

In summary, Viharas serve as residences for Buddhist monks, while Chaityas are places of worship and assembly for Buddhist practitioners.

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  • What is the Difference Between Vihara and Chaitya?
  • Comparative Table: Vihara vs Chaitya

    • Comparative Table: Vihara vs Chaitya

    Here is a table highlighting the differences between Vihara and Chaitya:

    Feature Vihara Chaitya
    Purpose Living quarters for monks Prayer halls and assembly places for monks
    Structure Usually small, centered halls sometimes connected with beds carved from stone Halls enclosing stupas, often with pillars on both sides and a stupa placed at the end
    Architecture Developed from wooden buildings, later styles included rock-cut viharas Developed from wooden buildings, later styles included rock-cut chaityas
    Examples Cave 5 in Ellora, Cave 11 at Kanheri Sudama and Lomas Rishi in the Barabar hills, Sita Marhi in the Nagarjuni hills

    Viharas were primarily built as living quarters for Buddhist monks, while Chaityas were used for prayer halls and assemblies, often housing a stupa within the structure. Both Viharas and Chaityas evolved from wooden buildings and later developed into rock-cut structures.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.