A Survey of Buddhist Temples and Monasteries

by Akhtar Malik

A history of Buddhist Architecture is a task for the future; may we some day have the pleasure of welcoming a systematic treatise upon the subject. Nothing guarantees us that in its beginnings the Architecture shall be found on a level with the doctrine, or that it shall follow a parallel course, or again that it shall develop with a proportional rapidity. 

The foundation of Buddhism in our sub-continent is an historic phenomenon. Based on truth, purity of life, non-possession and moral character of the highest degree, it began to spread in several regions of India, Nepal, Ceylon and South-East Asia. The monks and nuns who preached the religious principles of Buddha with their abodes in monasteries showed the way to the people towards a pure domestic life and moral dealings of humanity.

As a result of their efforts, several religious centres came into existence in India and other countries as mentioned in this text. The theme deals with the foundation and spread of Buddhism, from Bodh-Gaya to china to other part of the world, art and architecture used in monasteries and last but not the least, the life of monks and nuns in monasteries.