chaitya
Noun
Meaning
chaitya (plural chaityas)
A Buddhist or Jain shrine including a stupa.
Synonyms
Examples
Every year on December 6, lakhs of Ambedkarites across the country visit Chaitya Bhumi to pay their respects on his death anniversary.
Of these, caves 9 and 10 are stupa halls of chaitya -griha form, and caves 12, 13, and 15A are vihāras (see the architecture section below for descriptions of these types).
The other type of main hall is the narrower and higher chaitya hall with a stupa as the focus at the far end, and a narrow aisle around the walls, behind a range of pillars placed close together.
Michell, 338 The four completed chaitya halls are caves 9 and 10 from the early period, and caves 19 and 26 from the later period of construction.
The form of columns in the work of the first period is very plain and un-embellished, with both chaitya halls using simple octagonal columns, which were painted with figures.