Lichchhavi chaityas

Nepal has also developed many size, shape and adornment of Stūpa. There are
different styles of Stūpas are developed in Nepal from Licchavi to Modern times. Each of
style has own name. There are more than twentieth style of Stūpas are available here. The
Lichchhavi caityas are constructed between 6th to 9th centuries. The dome and drum are
monolithic and the double plinths are round, octagonal or vimsatikona, the twentieth angled
in form. Different structures of Lichchhavi caityas are placed in various places.

First type of Lichchhavi Chaitya

The earliest votive stone caityas are bulgy dome attached to a drum. Monolithic dome, drum,
upper and lower storeys of a caitya. The upper and lower storeys are rounded and octagnol
shapes. The topmost part of crown or thirteen bhuvans seems to attach the later period. The
earliest votive caityas are plain and without any niches.

Second type of Lichchhavi Chaitya

Most of the earlier about 200 Lichchhavi caityas contain at least four niches. Niches
are placed out of the drum or vedikas (plinths). In the case of multi-storeyed structures have
eight or even sixteen niches, which are a first and second levels or plinths. Round niches
occur on the circular storeys of the caityas. These are the empty niches and stone polished.
There are no topmost part. In such cases, a finial crowns every caitya seems to add later.

Third type of Lichchhavi caitya

The empty niches caityas are fully decorated, which are carved motifs on top and a
leafed frieze below. In such cases the niche crown consists in the form of a kirtimukha face or
a lotus blossom. The upper niches are generally slight narrower than the lower niches. All the
crown of the frame, the upper of the lintel arch.These caityas are changed 7-8th century A.D.

Fourth type of Lichchhavi caitya

The niches are filled with small figures of the four Buddhas: Akshobhya is in the east,
his right hand shows earth touching, Ratnasambhava is in the south, his right hand displays
boon-giving gesture, Amitabh is in the west, his both hands are meditation gesture and
Amoghsiddhi is in the north, his right hand exhibits fearlessness gesture.

Five type of Caitya

The caturvyuhacaitya consists the complete primary trio of finial, dome, and moulded
drum rests at the top of the shaft. The four Buddhas are placed the four directions. The four
Buddhas heads are surrounded from a halo.
The Lichchhavi chaityas are located in Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur, Chabahil,
Sankhu, Boudha, Svayambhu, Thimi, Baregaon, Bungamati, Hadigaon, Banepa,
Namobuddha, Markhu (near to Kulekhani damp). Niel Gutsow have surveyed from 1986-
1994, among of all Lichchhavi caityas, a large majority of caityas are located in Patan 104,
Kathmandu 73, Chabahil 24, Svayambhu 10, Deopatan 10, Bhaktapur 6 and 9 other localities.
Some chaityas are located in the courtyard of monasteries.
The main elements are common in every Stūpa although various styles of Stūpa. There are
common elements in a Stūpa, namely, ground plan, plinth, dome, cubic form, roof, shield,
tiers, pillar and usnisha etc. The ground plan should be mandala shape. The 'mandala' word is
not indicate in a circle, it might be round, square, rectangular, pentagon, octagon, twentieth
angle and any shape. The mandala shape of Stūpa seems in the round, square, octagon and
twentieth angled. The plinth is known as 'Vedīkā' in Sanskrit word and 'phah' in Newari
word. It is raised above the ground plan, which is shaped in a round, square, octagon and
twentieth angled. The round Vedīkā is found in Svayambhu, Carumati and others Stūpa: the
square Vedīkā is found in small stone Stūpa, the octagon Vedīkā is found in padmavali caitya
and the twentieth angled Vedīkā is found in Boudha Stūpa and small stone Stūpas. The
Vedīkā may be one to three levels. The Svayambhu and Carumati Stūpa have one Vedīkā and
the Boudha Stūpa has three levels Vedīkā and the small stone Stūpas have also found in three
levels.

The dome is raised above the Vedīkā, which is semicircular. It is known as 'Anda' or
'Garbha-griha' in Sanskrit word. The relics or holy texts are covered from hemispheric dome.
So, we can't see the elements. A cube form is above the dome, which is called 'Harmikā in
Sanskrit word and 'Gala' in Newari word. In a large Stūpa, there is depicted a pair of eyes,
curly and like as a question mark. These figures are depicted in an every year on the full
moon day of 'Katipunhi' or in October. A pair of eyes is called the 'Vajradristi' or the
adamantine view. Between the two eyes, the curly hair is known as 'urnā. The harmikā is
covered from a roof mould, which is called 'bhagī'. The shield is placed above the 'bhagi',
which is known as 'halipati' or 'halapau' or 'torana'. It is not found in Licchavi Stūpas. There
are carved on Buddha and Boddhisattva or their symbol. Behind and above the halapati, there
are thirteen tiers or raised above the 'bhagī, which are diminishing bottom to top small size.
The thirteen tiers are round except Boudha and Carumati. Therfore, the thirteen tiers are may
be round and square. The round tiers are called 'Cakrāvalī' in Sanskrit. In the centre of
'Vedīkā' or Dome, there should be a Yasti in vertical way, which is long up to the top most
tiers. It also cannot see from the outside. It is a wooden pillar, which should be single tree.
The pinnacle is above the thirteen tiers. An umbrella is covered on the pinnacle.

Chaityas in Shah Period

There are four types of chaityas in the Shah period

Jalahari chaitya

 This type of chaitya is come into 1667A.D. and many of this type of chaityas are
built in Shah Period.
 There are six parts in the Jalahari chaitya.
 Primary trio
 Drum, dome, and finial with together is called primary trio.
 The primary trio is monolithic.
 Drum is the quarter-round, an encircling profile with a horizontal structure.
 Buddhas or Bodhisattvas are seated on throne in all four directions.
Amitabha – east
Vairochana – south
Vajrasattva – west
 Maitreya – north

 Dome – Skt. Anda and New. Gvah – The surface of the dome is simple.
 Finial is usnisa
 Lotus – an upwardly and downwardly unfolding lotus blossom, between the
primary trio and a shaft.
 Shaft – The Tathagatas or Buddhas are seated on the throne or asana all the
directions.
East – Aksobhya Buddha
South – Ratna Sambhava
West – Amitabha
North – Amoghsiddhi

 The vahanas of the Tathagata placed in corners and the caturmaharajas, the four
protectors of the world, in oval medallions.
 The vahanas of the Tathagatas are :- Aksobhya – Elephant,
Ratnasambha – Horse
Amitabha – Peacock
Amoghsiddhi – Garuda

 The caturmaharajas, the four protectors of the world are : -

Dhitarastra – east
Virudhaka – south
Virupaksha – west
Vaisravana – north

 Lotus – The lotus placed with a triple row of overlapping petals. It rests in a jalahari.
 Jalahari – The jalahari is kept above the plinth.

 Plinth skt. Vedika, new. Phah – There are three types of plinth.
 The upper plinth is thin of vimsatikona shape, the twenty-angled form between the
upper composition and rough plinth. It is made of stone that is widely identified as the
basic design of a mandala.
 The middle plinth is thin and made of stones mixed with panels of conical bricks.
 The lower plinth is thick and made of conical bricks and stone.

Sumeruchaitya

 The first dated Sumeruchaitya built in 1854A.D. The Sumeruchaitya doesn't differ
from the type of Jalaharichaitya.
 Primary trio - finial, dome and drum as same as above chaityas
 TheTathagatas placed at the level of the dome are the same as in the shaft
  Shaft – shaft and throne is same as a Jalaharichaitya.
 TheTathagatas placed at the level of the dome are the same as in the shaft.
 A lotus flower that unfolds upwards and downwards there appears a hemispheric ally
shaped flower with a triple row of overlapping petals.
 Shaft – The Tathagatas or Buddhas are seated on the Simhasanas all the directions.
 Lotus – The double lotus are upward.
 Plinth – The surface of plinth offer space for the mantra is "Om mani padme hum"
and the astanmangala, the eight auspicious objects, while the twelve outwardly
pointing angles are formed as a vajra.

 The upper socle level repeats the throne motif below the Tathagata, with Bodhisattvas
are: Maitreya – east, Ratnapani – south, Padmapani – west and Visvapani or Manjusri
– north or the caturamaharajas in the central medallions and lion in the corners.
 The circular body of snake is under the upper composition.

Padmavalichaityas

 This type of chaitya came into use at the end of the 17th century and the beginning of
the 18th century.
 Primary trio – finial, dome and drum as same as above chaityas.
 Lotus – a lotus flowers with its two circles of petals turned upward and downward.
 Roof – the two roofs are octagon shape.

 Shaft – This part is also octagon shape and the eight Bodhisattvas are placed in the
niches. They are : - Maiteya – east
Jaliniprabha – south east or Agneyakona
Vajrapani – south
Visvapani – south west or Nairhityakona
Padmapani – west
Jnanaketu – North West or vayabyakona
Manjusri – north
Chandraprabha – north east

 They all are stood in asana and octagon shape at the base plinth.
 Snake - The circular body of snake is under the lotus. Its head the latter turned
towards north and overlapped by its tail.
 Plinth – There are three plinths.
 The upper plinth is thin of vimsatikona shape, the twenty-angled form.

 The lower two plinths are made of stones mixed with panels of conical bricks.
Jvalavalicaitya

 Primary trio – same as above chaityas

 Lotus – the double lotus or Visvapadmasana
 Serpent body – encircling
 Vajra – a group of vajras are circle
 Flame – a group of flames are circle
 Lotus – a group of lotus are circle
 Dharmadhatumandala - round
 Lotus – upward lotus and downward lotus

 Plinth – The upper plinth is round and the snake is encircling in the below.
 The four shaktis are placed in the corner side above the second plinth.
 The middle plinth The lions are placed in corners and the caturmaharajas, the four
protectors of the world, in oval medallions and square shape
 The lower plinth is square, simple and made of stones.