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Many Brahmin or Hindu stupas in Sanchi, Sarnath, and Bodha Gaya were imposed as Buddhist. The original stupa of Sanchi had an arch with nude ladies hanging on it. This is unlikely to be Buddhist as it's against the Buddhist tradition to have any sexually arousing images, sculpture or painting in any Buddhist temples. The ruined temple at Bodha Gaya was taken care by the Brahmins when Francis Buchanan, in 1812, identified it as Buddhist and, in 1862, Sir Alexander Cunningham confirmed it. There are many conflicting information on architectural designs and arts as found in India and Thailand. Most architectural designs found on the buildings, pagoda (Chedi) and other Buddhist arts are uniquely and uncomparably outstanding in their beauty, neatness, and tenderness. They have survived for for more than thousand years. The shapes of the Wat (temples), churches, and Chedi as found in the present land of Suwannabhumi where Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Burma and Raman are situated, are totally different from those found in India and Nepal. Here in Suwannabhumi, ten thousands of a thousand years old Wat, Wihara, and churches are found in every village, town and city. Up to the present time, outstanding characteristics are still mainly in tact in all Buddhist architectural designs with only a slight difference in shapes and forms while critical attributes and components remain unchanged.
The beautiful temples in Bangkok graciously designed and constructed employing Buddhist arts still practiced nation wide in Thailand..
The elegance Wat Prakaew (top) and Wat Benjamabopit (left) in Thailand and the Buddhakaya Chedi (right) in India showing the difference in architural designs and styles |
In India and Nepal, architectural designs on Hindu shrines are less impressive than the designs in Buddhist temples in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Burma and Raman. For example, the Buddhikaya Chedi in India may not match the beauty of Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn), Wat Pra Kaew (Temple of the Emeral Buddha), Pra That Panom in Nongkai Province, or the Maha Chedi Pa Nam Yoi in Roi-Ed Province. Should the present Buddhist architectural designs be imported from India as claimed by some academicians, why there were no traces of such designs as temples and chedi left in India. Buddhist art is dedicate. They need highly skilful and mindful artists to come up with high level creativity. Furthermore, artists need sponsors, especially royal ones, with high faith in Lord Buddha to produce such wonderful, elegant architectural works as found in Buddhist temples in Thailand. (See samples in the photos below). Visitors from abroad coming to Thailand are amazed with the beautiful and peaceful presence of Buddhist temples, wihara, and stupas surrounded by rich environments of green trees and mountains suitable for meditation and practices according to Buddhist teachings. For this reason, we strongly believe that Buddhist architectural designs had never been imported from India but have been all along here in Suwannabhumi right from the time of the Lord Buddha.
The chedi at Bodh Gaya was actually a Brahmin temple claimed by Francis Buchanan to be Buddhist. This temple was modified many times to make it Buddhist. The original illustration will be shown here after we have permission from the British Museum.
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