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{{short description|Buddhist site near Bairat, Rajasthan, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox religious building
| building_name = Bairat Temple
| image = Buddhist Temple Viratnagar.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Remains of Bairat Temple
| map_type = India#India Rajasthan
| relief = yes
| map_size = 250
| location = India [[India]]
| coordinates = {{coord|27.417116|N|76.16229|E|display=inline,title}}
| religious_affiliation = [[Buddhism]]
| rite =
| region = [[Rajasthan]]
| state =
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| prefecture =
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| circle =
| municipality =
| consecration_year = 3rd century BCE
| status = Ruins
| functional_status = Artifacts removed
| heritage_designation =
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'''Bairat Temple''' is a freestanding [[Buddhist temple]], a [[Chaityagriha]], located about a mile southwest of the city [[Viratnagar]], [[Rajasthan]], [[India]], on a hill locally called "Bijak-ki-Pahari" ({{lit|Hill of the Inscription}}).<ref name=Asijaipur/><ref name=ASI/> The temple is of a circular type, formed of a central [[stupa]] surrounded by a circular colonnade and an enclosing wall.<ref name=BA233/> It was built during the time of [[Ashoka]] in the 3rd century BCE, and near it were found two of Ashoka's [[Minor Rock Edicts]], the Bairat and the Calcutta-Bairat Minor Rock Edicts.<ref name=BA233>Le Huu Phuoc, 2010, p.233-237</ref> It is the earliest circular Buddhist shrine and therefore, Bairat temple is an important marker of the [[architecture of India]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Chaturvedi |first=Neekee |title=Evolution of Buddhism in Rajasthan |date=2012 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44156201 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=73 |pages=155–162 |jstor=44156201 |issn=2249-1937 |access-date=31 October 2023 |archive-date=1 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401105644/https://www.jstor.org/stable/44156201 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Excavation Site, Bairat.jpg|thumb|Excavation Site, Bairat]]
It is situated in the ancient region of Matsya Janpad, a centre of vedic sacrifices in early literary and epigraphic references. Thus evidence of a flourishing Buddhist centre from this region is very significant. Bairat temple has been given attention by several archaeologists such as Cunningham and later by Carlleyle, Bhandarkar and Dayaram Sahni. The significant structures at the site of Bairat include a monastery and numerous remnants of Asokan pillars beside the circular temple.

== Circular Temple and Artefacts at Bairat ==
The circular temple is constructed on the lower platform. It is surrounded by a circumambulatory path. It is a structural temple that had made use of fire burnt bricks. It has crevices that indicate that it was surrounded by wooden pillars. The lime-plastered panels of brickwork in the shrine alternate with twenty-six octagonal pillars of wood. It shows two circles in plan and has no precedent of the kind. Dayaram Sahni has suggested that Bairat temple is the oldest structural temple and it served as model for the numerous rock-cut temples of Western and Eastern India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archaeological Remains and Excavations at Bairat |url=http://indianculture.gov.in/rarebooks/archaeological-remains-and-excavations-bairat |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=INDIAN CULTURE |language=en |archive-date=1 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401105650/https://indianculture.gov.in/rarebooks/archaeological-remains-and-excavations-bairat |url-status=live }}</ref> The monastery attached to the shrine is elaborate with cells being large enough to accommodate just a single monk or nun. It is situated on the upper platform. Many portable antiquities like pottery jars, lamps etc have also been found on the site. All the evidence indiacate that Bairat temple was highly revered in the contemporary Buddhist world.
[[File:Bairat Temple.jpg|thumb|Bairat Temple]]
[[File:Monastic Cells at Bairat.jpg|thumb|Monastic Cells at Bairat]]
Sahni suggests that the elaborate structures indicate increasing visibility of Buddhist sites. The remarkable presence of structures like the Bairat temple can be linked to increasing popularity of Buddhism at the time. Mauryan king Asoka's support and interest led to extraordinary development of Buddhist art. It appears that Rajasthan did not remain untouched with this wave of Buddhism.<ref name=":0" /> The ''sangharam'' of Bairat and the circular ''stupa'' at the Bijak hills were definitely majestic. They evidence that Buddhism existed here in a developed stage.

== A rare circular stand-alone temple ==
Early [[Chaitya]] halls are known from the 3rd century BCE. They generally followed a circular or [[apsidal]] plan, and were either rock-cut or freestanding.<ref name=AH>{{cite book |last1=Chakrabarty |first1=Dilip K. |title=India: An Archaeological History: Palaeolithic Beginnings to Early Historic Foundations |date=2009 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780199088140 |page=421 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wPQtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT421 |language=en |access-date=31 August 2018 |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031092626/https://books.google.com/books?id=wPQtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT421#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> Temples —built on elliptical, circular, quadrilateral, or apsidal plans— were initially constructed using brick and timber.<ref name=Chandra>Chandra (2008)</ref> Some temples of timber with [[wattle-and-daub]] may have preceded them, but none remain to this day.<ref name=BA233/>

Today, only the foundation of the temple remains.<ref name=BA233/> The circular temple was located inside a rectangular enclosure wall, and had an outer diameter of 5.6 meters.<ref name=BA233/> It was built around a small stupa at the centre, with a diameter of 1.6 meters.<ref name=BA233/> There was also an internal circle of 26 wooden octagonal columns surrounding the stupa.<ref name=BA233/><ref name=Asijaipur>{{cite web|url=http://asijaipurcircle.nic.in/Bairat%20-%20Excavated%20site.html|title=ASI Notice|access-date=31 August 2018|archive-date=30 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830101459/http://asijaipurcircle.nic.in/Bairat%20-%20Excavated%20site.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The layout created two ''[[pradaksina]]'' circular paths for devotional deambulation. The global shape of the temple has been inferred from more or less contemporary reliefs of such buildings from [[Bharhut]], or from rock-cut temples at [[Kondivite]], [[Tulja Caves]] or [[Guntupalli Caves]].<ref name=BA233/>

It has been suggested that this circular design with columns was derived from the similar design of the Greek [[Tholos (architecture)|Tholos]].<ref name=BA233/> However local circular hut designs are a more probable source of inspiration.<ref name=BA233/>

<gallery mode="packed">
Bairat temple and rock.jpg|Another view of the remains.
Bairat Temple plan.jpg|Temple plan.
Bairat Temple reconstitution.jpg|Drawing of original temple
File:Bharhut circular Temple.jpg|Relief of a circular temple, [[Bharhut]], circa 100 BCE.
Bharhut Mahabodhi Temple.jpg|Early circular [[Mahabodhi Temple]], [[Bharhut]], circa 100 BCE.
</gallery>

===Minor Rock Edict of Ashoka===
[[File:Bhabru inscription.jpg|thumb|The [[Minor Rock Edict]] of Ashoka, found on the platform in front of the temple.<ref name=ASI/>]]
[[File:Bairat-Calcutta Edict discovery spot.jpg|thumb|The inscription was found on a rock on the platform between the Bairat Temple and the huge cannon-shaped rock in front of it.<ref name=ASI/>]]
[[File:Bhabru inscription of the Buddha word.jpg|thumb|upright=0.5|The word "Buddha" in the Bairat Edict. [[Brahmi script]].]]
A [[Minor Rock Edict]] of [[Ashoka]] (the unique Minor Rock Edict No.3) was found in close proximity to the Temple: the Bairat-Calcutta Edict, also called the Bhabru Edict, from the name of a nearby village.<ref name=ASI>{{cite book |title=Archaeological Survey Of India Four Reports Made During The Years 1862 - 63 - 64 - 65 Volume Ii |date=1871 |pages=242–248 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3s4OAAAAQAAJ |last1=Cunningham |first1=Sir Alexander |access-date=31 October 2023 |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031092627/https://books.google.com/books?id=3s4OAAAAQAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> Dating to circa 250 BCE, the edict was found just in front of the remains of the Bairat Temple, on the lower platform located between the temple and the cannon-shaped large rock, by Major Burt in 1840 ({{coord|27.417124|76.162569|display=inline}}).<ref>"According to Cunningham this is probably the same inscription of Ashoka which Major Burt found in 1840 on a hill at Bairat." in {{cite book |last1=Misra |first1=Virendra N. |title=Rajasthan: Prehistoric and Early Historic Foundations |date=2007 |publisher=Aryan Books International |isbn=978-81-7305-321-4 |page=47 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jDRuAAAAMAAJ |language=en |access-date=27 January 2020 |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031092627/https://books.google.com/books?id=jDRuAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Cunningham |first1=Alexander |title=Archaeological Survey Of India Vol. 2 |date=1871 |page=247 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.42985/page/n301/mode/2up}}</ref><ref name=ASI/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Vincent E. |title=Asoka: The Buddhist Emperor |date=2018 |publisher=Sristhi Publishers & Distributors |isbn=978-93-87022-26-3 |page=104 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hkFmDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT104 |language=en |access-date=27 January 2020 |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031092634/https://books.google.com/books?id=hkFmDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT104#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> The presence of this inscription, its date and its Buddhist content, help date the temple with a high level of certainty, as well as confirm its Buddhist affiliation.<ref name=ASI/>

The Edict, relocated since the 19th century to the [[Asiatic Society|Asiatic Society of Bengal]] in [[Calcutta]] (hence the name "Calcutta-Bairat Edict)", is the only one of its kind, describing Buddhist scriptures recommended by Ashoka for study. It reads:

{{blockquote|
The [[List of monarchs of Magadha|Magadha King]] Priyadarsin, having saluted the [[Samgha]] hopes they are both well and comfortable.

It is known to you, Sirs, how great is my reverence and faith in the [[Buddha]], the [[Dharma]] (and) the [[Samgha]].

Whatsoever, Sirs, has been spoken by the blessed Buddha, all that is quite well spoken.

But, Sirs, what would indeed appear to me (to be referred to by the words of the scripture): "thus the true Dharma will be of long duration", that I feel bound to declare:

The following expositions of the Dharma, Sirs, (viz.) the ''Vinaya-Samukasa'' ("The Exaltation of Discipline"), the ''Aliya-vasas'' ("The Ideal Mode of Life"), the ''Anagata-bhayas'' ("Fears to Come"), the ''Muni-gathas'' ("The Songs of the Hermit"), the ''Moneya-Suta'' ("Discourse on the Hermit Life"), the ''Upatisa-pasina'' ("The Questions of Upatishya"), and the ''Laghulovada'' ("The Sermon to [[Rahula]]") which was spoken by the blessed Buddha concerning falsehood, — I desire, Sirs, that many groups of monks and (many) nuns may repeatedly listen to these expositions of the Dharma and may reflect (on them).

In the same way both [[Upasaka|laymen and laywomen]] (should act).

For the following (purpose), Sirs, am I causing this to be written, (viz.) in order that they may know my intention.
|Adapted from Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch 1925 [https://archive.org/stream/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hultzsch/HultzschCorpusAsokaSearchable#page/n349/mode/2up p.172] Public Domain
}}
[[File:Ashokan Inscription Palque at Bairat.jpg|thumb|Ashokan Inscription Plaque at Bairat]]
This edict was the basis for the efforts at deciphering [[Brahmi]], led by [[James Prinsep]] in 1837.<ref>Proceedings of the Meetings of the Session, Volume 24, Indian Historical Records Commission, 1948 "the discovery at Bairat of the Asokan inscription which, in the hands of James Prinsep, became the key for unravelling and deciphering the edicts of King Piyadasi"</ref> A commemorative plaque is visible at the Asiatic Society.

The inscription of Asoka found from this region addresses the Buddhist monks. There must have been a considerable presence of the Buddhist monks in Bairat. But the centre must have declined in later period and a change in situation is recorded in the travelogue of Hieun-tsang who wrote that the popularity of Buddhism in Bairat was not what he had imagined it to be.

==Other circular temples==
[[File:Tall circular Buddhist temple, Early 1st Century CE - Mathura - ACCN 00-M3 - Government Museum - Mathura.jpg|thumb|Tall circular Buddhist temple, early 1st Century CE, [[Mathura Museum]].]]
Some of the earliest free-standing temples may have been of a circular type. [[Ashoka]] also built the [[Mahabodhi Temple]] in [[Bodh Gaya]] circa 250 BCE, also a circular structure, in order to protect the [[Bodhi tree]] under which the [[Buddha]] had found enlightenment. Representations of this early temple structure are found [[:File:Adoration_of_the_Diamond_Throne_and_the_Bodhi_Tree_Bharhut_relief.jpg|on a 100 BCE relief]] sculpted on the railing of the stupa at [[Bharhut|Bhārhut]], as well as in [[Sanchi]].<ref>"Sowing the Seeds of the Lotus: A Journey to the Great Pilgrimage Sites of Buddhism, Part I" by John C. Huntington. ''Orientations'', November 1985 pg 61</ref> From that period the [[Diamond throne]] remains, an almost intact slab of [[sandstone]] decorated with reliefs, which Ashoka had established at the foot of the [[Bodhi tree]].<ref name="Huu Phuoc">Buddhist Architecture, Huu Phuoc Le, Grafikol, 2010 [https://books.google.com/books?id=9jb364g4BvoC&pg=PA240 p.240]</ref><ref name="Ching">A Global History of Architecture, Francis D. K. Ching, Mark M. Jarzombek, Vikramaditya Prakash, John Wiley & Sons, 2017 [https://books.google.com/books?id=SPqKDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT570 p.570ff] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702125951/https://books.google.com/books?id=SPqKDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT570 |date=2 July 2023 }}</ref> These circular-type temples were also found in later rock-hewn caves such as [[Tulja Caves]] or [[Guntupalli Group of Buddhist Monuments|Guntupalli]].<ref name=BA233/>

<gallery>
File:Adoration_of_the_Diamond_Throne_and_the_Bodhi_Tree_Bharhut_relief.jpg|Ashoka's [[Mahabodhi Temple]] and [[Diamond throne]] in [[Bodh Gaya]], built circa 250 BCE. [[Bharhut]] frieze.
File:Bodhi tree temple depicted in Sanchi Stupa 1 Southern gateway.jpg|Bodhi tree temple depicted in Sanchi, Stupa 1, Southern gateway.
File:Andhra pradesh, santuario a più piani, da ghantasala, 90-110 ca..JPG|Relief of a multi-storied temple, 2nd century CE, [[Ghantasala, Krishna district|Ghantasala]] Stupa.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hardy|first1=Adam|title=Indian Temple Architecture: Form and Transformation: the Karṇāṭa Drāviḍa Tradition, 7th to 13th Centuries|date=1995|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=9788170173120|page=39|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aU0hCAS2-08C&pg=PA41|language=en|access-date=31 August 2018|archive-date=31 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031081848/https://books.google.com/books?id=aU0hCAS2-08C&pg=PA41#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Le|first1=Huu Phuoc|title=Buddhist Architecture|date=2010|publisher=Grafikol|isbn=9780984404308|page=238|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9jb364g4BvoC&pg=PA238|language=en|access-date=31 August 2018|archive-date=31 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031081849/https://books.google.com/books?id=9jb364g4BvoC&pg=PA238#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref>
File:Tulja Lena Chaitya remains.jpg|Remains of the circular rock-hewn circular [[Chaitya]] with columns, [[Tulja Caves]].
</gallery>

==Apsidal temples==
Another early free-standing temple in India, this time [[apsidal]] in shape, appears to be [[:Commons:category:Sanchi Temple 40|Temple 40]] at [[Sanchi]], which is also dated to the 3rd century BCE.<ref name="BA147">Buddhist Architecture, Lee Huu Phuoc, Grafikol 2010, p.147</ref> It was an [[apsidal]] temple built of timber on top of a high rectangular stone platform, 26.52x14x3.35 metres, with two flights of stairs to the east and the west. The temple was burnt down sometime in the 2nd century BCE.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Abram |first1=David |last2=(Firm) |first2=Rough Guides |title=The Rough Guide to India |date=2003 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=9781843530893 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kAMik_6LbwUC&pg=PA393 |language=en |access-date=31 August 2018 |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031092628/https://books.google.com/books?id=kAMik_6LbwUC&pg=PA393#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Marshall |first1=John |title=Guide to Sanchi |date=1955 |url=https://archive.org/stream/in.gov.ignca.4365/4365#page/n153/mode/2up}}</ref> This type of apsidal structure was also adopted for most of the cave temple ([[Chaitya-griha]]s), as in the 3rd century BCE [[Barabar Caves]] and most caves thereafter, with side, and then frontal, entrances.<ref name=BA233/> A freestanding apsidal temple remains to this day, although in a modified form, in the [[Trivikrama Temple]] in [[Ter, Maharashtra]].<ref name=BA>{{cite book |last1=Le |first1=Huu Phuoc |title=Buddhist Architecture |date=2010 |publisher=Grafikol |isbn=9780984404308 |page=237 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9jb364g4BvoC&pg=PA237 |language=en |access-date=31 August 2018 |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031092629/https://books.google.com/books?id=9jb364g4BvoC&pg=PA237#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Architecture|India|Religion}}
* [http://asijaipurcircle.nic.in/Bairat%20-%20Excavated%20site.html ASI notice]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* Chandra, Pramod (2008), ''South Asian arts'', Encyclopædia Britannica.

[[Category:Buddhist holy sites in India]]
[[Category:Edicts of Ashoka]]
[[Category:Buddhism in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Rajasthan]]

Bairat Temple - Revision history

Pickleballexpert at 23:24, 28 March 2026