Vihāra
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Vihāra generally refers to a Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery for Buddhist renunciates, mostly in the Indian subcontinent. The concept is ancient and in early Pali texts, it meant any arrangement
Mahabodhi Temple in India.
Kanha Cave vihara in the Nasik Caves, 1st century BCE, is one of the earliest.
Cave 12, Ellora, a late multi-story rock-cut vihara. Further decoration of the pillars was probably intended.
Cave 12, Ajanta Caves, cell entries off a vihara hall
Ajanta Caves
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The Ajanta Caves are 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments dating from the second century BCE to about 480 CE in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state in India. Ajanta Caves are a UNESCO World Herita
Vihāra
…a shrine cell set back at the centre of the back wall, containing a stupa in early examples, or a Buddha statue later. Typical large sites such as the Ajanta Caves, Aurangabad Caves, Karli Caves, and Kanheri Caves contain several viharas. Some included a chaitya or worship hall nearby. The vihara originated as a…
The Ajanta Caves
Cave 19, Ajanta 5th-century chaitya hall.
Panoramic view of Ajanta Caves from the nearby hill
Cave 9, a first-period Hinayana-style chaitya worship hall with stupa but no idols