chaitya

A chaitya is a sacred place or object in Buddhism, often described as "that which is worthy to be gazed upon". Initially, chaityas were natural sites like trees or groves inhabited by earth spirits. By around 200 BC, they became gathering places for ascetics and pilgrimage centers for the laity.1

Later, these sites evolved into more permanent structures, with many chaityas carved directly into rock bluffs. These rock-cut chaityas typically feature a nave with aisles separated by pillars, supporting a roof. Often, a semicircular apse at one end houses a stupa, a domed structure for sacred objects and worship. The Karli chaitya-hall in western India is a notable example. The term can also refer more broadly to a shrine or monument in India.12