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328
Lord Mahavira and His Times
these literary works. The material employed in constructing even ordinary dwelling houses was wood. References to bricks, both burnt and unburnt, are found. Rhys DAVIDS is of opinion that in earlier times "the superstructure of all dwellings was either of wood-work or brick-work." The Vinaya Pițaka, compiled not long after the Parinirvana of Buddha, makes men. tion of Buddha's permission that his disciples might use bricks in the basement of their halls, stairs and roofings of palaces.
The use of stone for architectural purpose during this period is a controversial matter. Scholars generally believe that stone was not used in Indian architecture before the third century B.C. as no definite archaeological evidence is now available in this connection, Rhys DAVIDS3 notices that "in the books referring to this earlier period, there is no mention of stone except for pillars or staircases. A palace of stone is only once mentioned and that is in a fairy land. This palace of stone has been referred to in connection with a Jataka story”.4
This view does not seem to be reasonable. There are some literary references to a few stone buildings which may safely be accepted as reliable evidence of the fact that the .ancient Indians knew how to use stone in architecture even in the sixth century B.C. Direct references to the use of stone may be found in the Jātakas also. We read of bascs of pillars like mortars of stones, thrones of yellow marble, hill forts or Giridurga, stone cutters and stone pillars. In thc Vinayn rules, the Buddha allowed his disciples to make use of stone not only in the basements of their halls, stairs, flooring and walls but also in the roofing of their houses. This literary evidence proves the existence of stone buildings in the sixth
1. RBI. p. 65. 2. Che, V. 11. 6; VI.; 3.11. 3. RBI, p. 63. 4. Ja. Vo. 515. 5. ibid. Vo. 514. f. Ibid. 519. 7. Ibid 310. 8. Ibid, 470. 9. C:. VI. 3. ll.
