BharatNotes Chaitya
nounUsage in a UPSC answer
The rock-cut chaityas of Karla and Ajanta are not mere relics of devotion but a window into early India's vibrant artisan economy and trade-funded patronage, and their conservation must therefore be read as a duty of cultural-heritage governance rather than as an antiquarian indulgence.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
chaitya (n), chaityas (n pl), chaitya-griha (n compound Sanskrit), chaitya arch (n compound)
Root
Sanskrit chaitya (चैत्य), from chita = funeral pyre/heap; evolved to denote sacred mound/shrine built over relics
Etymology
From Sanskrit chaitya (चैत्य), derived from chita ("funeral pyre, heap"), originally referring to the mound of ashes formed after cremation; over time it came to denote the sacred mound or shrine built over relics of a revered person.
Memory Hook
Hear "CHAI-tya" - picture pilgrims pausing for chai outside a great arched prayer hall; the Sanskrit root ci- ("to pile up") reminds you it began as a piled-up relic mound that grew into a shrine.
Seen in UPSC Question Papers
- Prelims 2013 — Ancient India
Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Chaitya” — proof this word earns its place on your list.
Tip: press Alt+S to hear pronunciation
