INDIAN ARCH Flashcards
river Indus and Ganges
Himalayas, Everest mountain
Surrounded by seas and Indian Ocean
GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITION
rich in timber
some parts available in white marble, rock-cut temples
GEOLOGICAL CONDITION
half lies in Tropic Cancer
CLIMATIC CONDITION
RELIGIOUS CONDITION
Hinduism - aryans and dravidians
Jain - “nirvana”(pure happiness) mahaveer or vadhaman
Buddhist - siddharta gautama “ultimate nirvana”
earliest known civilization
INDUS VALLEY
Variety of house types many of which had “private baths”
connected to the drainage systems
HARAPPA & MOJENJO DARO
WHAT MAKES INDIAN ARCH UNIQUE?
- ARCH
- WELL PLANED CITIES AND HOUSES
- DRAINAGE SYSTEMS
Main economic activity
Agriculture
Houses were made by
clay bricks
Their leaders were
priest-kings
Their religion is
Animism and Polytheism
“mountain peak”
* “North Indian temple architecture”
- These are the peaks of the towers rising from the
core of Hindu Temple.
- These towers are always extravagantly decorated.
- They vary in shape throughout the country
SIKHARAS
3 KINDS OF SIKHARAS
(1) LATINA
(2) PHAMSANA
(3) VALABHI
- It has a square base.
- It is the simple and the
most common type. - Mostly used for
Garbhagriha.
LATINA
- It has a broader base.
- Shorter in height than the Latina
- Mostly used for
Mandapa.
PHAMSANA
It has a rectangular
base.
* Roof that rises into a
vaulted chambers.
* Known as wagon
vaulted buildings
VALABHI
Northern India
* The entire temple is built on high stone platforms.
* Generally, they do not have large enclosures and
entrances.
* The temple had only one peak or shikhara above the
Garbagriha.
NAGARA TEMPLE STYLE
Southern India
*Gopuram on the front wall.
* Like a stepped pyramid that rises up geometrically rather than the curving shikhara of North India
*Common to find a large water reservoir, or a temple tank, enclosed within the complex
DRAVIDIAN TEMPLE STYLE
door-keepers guarding the temple adorn the entrance to garbhagriha
FIERCE DVARAPALAS
one of the smallest towers. This is because it is usually the oldest part of the temple
GARBHAGRIHA
PILLARS/COLUMNS
- Stambha/Lats
- Ashoka Pillars
- Indian Columns with carved
inscriptions. - Figures of animals represents
guardians of four quarters of
universe. - ELEPHANT
- BULL
- HORSE
- LION
STAMBHA/LATS
SUPPORTS A METAL WHEEL WITH
24 SPOKES
* CAPITAL (MORE THAN 2M HIGH) –
SHAPE OF AN INVERTED BELL /
LOTUS BUB WITH FLUTED PETALS
ASHOKA PILLARS
- a shrine that represents
the sacred Mount Meru, as well as
providing a sanctuary for relics of the
Buddha. - They have four r ceremonial gates to
the shrine.
STUPAS
elaborate stone carved entrance gate to stupa enclosure
TORANA
a railing enclosing a sacred area, as a stupa
VEDIKA
“Umbrellas,” referring to the open air cupolas on stilts.
CHATTRI
PEDESTIAN PATH
MEDHI
DECORATIVE BALCONY
HARMIKA
DOME(STUPA)
ANDA
UPPER LEVEL WALKWAY
PRADAKSHINA
