Temple Architecture Flashcards
Intro - temple architecture
- First Hindu temples were built from rock-cut caves. Then, with the arrival of Gupta architecture, the first free-standing Hindu temples were constructed.
- Architectural principles of temples in India are described in Shilpa Shastra. Shilpa Shastra mentions three main type of temple architecture - Nagara or Northern style, Dravida or Southern style & Vesara or Mixed style.
Basic features of Hindu Temples
- Shikhara is a vital element of Hindu temples in both north and south India. They are miniature towers placed on top of each other.
- Major elements of Hindu temples are -
* 3. Garbhagriha - where the idol is placed
* 4. Mandapa - pillared hall which lied in front of Garbagriha
* 5. Ardhamandapa - lies next to Mandapa
* 6. Antarala - joins Garbhagriha and Mandapa
* 7. Pradakhsinapatha - It is a gallery that surrounds Garbhagriha meant for Parikrama. - Many Hindu temples are made in the Panchatayana style i.e. a temple that has a central shrine surrounded by four other shrines. Ex. Brihadeshvara temple, Odisha.
Nagara style of temple Architecture
From 5th ce AD onwards, a distinct style of temple architecture developed in the Norther part of India, known as the Nagara style of Architecture.
1. Some of the features of Nagara style are -
* The temples generally followed Panchaytan style of temple.
* Presence of assembly halls or mandaps in front of the principal shrine.
* The Garbagriha is always located directly under the tallest tower.
* Outside the Garbhagriha, images of the river godesses Ganga and Yamuna are placed.
* Generally, there were no water tanks or reservoirs present in the temple premises.
* Temples were generally built on upraised platforms with steps leading upto it.
* They do not have elaborate boundary walss or gateways.
* The porticos had a pillared approach
Ex. Kandariya Mahadeva (Khajuraho temple), Jagannath Temple (Puri), Dashavtara Temple (Deogarh), Sun temple at Konark.
Diagram vv important
Dravida style or Chola style of Temple architecture
- From the 7th CE, the Dravida or Southern style developed. The shape of the main temple tower, known as Vimana, is like a stepped pyramid.
- Generally, it is not built on a stone platform.
- Unlike the Nagara temple, the Dravida temple is enclosed within a compound wall. The front wall has an entrance gateway in its centre, which is known as gopuram.
- Unlike Nagara style, at some of the most sacred temples in South India, the main temple in which the garbhagriha is situated has, in fact, one of the smallest towers.
- It is common to find a large water reservoir, or a temple tank, enclosed within the complex.
- Sculpture of fierce dvarapalas guarding the temple is generally a common feature.
- Ex. - Shore temple (Mahabalipuram), Brihadeswara Temple (Thanjavur), Meenakshi temple (Madurai).
Vesara Temple Architecture
- Vesara style of temple architecture emerged during the reign of Chalukyan rulers.
- It is hybrid temple architecture. It has features of both the Nagara and Dravidian style of temple architecture.
- It is mainly found in Deccan and Central India regions.
- The main important feature of the Vesara style is that they have Northern Indian style (Nagara style) of Shikhara, and the Mandap (main shrine) are joint by the Antarala. So, the temple do not have ambulatory passageways around the Sanctum Sanctorum.
- Example - Lad Khan temple Aihole, Temples at Badami.
Kakatiya Temple Architecture
- Ramappa temple is a masterpiece of Kakatiyan style of temple architecture. It has recently been accorded the WHS by UNESCO.
- Temple is constructed using sandstone.
- The temple has decorated beams and pillars of carved granite and dolerite.
- It has a distinctive pyramidical Vimana which appears horizontally.
- Stepped tower made of lightweight porous bricks, called as floating bricks which help reduce weight of the roof.
- Floating bricks - Kakatiyas have pioneered a unique brick making technology by which high strength bricks of very low weights could be manufactured.
- Sculptures - Temple sculptures are of high artistic quality. They illustrate regional dance, customs and Kakatiyan culture.
- The sculptures have a metal like finish with its lustre intact even after 800 years of completion.
- Sand box technique - The foundation of temple of the temple is built using the sand box technique which is unique of Kakatiyan temple architecture.
- Other important Kakatiyan period structure are - Keerthi Thoranas of Warangal and Temple of Thousand Pillars at Hanumakonda.
Chola Temple Architecture (Intro)
- Under the patronage of Cholas, hundreds of temples were built in South India. Temple Construction reached its zenith during the Chola Period.
- It was a continuation of previous Pallava architecture with some variation.
Notable features of Chola Architecture
- Started using stones instead of bricks.
- Walls were decorated with sculptures and paintings of deities, kings and queens. Some of the Chola temples contain life sized potraits of kings and queens.
- They also have an audience hall known as mandap.
- The deity room is known as Garghgriha.
- The cheif featrue is the Vimana which is 5-7 storeys above chief deity room. In Brihadeshwara temple the vimana is close to 70m.
- Shikhara above the vimana. Rajarajeshwara temple has Shikhara sone weighing almost 90 tonnes.
- Chola temple pillars were constructed with greater refinement than Pallavas.
- Metal art showed remarkable development and was used for further decoration of temples. Ex. Nataraja Sculpture
- Monolithic Nandi bull is 2nd largest in India after Lepakshi temple Nandi bull.
Four Stages of Architecture (Pallavas)
Temple architecture in South India began under the Pallava ruler Mahendravarman. Temples reflected the stylistic taste of individual rulers and can be classified into four stages -
1. Mahendravarman - rock cut temples. They were known as mandapas.
2. Narasimhavarman - Rock cut temples decorated with intricate sculptures. Mandapas were now divided into sperate rathas. Biggest was calle Dharmaraja and smalllest Draupadi Ratha. Dravidian style is succesor of Dharmaraja Ratha. Ex. Panchapandava rathas at Mamallapuram.
3. Rajasimha - Development of Real structural temples started in place of rock cut temples. Ex. Shore temple at Mahabalipuram, Kailashnath Temple at Kanchipuram.
4. Nandivarman - Temples were smaller in size being almost similar to Dravidian style of temple architecture. These were structural temples built by the later Pallavas. The Vaikundaperumal temple, Muktheeswara temple, and the Matagenswara temples at Kanchipuram belong to this stage of architecture.
Solanki School (Maru Gurjara style)
In the North West part of India (Guj and Raj), this school developed under the patronage of Solanki rulers. The features of this school are -
1. The temple walls were devoid of any carvings.
2. The porticos had decorated arched gateways known as torans.
3. A unique feature is the presence of step tank, known as suryakund in the proximity of temple.
4. steps of tanks full of small temples with wooden carvings
5. materials used - sandstone, black basalt and soft marble.
6. Most of the temples are east facing and designed such that every year during equinoxes, the sun rays fall directly into the central shrine.
Ex. - Modhera Sun temple, Guj.
