Exploring Temple Architecture and Styles in History

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B BA AJ JK KU UL L M MI IL LA AN NI I M MA AH HA AV VI ID DY YA AL LA AY YA A SACT SACT- -||, ||, DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY(UG&PG) DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY(UG&PG) PRESENTED BY: PRESENTED BY:- - SANATAN DAS SANATAN DAS Presentation title 2

Temple Architecture and Regional Styles A number of architectural texts were written in early medieval times. Known as Shilpa Shastras, these refer to three major styles of temple architecture. Nagara Basic plan is square with a number of projections in the middle of each side. DravidaThe most striking feature is the pyramidal shikhara, which consists of smaller storeys. VesaraIt is a hybrid style that borrowed from Northern and Western styles. Nagara School of Architecture Style of temple architecture that became popular in Northern India. A square temple with a number of graduated projections(Rathika's). A tower (shikhara) gradually curving inwards and capped by a spheroid slab with ribs round the edge (Amalaka) give the elevation. Prominent features were Shikaras (Spiral roofs). Garbhagriha (Sanctum) and Mandap (Pillared hall).

Sub Schools Developed under Nagara Style Sub-types of Nagara temples are depending on bases of temple architecture. There are Rekha as approved Phamsana and Vallabhi. Odisha School Most of the main temple sites are located in ancient and Konark in Odisha. Here, the Shikhara, called deul in Odisha, is vertical almost until the top when it suddenly curves sharply inwards. Deuls are preceded, as usual, by Mandapas called Jagamohana in Odisha. The ground plan of the main temple is square, which, in the upper reaches of its superstructure becomes circular in the crowning mastaka. The exterior of the temples are lavishly carved, their interiors generally quite bare. Odisha temples usually have boundary walls. Example: Konark temple, Jagannath temple and Linga raj temple. Presentation title 4

Chandel school Khajuraho's temples are known for their extensive erotic sculptures. Patronised by Chandela kings of Bundelkhand (10th and 11th century). Solanki School Patronised by Solanki kings (later Chalukya) of Gujarat (11th to 13th century). The Vimala, Tejpala and Vastupala temples at Mount Abu exhibit this style. Dilwara temple in Mt Abu - Highest Jain pilgrimage. Exquisite example is Sun Temple at Modhera, built by Raja Bhimdev-I of the Solanki Dynasty in 1026 AD. There is a massive rectangular stepped tank called the Suryakundin front of it. 108 miniature shrines are carved in between the steps inside the tank. A huge ornamental arch Torana leads one to the Sabha Mandapa (the assembly hall) which is open on all sides. Every year at the time of the equinoxes, the Sun shines directly into the central shrine. Presentation title 5

The Dravida or South Indian Temple Style The South Indian temple style is different from the Nagara temple. The chief features of Dravida temple can be summarised as follows The front wall has an entrance gateway in its center, which is known as Gopuram. The shape of the main temple tower known as Vimana is like a stepped pyramid that rises up geometrically rather than the curving Shikhara of North India. At the entrance to South Indian temple, it is usual to find sculptures of fierce Dwarapalas or the door keepers guarding the temple. It is common to find a large water reservoir or a temple tank. Subsidiary shrines are either incorporated within the main temple tower or located as distinct, separate small shrines beside the main temple. Presentation title 6

Deccan Architecture of Besara Style The different style of temple architecture influenced by the. both North and South Indian temples were evolved in the peninsula of Deccan. In some ancient texts, it is also known as Vesara. The major contributors in Deccan architectures were Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas and Chalukyas. Contribution of Pallav as in Temple Architecture The early temples of Pallav as were rock-cut, while the later ones were structural. The Shore temple at Mahabalipuram houses three shrines-two dedicated to Shiva in the East and the West and one dedicated to Vishnu in the middle as Anantashayana. Although, they were mostly Shaivite, several Vaishnava Shrines also survived from their reign and they were also influenced by the long Buddhist history of the Deccan. Pallava King Mahendravarman I introduced the rock-cut temple. The second stage of Pallav architecture is represented by the monolithic rat has and mandapas found at Malappuram. Shore temple and Panchrathas at Mahabalipuram is an example of monolithic Indian rock-cut architecture. Contribution of Cholas in Temple Architecture The magnificent Shiva temple of Thanjavur, called the Brihadeshwara temple was completed by Rajaraja I and is the largest and tallest of all Indian temples. Bigger in scale than anything built by their predecessors, the Pallav as, Chalukyas or Pandyas, this Chola temples' pyramidal multi-storeyed Vimana rises a massive seventy metres, topped by a monolithic shikhara which is an octagonal dome-shaped stupika. It is in this temple that for the first time, two large gopuras with an elaborate sculptural programme were noticed. The main deity of the temple is Shiva who is shown as a huge lingam set in two storeyed sanctum. Presentation title 7

Temple Architecture under Rashtrakuta The greatest achievement of Rashtrakutas in architecture is the Kailashnath temple at Ellora, a culmination of atleast a millennium-long tradition in the rock-cut architecture in India. It is carved out of a monolithic hill and is a complete Dravida building with a Nandi shrine and the temples are dedicated to Shiva and Jainas. The sculpture of the Rashtra Uta phase at Ellora is dynamic, infused with unparalleled grandeur and the most overwhelming energy. Jain Narayan temple at Pattadakal, Karnataka, is an example of temple architecture under Rashtra Uta. Temple Architecture under Chalukyas The hybridisation and incorporation of several styles was the hallmark of Chalukyan temple architecture. While early Chalukyan activity was in form of rock-cut caves, the later activity is of structural temples. Temple at Pattadakal, Durga temple at Aihole and Lad Khan temple at Aihole are some of the unique temples of this period. The Durga temple at Aihole is unique, as it has an earlier style of an apsidal shrine which is reminiscent of Buddhist Chaitya halls and is surrounded by a veranda with a Shikhara, that is stylistically like Nagara. The uniqueness of Lad Khan temple at Aihole can be seen in the form of inspiration from the wooden-looked temples of the hills, even though it is constructed of stones. Presentation title 8

Temple Architecture under Hoysalas The waning of Chola and Pandya power gave rise to Hoysalas of Karnataka who became the most important patrons centered at Mysore. The three important temple of Hoysalas are the temples at Belur, Halebidu and Somnath Puram. The most characteristic feature of these temples is that they grow extremely complex with so many projecting angles that plan of these temples starts looking like a star, and hence, is known as stellate plan. These temples are made out of soap stone, which is a relatively soft stone and hence, the artists were able to carve the sculptures intricately. Presentation title 9

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