South indian architecture

history of architecture

1. South Indian Architecture Submitted to: Ar. Kirti Varandani Submitted by: Akash Bhardwaj Sanjana Moondra Tanmay Goyal Yash Baradia

2. Evolution and Growth of the Dravidian Architectural Language The rule of Chalukyas marks a great milestone in the history of south India. (6 th century) Was also known as the golden age of Karnataka. Were mostly interested in building temples. It has its own style of temple architecture known as Chalukyas architecture. They built a no. of rock cut cave temples for lord Shiva , Vishnu and Brahama . Mainly originated in Aihole and Badami and perfected in Pattadakal and Mahakuta .

3. Hinduism Polytheistic religion (worship many gods and goddesses) Goal is to achieve moksa --by praying, worshipping ( darsana ) and giving offering to gods Each god has a female companion and rides on vehicle such as bull (Nandi), lion, goose; each holds some attributes (Siva: tridents and Vishnu: conch shell and wheel)

4. Triad Brahma-God of Creator Vishnu-God of Preserver (has many incarnations such as Rama and Krishna) Shiva-God of Destroyer (also the protector of animals) Devi-goddess (e.g., Laksmi (“Good Fortune”) and Parvati ); symbolizing beauty, benevolent, and wealth as well as power and wrath

5. Shiva as Nataraja , Lord of the Dance, Chola , 11-12th C

6. Vastu-purusa mandala A myth explains the symbolic diagram (mandala): the gods in seeking to impose order on chaos, forced the primeval man, Purusa , into a square grid, the vastu-purusa mandala, whose basic unit is the square pada Hindu temple is the dwelling of the gods. It is based on the grid systems of 64 (8x8) and 81 (9x9) squares. Square is the prefect shape for the ground plan. Priests perform ritual of consecrations which connect between sexual rites and fertility in Hindu architecture.

7. Hindu temples The temple is a holy site ( tirtha ), where they practitioners can perform circumambulation ( pradaksina ). They also perform the pious act of gazing at the deity ( darsan ) and offering prayers, flowers and food (puja). The temple is never a meeting place for a congregation, but it came to be a focal point of the community. The heart of the temple is the dark hall called garbha grha (womb hall), where the most important icon is placed. It is the most important area. Pillared halls ( mandapa ) and porticos were added to the garbha grha , which was surmounted with a tower ( sikhara )-- center of the universe (axis mundi).

8. Vastu-purusa mandala

9. Media and ornaments Many varieties: wood, brick, terracotta, and variety of stone (e.g., schist, chlorite, marble) Temples required to be heavily ornamented (things lacking in ornament were considered imperfect or incomplete. Motifs: narrative reliefs, animal motifs, floral and vegetation motifs.

10. DRAVIDIAN ARCHITECTURE •The south India was little affected by outside invasions. It enjoyed full freedom. •Hence Dravidian architecture developed into its own form and tradition . •Temples were not only place of worship but also center of learning . Along with elaborate religious rituals, festivals, performances of dances, dramas based on religious theme were continued. •Dravidians being fine craftsman ,temples were designed most elegantly with great interest to display ornamentation and fine art that covered every part of the temple. •Dravidian architecture which dates back from 600 AD to 1000 AD may broadly be divided into rock cut monuments to structural monuments .

11. EVOLUTION OF THE GOPURAM TEMPLE AND GROWTH OF TEMPLE CITIES GOPURAM IS A MONUMENTAL TOWER , USUALLY ORANTE AT THE ENTRANCE OF ANY TEMPLE ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHERN INDIA .

12. GOPURAMS ARE EXTREMELY BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED WITH SCULPTURE AND CARVINGS AND PAINTED WITH AVARITY OF THEMES DERIVED FROM THE HINDU MYTHOLOGY.

13. SRI RANGANATHASWAMY TEMPLE The Srirangam Temple is the largest temple in Asia and it houses the tallest gopuram (240ft) in the country. The temple occupies an area of 156 acres.

14. NANJUNDESHWARA TEMPLE This is known as Dakshin Kashi or Kashi of South. Its height is 122ft. It is the smallest gopuram

15. ARCHITECTURAL STYLE Also known as Dravidian Style of architecture. Temples with pyramid shaped towers Elements The porches or  Mantapas , which always cover and precede the door leading to the cell. Gate-pyramids,  Gopuras , which are the principal features in the quadrangular enclosures that surround the more notable temples . Gopuras are very common in dravidian temples. Pillared halls ( Chaultris  or  Chawadis ) are used for many purposes and are the invariable accompaniments of these temples. Usually has a tank called the  Kalyani  or  Pushkarni   – to be used for sacred purposes or the convenience of the priests – dwellings for all the grades of the priesthood are attached to it, and other buildings for state or convenience Constructed of sandstone, soapstone or granite

16. Influences from different periods: PALLAVA Pallava architecture are the rock- cut of temples at Mahabalipuram   Towered sanctuary and  mandapa  (columned hall preceding the sanctuary) CHOLA Rising pyramid towers crowned with dome-like roofs. Sculptures and paintings adorn the walls. Bronze sculptures of this era are the finest in southern India HOYSALA Complicated plans with numerous angled projections Columns are lathe-turned or are multi-faceted VIJAYNAGARA Concentric series of rectangular enclosure walls with the  gopuras  (towered gateways) in the middle of each side Because of the heavy rainfall, the temples here were roofed with sloping tiers of metal or Terra cotta tiles

17. DRAVIDIAN TEMPLES

18. DURGA TEMPLE, AIHOLE

19. Durga temple Aihole - Small village on the banks of river malaprabha , 125 temples. Was roughly built between 7 th and 8 th century. The architecture of the temple is predominantly Dravida with Nagara style also is used in certain areas An incomplete tower perches on the roof above the sanctuary. Name refers to the godess and at one time was used as a military outpost. Not known to which deity the temple was originaaly dedicated. Has its entrance in the east. The temple’s unusual form is thought to intimate the earlier Buddhist chaitya’s hall. An inner wall is provided, a colonnaded corridor runs around the temple enveloping the shrine which allows parikrama . Coloumns are decorated with couple structures. Intricate lattice windows and riot of carvings is provided on the walls and ceilings.

20. Ceiling articulation: The medallion depicts a lotus pond, a school of fish encircled by lotus plants, converges radially to a central nub. A naga king, with his body encoiled in a circle is accompanied by female attendants. In his right hand he carries a garland and in his left hand he has a offering platter.

21. LAD KHAN TEMPLE, AIHOLE

22. LAD KHAN TEMPLE, AIHOLE Was built around 450 AD and got its name from a muslim prince who converted it into a residence. Is located close to Durga temple. Special feature is starts with a rectangular structure and end on a square structure. Unusual plan. The temple is approached by a porch with 12 pillars. The porch fronts a square mandapa . In the centre of it a nandi faces the interior shrine and a rooftop shrine is positioned over the centre of the mandapa . Plane square shaft pillars and have a bracket capital with neck and wave moulding. On the roof a square aedicule has the reliefs of Vishnu, surya and devi . Disproportionate structures.

23. Windows were filled with lattice work in the northern style and the sanctum was added later on. North , south and east side have windows for light. The main shrine has a shivalinga along with nandi . Above the centre of the hall facing the sanctum, another smaller sanctum is built with images carved on the outer wall . Roofing: Roofed with huge slabs of stones which are almost flat and are inclined to permit runoff. Carried on pillars and corbels in imitation of a wood frame structure. Stone battens between the stones make it watertight.

24. RATHAS, M ahabalipuram

25. RATHAS RATHAS are small shrines carved out of a monolithic rock. In general Ratha is known as chariot used for carrying the image of the deity during religious procession. But here in Pallava style it commonly refers to a monolithic shrine which contains all the essential features of a temple including domed storey to shikhara .

26. There are series of 7 monolithic Rathas ,chiseled out of big boulders at Mahablipuram . The five rathas are known as Panch Pandav rathas after the 5 sons of Pandu , king of Hastinapur . These are Dharmaraja , Bhima , Arjuna , Nakula and Sahdev Rathas . There is also a Draupadi’s Rathas , named after a common wife of five Pandava brothers.

27. Draupadi’s Rathas Draupadi’s Ratha is the smallest and well finished .it is entirely rock cut and stands on a square plinth of 3.5 m and has a vaulted roof, evidently derived from the hut with a straw roof . • It is 6 m high . • In the Ratha the image of Draupadi is enshrined as a goddess of Lakshmi . • There are monolithic carving of lion on Its west faces whereas that of Nandi or Shiva’s Bull on the east face of this Ratha .

28. Arjun’s Rathas Arjun’s Ratha lies to the south of Draupadi’s Rathas . It is planned like Buddhist vihara . Measuring 3.5m x3.5m and rising to a height of 6.6 m . Its shikhara ( Vimana ) is built in four tiers containing little heads set in the horse-shoe shaped arches which are characteristics .

29. Bhima ’s Rathas It sands on rectangular platform measuring 13m x 7.6m and Vimana rises to a height of 8m. The approach is through a double row of carved columns. It has a pillared gallery running all around the roof which is like the Buddhist vault.

30. Dharmaraja ’s Rathas It is carved similar to Arjuna Ratha and is the tallest . It stands on the plan of 8mx9m and vimana rises to a height of 12 m in four storey's.

31. Nakula and Sahadeva ’s Rathas The Ratha is based on ‘Chaitya Hall’ of Buddhist temple with an apsidal end on the south side and double pillared portico on the north side. Its plinth measures 5.5m 3.35m and rises to a ht of 5m in four tiers . The roof is elaborately carved.

32. Plan of Arjuna Rath Plan of Nakula Sahdeva Rath Plan of Dharmaraja Rath Plan of Bhima Rath

33. GANESHA RATHA

34. SHORE TEMPLE AT MAHABALIPURAM

35. SHORE TEMPLE AT MAHABALIPURAM  It is believed that there were seven magnificent temples what are known as the seven pagodas, built near the sea shore. But the only survivor is the shore temples. It was originally constructed during the 7th century and later it was Narasimha Varman II, ( Rajasimha ) who completed the skilled work in his rule. This is one of the oldest of the south Indian Temples which were structural temples constructed in the natural Dravidian style. This shore temple has gained popularity and tourists gather here because it has been listed among the world heritage sites of the UNESCO. The temple is full of designs made by carvings.           

36. There are three temples of which two Shiva Temples face east and west respectively. The other one is the Vishnu Temple. The Vishnu temples were built by Narasimha Varman I and the other two were built by Narasimha Varman II. One can find the beautifully carved twin Dwarka Palaks (gate keepers) at the entrance of the east facing Shiva Temples. On both sides of the temple inside are the marvelous sculptures of Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu with their better halves. The top part of the Shivalinga figure inside the temple is found damaged. There are sculptures of Somaskanda - lord Shiva with his better half, Parvati , and his sons, Skanda and Ganesha are found on the near wall. Apart from Lord Shiva’s sculpture, one can find the sculptures of Narasimha and Goddess Durga also.

37.   The central shrine is in the form of a rectangle . It has a magnificent statue of lord Vishnu which is known as Sthala Shayana Perumal or Ananthasayana which means sleeping Vishnu . The peculiarity about this particular temple is - Vishnu reclines on the floor listening silently the sounds of names. The figure of Vishnu is found in segments which are to be looked through various doors . The other sculpture is portrayed in such a way that Lord Vishnu seated in mount Garuda helping Gajendra , the elephant, found in the southern wall and the northern wall is the portrayals from the life of lord Krishna. The grand temple is surrounded by mandapas and compound walls. There is a rock-cut of a lion rode by two young women. The lion has a small cut, a square shaped cut in its belly. There is also a carving of a buffalo demon running with a stick in his hand, located in the northern side.

38. KAILASH TEMPLE, Ellora

39. The Kailasa or Kailasanatha temple is one of the largest rock cut ancient Hindu temples located in Ellora, Maharashtra, INDIA. Plan of the Kailasa approximates in area that of the Parthenon at Athens. In its plan and general arrangements the Kailasa bears a certain resemblance to the Virupaksha temple at Pattadakal. This is the only temple in the world where a mountain cut and this is called Cut out moduler technique used in kailasa temple.

40. KAILASH TEMPLE PLAN

41. A mandapa, 26 feet square and two storeys in height. It has been carved in front of the court. The lower storey of the mandapa is solid, and the upper one is connected with the gopura and with the temple by bridges cut in the rock. Figures of lions and fat dwarfs are placed on the roofs of the gopura, of the Nandi mandapa, and of the great hall itself. They stand about 4 feet high, and are executed in the same bold style as the figures of lions and elephants round the base of the temple.

42. SECTION

43. MAHABHARATA PANEL On the northern wall of the sabha-mandapa has been carved with the scenes from Mahabharata. These panels are in seven rows. The lower two rows depict the childhood exploits of Krishna and the above five rows scenes of Arjuna's penance, the Kirata-Arjuna fight, and episodes from the Mahabharata war.

44. RAMAYANA PANEL The Ramayana panel in the southern wall of the sabha-mandapa is portrayed a number of scenes again in seven rows. The scenes of Rama's departure from Ayodhya, Bharata trying to persuade him to return. In continuation, the forest scenes of Shurpanakha, depiction of abduction of Sita by Ravana. Rama meeting Hanumana, Hanumana crossing the ocean to reach Lanka, the Ashokavana, the scene in the court of Ravana, and the last row the monkey army building a bridge of stones to reach Lanka

45. CHENNAKESHWARA TEMPLE, BELUR

46. Hoysala Architecture style Built on the banks of the  Yagachi River Main entrance to the complex is crowned by a   Rajagopura ( superstructure over entrance ) Chennakesava temple is chloritic schist, more commonly known as (soapstone) or potstone T emple is ekakuta   vimana   design (single shrine) of 10.5 m by 10.5 m size The vimana (shrine) is at the back of the  mantapa

47. Two main   sthambha   ( pillar) exist here. The pillar facing the main temple, the Garuda (eagle)  P illar on the right, the  Deepa sthambha  (pillar with lamp)   It has three entrances and their doorways have decorated sculptures called  dvarapalaka  (doorkeepers) on either side.

48. There are some sixty large sculptures of deities from both Vaishnava and Shaiva faiths Rich diversity about the pillar styles here. F orty eight pillars are unique and the many ceiling sections are well decorated F our pillars bear  madanikas  (Salabhanjika–celestial damsels)

49. CHENNA KESHWA TEMPLE, SOMNATHPUR

50. Hoysala Architecture style The ceiling of the  mantapa  (hall) is supported by lathe turned pillars  T hree shrines One shrine has the image of the god Keshava The other two shrines house images of Janardhana and Venugopala (all three images are forms of the Hindu god Vishnu) Intricate carvings of jewellery, such as pendants, necklaces, waistbands and rings and of woman sporting hair styles that were in vogue

51. Names of many architects and sculptors are etched on stone   High walled enclosure and the entrance to the complex is through a porch with tall lathe-turned pillars Material used for the temple is soapstone (Green schist) Symmetrical architecture Built by the famous architect and sculptor Ruvari Malithamma .

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