HINDU ARCHITECTURE

INTRODUCTION India's Hindu temple architecture is developed from the

creativity of STHAPATHIS and SHILPIS, both of whom belong to the larger community of craftsmen and artisans

called Vishwakarma (caste). A small Hindu temple consists of an inner sanctum, the GARBHA GRAHA or

WOMB-CHAMBER, in which the idol or deity is housed, often called circumambulation, a CONGREGATION HALL,

and sometimes an ANTECHAMBER and PORCH. The garbha graha is crowned by a tower-like SHIKARA. All the Hindu temples in India follows the architecture defined in Shilpa Shastras. However, there are artistic variations in terms of construction of shikara depending on regional

culture.

CHALUKYAN’S ARCHITECTURE

HISTORYThe CHALUKYAN DYNASTY was an Indian royal dynasty that ruled large

parts of SOUTHERN and CENTRAL INDIA between the 6th and the 12th centuries. During this period, they ruled as three related yet individual dynasties. The earliest dynasty, known as the "BADAMI

CHALUKYAS", ruled from vatapi (modern BADAMI) from the middle of the 6th century.

After the death of pulakesi II, the EASTERN CHALUKYAS became an independent kingdom in THE EASTERN DECCAN . They ruled from

VENGI until about the 11th century. In the Western Deccan, the rise of the RASHTRAKUTAS in the middle of

the 8th century eclipsed the chalukyas of badami before being revived by their descendants, the WESTERN CHALUKYAS, in the late 10th century. These western chalukyas ruled from kalyani (modern

BASAVAKALYAN) until the end of the 12th century

ARCHITECTURE• The Badami Chalukya era was an important period in the

development of South Indian architecture. Their style of architecture is called "Chalukyan architecture" or "Karnata Dravida architecture". Nearly a hundred monuments built by them, rock cut (cave) and structural, are found in the

Malaprabha river basin in modern Bagalkot district of northern Karnataka. The building material they used was a reddish-golden Sandstone found locally. Though they ruled a vast empire, the Chalukyan workshops concentrated most

of their temple building activity in a relatively small area within the Chalukyan heartland – Aihole, Badami,

Pattadakal and Mahakuta in modern Karnataka state.

Their temple building activity can be categorised into THREE PHASES. The EARLY PHASE began in the last quarter of the 6th century and resulted in many cave temples, prominent among which are three elementary cave temples at Aihole

(one Vedic, one Jain and one Buddhist which is incomplete), followed by four developed cave temples at Badami. These cave temples at Badami are similar, in that, each has a plain

exterior but an exceptionally well finished interior consisting of a pillared verandah, a columned hall (

mantapa) and a cella (shrine, cut deep into rock) which contains the deity of worship. In Badami, three caves temples are Vedic and one in Jain. The Vedic temples

contain large well sculpted images of Harihara, Mahishasuramardhini, Varaha, Narasimha, Trivikrama,

Vishnu seated on Anantha(the snake) and Nataraja (dancing Shiva).

The second phase of temple building was at Aihole (where some seventy structures exist and has been called "one of the cradles of Indian temple architecture"]) and Badami. The beginnings of these constructions are from c. 600.These are the Lad Khan Temple with its interesting perforated stone windows and sculptures of river goddesses; the Meguti Jain Temple which shows progress in structural design; the Durga Temple with its northern Indian style tower (8th century) and experiments to adapt a Buddhist Chaitya design to a brahminical one; the Huccimalli Gudi Temple with a new inclusion, a vestibule (a passage between the outer door and the interior of the building), connecting the sanctum to the hall.The reign of Western Chalukyas was an important period in the development of Deccan architecture. Their architecture

served as a conceptual link between the Badami Chalukya architecture of the 8th century and the Hoysala architecture popularised in the 13th century. The centre of their cultural and temple-building activity lay in the Tungabhadra region of

modern Karnataka state, encompassing the present-day Dharwad district. Here, large medieval workshops built

numerous monuments. These monuments, regional variants of pre-existing dravida temples, defined the Karnata

dravida tradition.

TEMPLE OF ORISSA

Odisha, formerly known as Orissa is an Indian state on the subcontinent's east

coast, by the Bay of Bengal.The two famous and main temples of orissa are- KONARK SUN TEMPLE and

JAGANNATH TEMPLE.

KONARK SUN TEMPLE-Konark Sun Temple is a 13th century Sun Temple (also known

as the Black Pagoda), at Konark, in Odisha, India. It has been built in the shape of a gigantic chariot with

elaborately carved stone wheels, pillars and walls. A major part of the structure is now in ruins.

The temple was originally built at the mouth of the river CHANDRABHAGA, but the waterline has receded since then. The temple has been built in the form of a giant

ornamented chariot of the Sun god, Surya. It has twelve pairs of elaborately carved stone wheels some of which are

3 meters wide and is pulled by seven pairs of horses. The temple follows the traditional style of Kalinga architecture. It is carefully oriented towards the east so that the first rays

of sunrise strikes the principal entrance. The temple is built from Khondalite rocks.The original temple had a main sanctum sanctorum (vimana), which was supposedly 229 feet (70 m) tall. But it has fallen off. The audience hall (Jagamohana), which is about 128 feet (30 m) tall, still stands and is the principal structure in the surviving ruins. Among the structures, which have survived to the current day, are the dance hall (Nata mandira) and dining hall (Bhoga mandapa). The Konark temple is also known for its erotic sculptures of maithunas. Two smaller ruined temples have been discovered nearby. One of them is called the Mayadevi Temple and is located southwest from the entrance of the main temple. It is presumed to have been dedicated to , one of the Sun god's wives.

JAGANNATH TEMPLE-The Jagannath Temple in Puri is a famous Hindu temple

dedicated to Jagannath and located in the coastal town of Puri in the state of Odisha, India. The name Jagannath (Lord

of the Universe) is a combination of the Sanskrit words Jagat (Universe) and Nath (Lord of).

The huge temple complex covers an area of over 400,000 square feet (37,000 m2), and is surrounded by a high fortified

wall. This 20 feet (6.1 m) high wall is known as Meghanada Pacheri. Another wall known as kurma bedha surrounds the main temple. It contains at least 120 temples and shrines. With its sculptural richness and fluidity of the Oriya style of

temple architecture, it is one of the most magnificent monuments of India. The temple has four distinct sectional

structures, namely -1. Deula, Vimana or Garba griha (Sanctum sanctorum) where

the triad deities are lodged on the ratnavedi (Throne of Pearls).

2. Mukhashala (Frontal porch);3. Nata mandir/Natamandapa, which is also known as the

Jagamohan (Audience Hall/Dancing Hall), and4. Bhoga Mandapa (Offerings Hall).

The main temple is a curvilinear temple and crowning the top is the 'srichakra' (a eight spoked wheel) of Vishnu. Also known as

the "Nilachakra", it is made out of Ashtadhatu and is considered sacrosanct. Among the existing temples in Orissa, the temple of Shri Jagannath is the highest. The temple tower was built on a raised platform of stone and, rising to 214 feet

(65 m) above the inner sanctum where the deities reside, dominates the

surrounding landscape. The pyramidal roofs of the surrounding temples and adjoining halls, or mandapas, rise in steps toward the tower like a

ridge of mountain peaks

The Singhadwara-The Singahdwara, which in Sanskrit means, The Lion Gate, is

one of the four gates to the temple and forms the Main entrance. The Singhadwara is so named because two huge

statues of crouching lions exist on either side of the entrance. The gate faces east opening on to the Bada Danda or the

Grand Road. The Baisi Pahacha or the flight of twenty two steps leads into the temple complex

The Mandapas-There are many Mandapas or Pillared halls on raised

platforms within the temple complex meant for religious congregations. The most prominent is the Mukti

Mandapa the congregation hall of the holy seat of selected learned brahmins. Here important decisions regarding

conduct of daily worship and festivals are taken. The Dola Mandapa is noteworthy for a

beautifully carved stone Torana or arch which is used for constructing a swing for the annual

Dol Yatra festival. The Snana Bedi is a rectangular stone platform where idols of

Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are placed for ceremonial bathing.

TEMPLE OF KHAJURAHO

The Khujrao Group of Monuments in Khujrao, a town in the Indian state of

Madhya Pradesh, located in Chhatarpur District. Khujrao has the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples

, famous for their erotic sculptures

ArchitectureThe temples are grouped into three geographical divisions:

western, eastern and southern.The Khajuraho temples are made of sandstone. The builders

didn't use mortar: the stones were put together with mortise and tenon joints and they were held in place by gravity. This form of construction requires very precise joints. The columns and architraves were built with megaliths that weighed up to 20 tons.

The Saraswati temple on the campus of the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani, India, is modeled after the Khajuraho temples.

Statues and carvings The Khujrao temples contain sexual or erotic art

outside the temple or near the deities. Some of the temples that have two layers of walls with small erotic

carvings on the outside of the inner wall. The rest depict the everyday life. For example, those depictions show women putting on makeup, musicians, potters, farmers, and other folk.

THE DRAVIDIAN STYLE

Dravidian architecture was a style of architecture that emerged in the Southern part of the Indian

subcontinent or South India. It consists primarily of pyramid shaped temples which are dependent on

intricate carved stone in order to create a step design consisting of many statues of deities, warriors, kings,

and dancers. Mentioned as one of three styles of temple building in the ancient book Vastu shastra. The majority of the existing buildings are located in

the Southern Indian states of Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra pradesh.

Composition and structureChola style temples consist almost invariably of the three

following parts, arranged in differing manners, but differing in themselves only according to the age in which they were

executed:1. The porches or Mandapams, which always cover and

precede the door leading to the cell.2. Gate-pyramids, Gopurams, which are the principal features in the quadrangular enclosures that surround the

more notable temples. Gopurams are very common in dravidian temples.

3. Pillard halls (Chaultris or Chawadis) are used for many purposes and are the invariable accompaniments of these

temples.

Besides these, a temple always contains tanks or wells for water – 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.

THE ARCHITECTURE OF NEW DELHI

•The capital of India blends a historical past and a vibrant present. Great monuments stand beside crisp new residential areas. Legend has it that Delhi, and then called INDRAPRASTHA was originally founded around 1200 B.C. by the PANDAVAS.•The main buildings built in Delhi were: QUTAB MINARHUMAYUN’S TOMBRED FORTPURANA QUILAJAMA MASJID

HUMAYUN’S TOMB

•It stands on a raised platform in the centre of a park.• It is made of marble and sandstone.• Its shape and design are Persian in nature

RED FORT

The Red Fort has an area of 254 acres , enclosed by 2.41 KM of walls, surrounded by tower and varying in height from 18 metres on the river side to 33 metres on the city side. The marble, floral decorations and double domes in the fort's buildings exemplify later MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE.The fort's artwork includes Persian, European and Indian art, resulting in a unique Shahjahani style rich in form, expression and colour. Red Fort is one of the building complexes of India covering a long period of history and its arts.The LAHORI and DELHI GATES were used by the public, and the KHIZRABAD Gate was for the emperor. The Lahore Gate is the main entrance, leading to a domed shopping area known as THE CHATTA CHOWK (covered bazaar).

JAMA MASJID

It is the last of the buildings constructed by the Mughal Emperor, SHAH JAHAN. It is made of red SANDSTONE and WHITE MARBLE. The vast courtyard of 400 square meters is reached by a flight of steps. The marble slab represents a seat for the ROYAL PEOPLE, whereas the square sandstone slabs are for the common man.

QUTUB MINAR

The construction was started in 1199 A.D. by QUTAB-UD-DIN AIBAK and was completed by ILLTUTMISH in 1230 A.D. This tower is 73 metres high. It has 5-storeys, the first three made of Red sandstone and the other two of marble and sandstone. It has many inscriptions inscribed on it inner walls.

PURANA QUILA

Its massive walls are pierced by three imposing Gateways. The walls of the Fort rise to a height of 18 metres, traverse about 1.5 km, and have three arched gateways: the Bara Darwaza (Big Gate) facing west, which is still in use today; the south gate, also popularly known as the 'Humayun Gate’; and lastly, the 'Talaqi Gate', often known as the "forbidden gate". All the gates are double-storeyed sandstone structures flanked by two huge semi-circular bastion towers, decorated with white and coloured-marble inlays and blue tiles. They are replete with detailing, including ornate overhanging balconies, or jharokhas, and are topped by pillared pavilions (chhatris). Despite the grandeurs of the exterior, few of interior structures have survived.

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