hindu architecture

HINDU ARCHITECTURE

Presentation By- Ar. Roopa Chikkalgi 1

http://www.ancient.eu/Hindu_Architecture/

History Timeline

Presentation By- Ar. Roopa Chikkalgi2

Harappan•Drainage system

•Rectangular intersecting roads

•Sanitary system

Mauryan•Monolithic Pillars

•Stupas start during this period – 4 gateways

•Surface built with bricks

•Viharas and Chaityas

•Rock Cut Architecture

Shunga – Satvahanas· Early classic architecture

· Carved railings and gateways around Buddhist shrines

Kushan· Sculpture developed

· The emperor himself was a divine authority

· Buddha was first time given a human form during this time

Gupta period· Beginning of Hindu temples – temple at Deoghar, Udaigiri caves in Orissa

· Vaishnavite temple in VidishaPresentation By- Ar. Roopa Chikkalgi

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ROCK CUT

ARCHITECTURE

– BUDDHISM

100 AD – 160 AD

Presentation By- Ar. Roopa Chikkalgi

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BEGINNINGS & PURPOSE

• Hindu architecture evolved over the centuries from simple rock-cut cave

shrines to massive and ornate temples which spread across the Indian

sub-continent and beyond.

• Essential elements of the style are precise and harmonious

geometry when viewed from all four sides and above, the square form

and grid ground plans, soaring towers, and elaborate decorate sculpture

which includes gods, worshippers, animals, and floral and geometric

patterns.

• Indian temples with its imposing towers, intricate carvings and awe

inspiring size were in fact the result of a gradual evolution over time.

• The period of Jainism survived for a short period of time.

Hinduism followed Buddhism and modifications were obvious,

as the needs and requirements of the religion were different.


BEGINNINGS & PURPOSE• In the Vedic period (1500 to 500 BC) there were actually no temples

as such. They pleased the Gods by performing yagas using sacrificial

altars. These YAGASALAS later got transformed to temples.

• Earliest temples were made of timber and clay, and though they

were later replaced by the more enduring granite, there are still

temples in Kerala and Dakshina Karnataka made with timber and

which has withstood the ravages of time.

• Cave temples which are found in profusion particularly in Central

India, were a later innovation. Though the basic temple patterns are

the same, temple styles fall into two categories.

• There are two style of temple architecture were followed.

• Dravidian style in south

• Indo Aryan in north.


EARLY INFLUENCES• Influenced by early Buddhist structures such as the stupa, the first Hindu

temples were built from rock-cut caves.

• Then, with the arrival of Gupta architecture in the 4th to 5th century CE,

the first free-standing Hindu temples were constructed with features such

as towers and projecting niches.

• The first materials used were wood and terracotta, but architects

gradually moved on to brick and stone, especially sandstone, granite,

zzand marble.

• No mortar was used in the older temples and so precise cutting of

dressed stones was required.

• Outstanding examples of influential cave temples include those at

Udaigiri in Malwa and date to the 5th century CE.


HINDU ARCHITECTURE

GUPTA PERIOD

• After Asoka, collapse of Buddhism and then Maurya Empire led to 500

years of conflict.

• Magadha's Gupta family took over—Chandra Gupta I began rule A.D.

320.

• The Gupta period marks an important phase in the history of ancient India.

• This was under the region of Chandra Gupta I followed by Samudra Gupta

;his son. Their successor Chandra Gupta II called as Vikramaditya played

an important role in developing the art and architecture of Gupta

Kingdom.

• The Gupta Period was usually described as the "golden age of India" as it

was a period of great military power and wealth and there was also great

development in the arts and sciences.

• Consequently, this era was also marked by the emergence of innumerable

images of popular Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Images of Lord Vishnu,

Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, Surya and Durga evolved in this period.


• During the Gupta period a firm foundation of temple architecture was laid when the

basic elements of the Indian temple consisting of a square sanctum and pillared porch

emerged.

• The evolved Gupta temple also had a covered processional path for circumambulation

that formed a part of the worship-ritual.

• Earlier temples of the period had a flat slab-roof, often monolithic.

• Earlier temples of the period had a flat slab-roof, often monolithic, but the later temples

in brick and stone developed a shikhara. The gradual evolution of the Gupta style is

traceable.

Gupta templePresentation By- Ar. Roopa Chikkalgi 9

Earlier temples of the period had a monolithic flat slab

roof.

Later temples in brick and stone developed a Shikhara

The gradual evolution of the Gupta style is traceable

through development of the plan and the

ornamentation on the pillars and doorframe.

The later introducing new decorative motifs like

couples, flying angels, door-keepers and a figure relief

in the centre of the lintel emblematic of the deity

consecrated in the temple

Sculptures of deities,directional deities, composite

animals and decorative motifs formed the mass of

images that adorned the walls of the temples and

their interiors.Presentation By- Ar. Roopa Chikkalgi 10

http://i2.wp.com/www.nextgenias.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/14.png

http://i2.wp.com/www.nextgenias.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/14.png

THE GEOMETRY OF HINDU TEMPLEVastupurashamandala is the square which represents the earth and represents

the universe suggesting timelessness and infinity (see Fig. below).

The mandala is actually a square divided into smaller squares arranged in the

form of a grid. Each smaller square depicts the area of the respective Gods. The

most commonly used mandala is the square subdivided into 64 and 81 squares.

Figure-: The image of Vastupurushamandala with 64 blocks for different deities


(LAYOUT & ORIENTATION) OF ANCIENT TEMPLES

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In Hindu temple manuals, design plans are describedwith 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81 up to 1024 squares

• 1 pada is considered the simplest plan, as a seat for

a devotee to sit and meditate on, do yoga, or make

offerings with Vedic fire in front.

• The second design of 4 padas has a symbolic

central core at the diagonal intersection, and is also

a meditative layout.

• The 9 pada design has a sacred surrounded center,

and is the template for the smallest temple. Older

Hindu temple vastumandalas may use the 9 through

49 pada series, but 64 is considered the most sacred

geometric grid in Hindu temples.

Figure-: Typical Temple Plan

(a)Shrine alone

(b)Shrine with porch (c)Shrine with Antarala and porch.

(d) Sarvatobhadra shrine with four entrances

Figure-: Typical Temple plan of

temple(temple of Tanjavur)


HYBRID OR CENTRAL STYLESOUTHERN STYLE

NORTHERN STYLE

TYPES OF TEMPLE ARCHITECTUREPresentation By- Ar. Roopa Chikkalgi 13

MAJOR ELEMENTS /COMPONENT OF TEMPLE

Entrance

Mandapas / Halls

Garbhagriha

Shikhara



ENTRANCE- The gateways typical to north Indian temples are

” toranas” or “gopurams”.



Mandapas / Halls- Pillared outdoor

assembly hall or pavilion used for public

rituals, dance and music and audience

to sit.

When a temple has more than one

mandapa each one is allocated for

a different function and given a

name to reflect its use like:

• Sabha mandap- For Meeting

• Nritya mandap- For Dancing

• Kalyana mandap- For Marriage

functions

• Ashtana mandapam- Assembly

hall

• Maha mandapam- Big hall for conducting religious activities.


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GARBHAGRIHA• It i s the part of temple in which the idol of the god is installed.• Circumambulation passage (Pradakshina path) is provided

around it.• only priests are allowed to enter i t .• It i s usually on the main horizontal axis of the temple which

generally is an east-west axis.• Generally it is a windowless dark and small chamber,

intentionally created to focus the devotee's mind on thetangible form of god.


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SHIKHARA• Shikhar or Vimana means "Mountain peak"

• It refers to the rising tower over the garbha graha where the deity is

situated.

• It is the most prominent and visible part of a hindu temple.


EVOLUTION OF SHIKHARA

• Literal meaning of Shikhar is peak.

• It is the spire or tower over the Temples.

• Shikharas –inspired from snow clad peaks of Himalayas or primitive

megaliths or ratha of Indian tradition –bamboo roof.

EVOLUTION OF

RATHASPresentation By- Ar. Roopa Chikkalgi 19

HINDU TEMPLE FEATURES• “Sikhara” refers to the spire or the tower. It is shaped as pyramidal and tapering

representing the mythological “Meru” or the highest mountain peak.

• “Garbhagriha” refers to the womb chamber which is the innermost chamber of any

temple where the deity resides. It is mainly square in layout and is entered

through eastern side.

• “Pradakshina Patha” refers to the ambulatory passageway for circumambulationand comprises of enclosed corridor outside the garbhagriha. The devotees walkaround the deity in clockwise direction, paying their respect to the deity.

• “Mandapa”, is the pillared hall in front of the garbhagriha, used as assemblingpoint by devotees for chant; rituals meditate or observe the priests perform the rituals.


Sometimes, “Natamandira” is also provided in some temples which mean the hall for

dancing.

“Antarala”, refers to the intermediate chamber which joins the main sanctuary and the

pillared hall of the temple premises.

“Ardhamandapa” refers to the front porch in the main entrance of the temple which

leads to the main temple.

“ Gopurams” are the monumental entrance to the temple premises.

“ Pitha”or the plinths of the main temple.

The gateways typical to north Indian temples are,”Toranas”.


ELEMENTS OF HINDU TEMPLE

Typical Component parts of Hindu temples.


SANCTUMMAHAMANDAPAMDWAJASTHAMBARAJAGOPURAMPresentation By- Ar. Roopa Chikkalgi

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1. Garbhagriha

2. Mandapa.

3. Antarala.

4. Mahamandapa.

5. Enclosing wall

6. Pradhikshana path.

Artha Mandapa.


http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bild:Grundriss_Luna-Vasahi-Tempel_Mount_Abu.gif

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bild:Grundriss_Luna-Vasahi-Tempel_Mount_Abu.gif


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CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE

•Mass supporting mass

•Repetition

• No mortar- dry order

•facing was hammer dressed

•offsite fabrication was carried out

•assembling at site after preparation of each block at quarry

•To enable this accurate measurements are needed

•Sometimes models are prepared initially

•Main aim was mass rather than line for a templePresentation By- Ar. Roopa Chikkalgi 28

Evolution of Hindu temple

INTRODUCTION

• The idea of God was a form of nature and the Aryan Hindu had rituals

which basically involved in worshiping nature itself.

• The requirement of a temple as such was a simple altar and a roof which

was usually made of timbre.

• Beyond this the emergence of Mahayana stage led to idolizing and

worshipping god as a sculptor. This led to first types of temple forms where

a statue was kept.

• The earlier Brahminical (HINDU TEMPLE) stage had nothing but a cell to

house the image of what they regarded as God, but the rituals were still

carried outside in the open air.

TYPES OF GUPTA ARCHITECTURE:

1. TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

2. ROCK-CUT TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE


GUPTA PERIOD TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

The Nagara(Indo-Aryan) style has its origin in the structural

temples of the Gupta period.

In Nagara style temples, the structure consists of two buildings

the main shrine taller and an adjoining shorter mandapa.

The temples mainly are formed of four chambers the

Garbhagriha (shrine), the Jagmohan (mandapa) ,the

Natyamandir (dance pavilion) and the Bhogamandir (offerings

hall).


Udayagiri near ancient Sanchi

• This became the first ever temple form in the Indo-Aryan temple feature.

• A rock cut marvel in front of a mountain, at Udayagiri. It was a simple

rectangular room or the Grabha- griha, (symbolic to womb of a woman)

where the main idol was stationed.

• In front of this was a small portico made of stone, which looks like a

imitated model of timbre roofing.


Gupta temple at Sanchi

• The first of its kind temple where there was a clear demarcation and

definition of space.

• The structural system was also put to a test and result of which was this

model that emerged.• It’s a small 12ft wide portico covered by a stone slab but has 4

impounding columns to support the same.• Spatially it’s a better model of the Udayagiri temple with a small dark

cell which has the idol and a portico in the front with 4 columns. There

are two columns next to the cell entrance merged with the wall andfour in the front which are free standing Asoka columns with bell capital.


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Temple at Tigawa, Jabalpur

• In terms of space and enclosure it mostly adopts what was there at

the Sanchi temple.

• The evident distinction was the columns in the portico, where the

simple columns transferred into a Hindu architectural marvel.

• The columns were of a square base and were boldly ornamented

with robust sculptures of gods and goddesses of the Hindu

mythology.

• The design of the capital, almost like making a huge statement

during the Gupta period. The stereotyped inverted bell capital style

from the Asoka period had to see and end and in that place came

in the highly decorated column capitals from the Gupta period.


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