HISTORY OF

ARCHITECTURE - II

Objective
To provide an understanding of the
evolution of Hindu Architecture in
India in its various stylistic modes,
characterized
by
technology,
ornamentation and planning practices.

COURSE
CONTENTS
Evolution of Hindu Temple
Indo Aryan & Dravidian
Early temples at Udaigiri, Tigawa & Sanchi.
Experiments at Aihole (Durga temple & Lad khan temple), Deogarh,
Bhitargaon & Badami
Beginnings of Dravidian Architecture
The Pallavas - rathas at Mammallapuram, Shore temple, Kailasanatha temple
and Vaikuntaperumal temple at Kancheepuram.
The Cholas - Brihadeeshwara temple at Tanjore and Gangaikonda Cholapuram
The Pandyan contribution Gopurams
The Hoysalas Temples at Belur, Halebid & Somnathpur
Channakeshava temple, Belur, Halebid and Hoysalesvara temple, Halebid,
Kesava temple, Somnathpur.
Beginnings of Indo Aryan Architecture
Orissa the lingaraja temple at Bhubaneshwar
Hindu Architecture at Rajputana Temple of Surya, Osia, Marwar
Hindu Architecture at Gujarat Temple of Surya, Modhera
The Khajuraho group Khandariya Mahadev, Jain temples Chaumukh temple
at Ranpur
Later Dravidian period The vijayanagar and madurai dynasties noted
temples at Hampi Vitthala temple and Hazara rama temple Madurai
Meenakshiamman temple and Sri Rangam

HINDU TEMPLE
ARCHITECTURE
INDO-ARYAN

INDO-ARYAN
STYLE
1) Temples of Orissa group
(Kalinga)

Lingaraja Temple,
Bhubaneshwar

Sun temple, Konark

Jagannath temple, Puri

INDO-ARYAN
STYLE
1) Temples of Kashmir

Sun temple, Martand, Kashmir

INDO-ARYAN
STYLE
1) Temples of Khajuraho group

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple,

Khajuraho

INDO-ARYAN
STYLE
1) Temples of Rajputana group

Temple of Surya, Osia,

Marwar
Vijaya stambha,
Chittorgarh

Jain kirti stambha, Chittorgarh

INDO-ARYAN
STYLE
1) Temples of Gujarat

Temple of Surya, Modhera

INDO-ARYAN
STYLE
1) Temples of Gwalior

Jai Vilas Palace at

Gwalior
Sas-bahu temple at Gwalior
Gwalior
fort`

INDO-ARYAN
STYLE
1) Temples of Gwalior

Jai Vilas Palace at

Gwalior
Sas-bahu temple at Gwalior
Gwalior
fort`

INDO-ARYAN
STYLE
1) Temples at Amritsar

Golden Temple at
Amritsar

CENTRAL HINDU STYLE

1) Early Chalukyan Architecture Rock
Cut

Cave 1 (Shaiva) at Badami

CENTRAL HINDU STYLE

1) Early Chalukyan Architecture Rock
Cut

Cave 2 (Vaishnava) at Badami

CENTRAL HINDU STYLE

1) Early Chalukyan Architecture Rock
Cut

Cave 4 (Jain) at Badami

CENTRAL HINDU STYLE

1) Early Chalukyan Architecture Rock
Cut

Cave 3 (Vaishnava) at Badami

CENTRAL HINDU STYLE

1) Early Chalukyan Architecture
Structural

Group of Temples at Mahakuta near

Badami

CENTRAL HINDU STYLE

1) Early Chalukyan Architecture
Structural

Lad khan temple at Aihole

CENTRAL HINDU STYLE

1) Early Chalukyan Architecture
Structural

Durga temple at Aihole

CENTRAL HINDU STYLE

1) Rashtrakuta Architecture

Elephanta
Caves

CENTRAL HINDU STYLE

1) Rashtrakuta Architecture

Ellora Caves

CENTRAL HINDU STYLE

1) Rashtrakuta Architecture

Kailashanatha
temple,Ellora

CENTRAL HINDU STYLE

1) Hoysala Architecture

Hoysaleshwar temple at
Halebid

CENTRAL HINDU STYLE

1) Hoysala Architecture

The Great Chenna keshav temple

CENTRAL HINDU STYLE

1) Hoysala Architecture

Vidyashankara temple at Sringeri

CENTRAL HINDU STYLE

1) Hoysala Architecture

Keshava temple at Somanathpur

DRAVIDIAN STYLE
1) Pallava
Style

Shore Temple, Mammallapuram

Kailasanatha temple,
Kancheepuram

Pancharathas at Mahabalipuram
Vaikuntaperumal temple,
Kancheepuram

DRAVIDIAN STYLE
1) Chola Style

Gangaikondacholapuram

Brihadeeshwara temple, Tanjavur

DRAVIDIAN STYLE
1) Pandya
Style

Srivilliputhur Andal

Annamalaiyar Temple,

DRAVIDIAN STYLE
1) Vijayanagar Style

Vitthala Temple, Vijayanagar

Vitthala Temple, Vijayanagar

Hazara rama temple, Vijayanagar

DRAVIDIAN STYLE
1) Madura (Late pandya)
Style

Ranganatha Temple, Srirangam

DRAVIDIAN STYLE
1) Madura (Late pandya)
Style

Meenakshiamman temple, Madurai

DRAVIDIAN STYLE
1) Madura (Late pandya)
Style

Rameshwaram Temple

INDIAN ARCHITECTURE
Greek Architecture
Refined Perfection
Roman Architecture Scientific Construction
French Gothic

Passionate energy
Italian Renaissance

Scholarship of its time

India

Spiritual content

Fundamental purpose of the art of building was to

represent in concrete form , the prevailing religious
consciousness of the people. Represents a multitude of
expressions over space and time transformed by the
forces of history.
Mind materialized in terms of rock, brick or stone
Wall surface treatments
Sculpture covered exteriors rich in decorative effects and
also has deep significance of its subject matter
Presents an Ocean of Story of absorbing interest.

WHAT IS A TEMPLE?
Atemple(from theLatinwordtemplum) is a structure reserved for
religiousor spiritual activities, such asprayerandsacrifice, or
analogousrites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined
by a priest.

HOW DID THE HINDU TEMPLE

Anthropomorphic
conception of a
EVOLVE?
Deity

Requirement for a Habitation

Structural Shrine

Leafy
Bower

Reed
Hut

Cella of
Wood &
Brick

Sanctum of
Stone
(garbhagriha)

EVOLUTION OF HINDU
During the later half of the 7 century, the temple structure began
TEMPLE
to assume a prescribed form. The principal architectural features
th

are as follows.
The sanctuary as a whole was called Vimana
The upper pyramidal or tapering portion of the sanctuary/Vimana
is called Shikhara meaning tower or spire.
The Vimana houses a dark chamber or cella called the Garbha
Griha where the main deity is installed. (Sanctum Sanctorum)
The entrance doorway to the Garbha Griha is from the eastern
side in general.
A pillared hall or mantapa is present in front of the doorway to
Garbha Griha which is used as a pavilion for the assembly of
devotees.
In earlier temples, (e.g. Shore temple, Mammallapuram &
Kailasanatha temple, Kancheepuram) the mantapa was a detached
building, isolated from the sanctuary by a defined open space.
Later it became a custom to unite the two buildings thus forming
an intermediate vestibule called Antarala
Leading up to the Mandapa (main hall) is a porch or Ardhamandapa. When the mandapa has transepts on each side of it, it
becomes a Maha-Mandapa. E.g. Khandariya Mahadev temple,

EVOLUTION OF HINDU
A fully evolved temple had with all the portions mentioned
TEMPLE
previously and each portion
having its own separate Shikhara
(pyramidal roof) rising in regular gradation, from the lowest over
the porch (Ardha-mandapa) to the lofty spire over the Garbha
Griha or sanctum.
In some parts of India, the temple building was enclosed within a
rectangular courtyard, thus forming a processional passage or
Pradakshina Patha for circumambulation.
The indian temple was talked about by the people as Dwelling
place of the Gods
During the 8th Century, the temple form was clearly established
and thus led to an era of temple building.
Detailed analysis of the architectonic character of temples show
the treatment of surfaces by repetitive addition of basic cells,
particularly the Shikhara. This was found to be a logical and safe
approach of repeating the same architectural motif and converting
it into an element of decoration.
Two different types of motifs were used as a reduced model of the
shrine itself and two different types of shrines were used and were
used separately in different temples.
Thus the temple architecture as a whole in India resolves itself
into two distinct and separate styles in which the pillars, capitals,

EVOLUTION OF HINDU
In India two such orders emerged around the 8 century and have
been designated by James TEMPLE
Fergusson as Dravidian and Indo-Aryan,
th

the former found in the south of India and the latter confined to the
north. (exceptions, Aurangabad & Pattadakkal).Dravidian temples are
found only in 1/5th of the country while Indo-Aryan temples are
distributed throughout and therefore are numerous and more
diversified.

EVOLUTION OF
SHIKHARA
THEORY 1 Spire evolved
from the peaked domed huts of
Eastern and Central India. This
is quite evident in the Nagara
temples with Shikhara. The
shikhara inclines inwards in a
curve.
THEORY 2 convex
The
Shikhara developed out of
the
Buddhist
Stupa,
gradually
becoming
elongated from the semiglobular mound.

THEORY 3
The temple is
also referred to
as a ratha or
processional car
and Shikhara
was derived
from the tall
covering of the
ratha.