Orissan Art

Orissan Temple architecture

In ancient times, Orissa was known as Kalinga. It was a major seafaring region that controlled and traded with most of the sea routes in the Bay of Bengal. Ashokas Kalinga attack, 2nd BCE

The golden age of temple construction in Orissa stretched from the 8th to the 13th century but it achieved the pinnacle of glory in the 10th and 11th centuries. The temples in Orissa represent the development of the Nagara style of Indo-Aryan architecture. The temples of Bhubaneshwar, Puri and Konark represents a remarkable development of the Orissan temple architecture from the 7th century to the 13th century AD

Temples as free standing structures cameto Orissa after the Gupta period through Dakshina Kosala. The Hindu dynasty of Bhaumakaras important patronsSomavamsis and Gangas inspired the Orissan architects to carry on the spirit of creating their own style of architectural temple representations

The builders of the Orissan temples gavevent to their feelings on the basis of indigenous canonical texts like Bhuban Pradip, Silpapothi,Silpasastra, Vastusastra Upanisad and many other such textsStyle of temple architecture. Though broadly they come under the Northern style or Nagara style,they have certain special features which are unique

The Orissan temples are of three types -

Khakhara DeulRekha DeulPidha or Bhadra Deul

Khakhara DeulThe Khakhara Deul is altogether a different style of architecture closely appearing similar to the Dravidian Gopuram design.

The word is derived from kakharu (pumpkin,) as the crown looks like a barrel-vaulted elongated roof. The Sakta temples are generally of this styleSmall temples

Khakhara order.Varahi temple of Chaurasi in Puri district and Vaital temple at Bhubaneswar are two examples of Khakhara temple.Varahi TempleVaital deul

Varahi temple of Chaurasi

Vaital deul7th- 8th CE

Orissan temples consist of two principal structures. The first of these (first in the sense that one approaches the temple at this structure, which is "in front of" the other, larger building) is a prayer hall, called a mandapa in north India generally and, in Orissa, also called a pida deul or jagamohana.

Behind this structure is the vimana, which is comprised of the sanctum of the temple (called a garbha griha, or "womb-house") that contains the image of the deity surmounted by a tower. This tower is called a shikhara in India generally and a rekha in Orissa. Hence in Orissa, the building is called the rekha deul

Lingaraj temple of Bhubaneswar markedthe culmination of the evolution of Orissan temple architecture.

Exactly a century later started theconstruction of Jagannath temple with the finalproduct of Orissan architects - that was the temple of Konark.

Jagamohan of Konark temple

Lingaraj temple,dedicated to Harihara, 11th CE

Lingaraja, is the biggest of all temples at Bhubaneswar, is located within a spacious compound wall oflateritemeasuring 520 feet by 465 feet. The wall is 7 feet 6inches thick and surmounted by a plain slant coping.

This temple has actually four parts: the main temple, theYaja Shala, theBhoga Mandapa and finally theNatya Shala

Raja-Rani Temple,Bhubaneshwar,11th CE

. There are certain features of the temple which proves itsSaivite origin like the presence ofSaivadoorkeepers: Prachanda and Chanda, Dvarapla withjatamukhaand a garland of skulls reaching up to and a snake

Hirapur chausath yogini temple11th CEThis Chaunsath-Yogini temple was built by Somvanshi Kings around 900 AD.The diameter of circular Yogini temple is 30 feet .There are 64 panels having exquisitely carved beautiful 2-feet high.It is 20 kms. from Bhubaneshwara ,

Konark Sun Temple, 13th CEOne of the unique features of this temple is that it was conceived in the form of a great chariot driven by seven steeds. It is the chariot that the Sun god rides in his path across the sky. Two horses stand at the entrance to the first building, the nata-mandira. On either side of the buildings are seven giant wheels of the chariot.

The name Konark is derived from theSanskritwordKona(meaningangle) and wordArka(meaningsun) in reference to the temple which was dedicated to the Sun godSurya

Ganga dynastyLegend has it that the temple was constructed bySamba, the son of Lord Krishna. It is said that Samba was afflicted by leprosy, brought about by his fathers curse on him. After 12 years of penance, he was cured by Surya, the Sun God, in whose honour he built the magnificent Konark Sun Temple.

GarbhagrihaJagamohana (reconstructed)Natya mandapaBhoga mandapa

Orissan SculptureNot much is known about early history of OrissaSome random yaksha, yakshi figures found from earlier timesContinous and Substantial works of sculpture as well and temple architecture seen only after 7th CE

Most of the sculptural activity related to temples, most of which were dedicated to Lord ShivaEarly phase of Orissan sculpture can be seen on the temple walls of Parasuramesvara temple at Bhubaneshwar

Usually shallow and iconic relief panelsHuge images continuing on various stone blockslater seen in South East Asian artThis early stage seems to have been inspired by folk arts and traditions and defies the classicism of Guptas.Full of architectonic sculptures like jalis, gavaksha windows, abstract kalash motifs,rosettes, palm leaves etc.So focus on element of design

Stone carving is best revealed in the architecture and sculptures of Lingaraja, Jagannath, Mukteshwara and other temples of Orissa. Other noteworthy monuments include the temple chariot of the Sun God at Konark, stupas of Ratnagiri and Udaygiri, Surasundaris heavenly beauties playing on different musical instruments at Konark temple, the Konark wheel, horse, elephant, lion. Other motifs include Krishna and Radha, Laxmi, Vishnu, Durga, Buddha and Ganesha

Lingaraja temple

Sculptures in later temples have more of classical qualities and lyrical graceE.g. sculptures seen in Rajarani templeBut still element of design is not completely compromised Highly decorated walls

Giant chariot wheels along the wall of the jagamohana. Scrolls and designs are carved into the surface of the wheel. On each of the spokes, about a third of the way out from the center, is a medallion in which several figures are sculpted.

Sculptural panel mimicking the architecture of the templeKonark Sun Temple Besides the horses and chariot wheels, there are various free-standing sculptures in the temple grounds, and free-standing sculptures of female musicians at the top level of the jagamohana roof.

Surya