Lecture vi indo aryan temples

Ar. Hena Tiwari/GCAD,Sonipat

Lecture-6

INDO – ARYAN

TEMPLE

ARCHITECTURE


When did Hindu Temple architecture

came into being????

With the advancement of Gupta empire

under the reign of Chandragupt Hinduism

flourished as a religion.

By 4th century AD Gupta’s has conquered

North India and gave rise to Hindu

Temple Architecture.

This period is called as the golden

period of TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE


Essence of Hindu Temple

A Hindu Temple is a place for the God

to reside i.e. the believe is that God

actually dwell, live, eat, sleep at that

place.

It is the house of the God.


There were three kinds of the temples on the basis of access and

the circumambulatory path built in it.

Sandhara: These types of the temples have a square sanctum

enclosed by a gallery of pillars meant for Pradakshina. Thus, the

Sandhara temples have a Pradakshinapatha.

Nirandhara: This type of temples do NOT

have Pradakshinapathas

Sarvatobhadra: These types of the temples have four functional

doors on cardinal direction and also a Pradakshinapatha with a

row of 12 pillars around the santum sanctorum. These types of

temples could be accessed from all sides.


Basic elements of a Hindu Temple in

PLAN

Garbhagriha

Steps

Front Porch


Garbhagriha:

Inner chamber which has deity.

In many temples visitors cannot entre

garbhagriha only priest is allowed.

Mandappa:

Main temple hall for large gatherings

Also called as ‘nata-mandira’ or dancing

halls where devdasis performed.

Decorated with paintings of Gods &

Goddess.


Front porch:

Area with metallic bell.

Devotees ring the bell at the time they entre or leave the

temple to tell about their arrival or departure.

It is called as ‘Ardhamandapa’

Walkways:

Place for parikrama.

It is around the wall of inner chamber.

Parikrama is the mark of respect which one shows to

God or Goddess


Reservoir:

A reservoir of fresh water is built around temples.

It is used for scared bathing and religious purposes.


Basic elements of a Hindu Temple in ELEVATION


Kalasha

Kalasha as per Puranas is one of the fourteen precious

gems that came out of the milky ocean when it was churned

(Samudra Manthan).

Some temples have stone block as Kalasha.

The significance of the shape of the Kalasha is that it

symbolizes the potentialities of life.

The bud which is the topmost portion signifies new life and

growth


Amalaka

A amalaka is a stone disc with rounded edges.

It is found at the top of some Hindu temple .

It is the kingdom of heaven.

Above the amalaka is the kalasha . Sometimes there hangs

the flags of the temple.

Shikhara:

The tower of the dome is called Shikhara which represents

the mythological Mount Meru.

It is also called as Vimana in South India.


Urshringas

An Urushringa is a subsidiary tower pasted against the

main tower (shikhara) in the Hindu temple architecture.

The urushringa is lower and narrower than the shikhara.

It strengthens the feeling of height given by the temple.


‘Antarala’ meaning the vestibule or the intermediate

chamber. It unites the main sanctuary and the pillared hall

of the temple.

Jagati or ‘Pitha’ , the plinth or the platform of the temple.

‘Toranas’, the typical gateway of the temple mostly found

in north Indian temple


Hindu temple design

Hindu temples follow a geometrical design called as Vastu

Purush Mandala in which Vastu means: dwelling structure

Purusha means universal essence and Mandala means

Centre.

The hindu temple has a square consist of grid called

PADAS

A PADA is the seat of devotee or a hermit.


These padas could be 1,4,9,16 up to 1024 squares.

Aspect of creative energy. It is in Centre called as Garbhgriya

Aspect of God and Goddess

Place for parikrama Aspect of human life

Aspect of Asura and Devil


In large temple complexes outer 3

padas are carved, painted and have

images to inspire the devotees.

Pillars, wall and ceilings typically have

highly ornate paintings and images of

four main pursuits of life :- kama, artha,

dharma and moksha.


TYPES OF HINDU TEMPLES :

Northern Hindu style or Indo- Aryan

style (A.D 600 to the present day)

South Hindu style or Dravidian style

(A.D 625 – 1750 to the present day)


NORTHERN HINDU STYLE OR INDO –

ARYAN STYLE -

This style had spread over at least three –

fourth part of northern India.

It has SQUARE TEMPLES

Centre has cruciform (christian cross)

shape with a number of re-entrant angle

on each side.

Elevation has shikhars.

BEST EXAMPLE: Kandariya Mahadev

Temple.


Kalinga style architecture

Flourished in eastern state of Orissa.

Majorly 3 types of temples

Rekha Deula

Pidha Deula

Khakhara Deula

Dedicated to Vishnu, Shiv and Surya

Dedicated to Chamunda and Durga

Deula means temple in oriya


Kandariya Mahadev Temple.



The temple measures about 30 meters in length and 20 m width.

The temple shikhara rises 35.3 meters in length.

From the east side it looks like a huge mountain of stone with a dark

cave-like opening set high above the ground.

The name Kandarya Mahadev refers also to Shiva, the ascetic who

dwells in a mountain cave, lost in meditation.

The Plan of the Mahadev Temple is similar to the lakshman and

Vishvanath Temples with all the rooms aligned east to west on a

central axis.


Western group

of temples


Plan of Kandariya Mahadeva temple


In profile the pyramidal porch, mandap roofs and conical shikhara

looks like a range of mountain straining upwards till it meets the

sky, or shiva.

The shikhara of the kandariya Mahadev Temples is broad at the

base and in graceful curve grow narrower as it reaches the pinnacle

The adhisthana or base of the temple is three meters high and

made up of a series of architectural moldings.

The nine niches around the temple contain images of Ganesh, the

seven mother goddesses or sapta Matrikas.


On the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple in Khajuraho there are 84

urushringas around the shikhara.


The main temple tower with 84 mini spires


Sculptures on the external walls of the temple


On the projections of the walls are the figures of the deities;

principally of Shiva attired as a bridegroom.

The porch has an exceptionally beautiful entrance toran.

A large temple like the Kandariya Mahadev is estimated to

have over 870 large sculptures on its exterior and interior

walls, each one about meter high.

The doorway of the sanctum is profusely decorated with

narrow panels of images.


The central lintel carries the seated figure of Shiva holding a

trident and snake, Vishnu is seated to his left and Brahma to

the right.

Within the dark, unadorned garbha griha or womb chapber

stands the creative symbol of Shiva, the linga.


LINGARAJA TEMPLE


INTRODUCTION LOCATION: Bhubaneshwar, Orissa

BUILT BY: Jajati Keshari

BUILT IN: 11th century

DEDICATED TO: Harihar (a form of

Shiva & Vishnu)

ARCHITECTURE STYLE: Kalinga

Architecture

MATERIAL USED : Laterite stone

TOTAL AREA: 1049.66 sq m



HISTORY Lingaraj temple is dedicated to lord shiva, who is considered as

the destroyer as per the hindu thoughts

Lingaraj temple is believed to be the oldest and largest temple of

bhubaneshwar , it is more than 1100 years old,.

The temple of lingaraja is highly revered by the followers of

hinduism. The term 'lingaraj' suggests 'the king of lingas', where

'linga' is the phallic form of lord shiva.

In the 11th century, when the king shifted his capital from jaipur

to bhubaneshwar, he started the construction of lingaraj temple.

The assembly hall (jagamohana), sanctum and temple tower were

built during the eleventh century, while the hall of offering

(bhoga-mandapa) was built during the twelfth century.


ARCHITECTURE

One of the finest examples of purely hindu temple in india".

The lingaraja temple faces east and is built

of sandstone and laterite.

The main entrance is located in the east, while there are small

entrances in the north and south.

The temple has four components

namely, garbhagriha, jagamohana (assembly

hall), natamandira (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall

of offerings).


The door in the gate of the entrance porch is made of

sandalwood.

One can enter the temple complex through 'simha dwara' (the

lion's gate), where lions flank both the sides, crushing

elephants under their feet.

The exterior walls of the hall has decorative sculptures of men

and beast

The tower walls are sculpted with female figures in different

poses.


The bhogamandapa (hall of offering)

measures 42 ft X 42 ft from the inside,

56.25 ft * 56.25 ft from the outside and

has four doors in each of the sides.

The natamandira (festival hall) measures

38 ft X 38 ft from the inside, 50 ft * 50 ft

from the outside, has one main entrance

and two side entrances. The side walls of

the hall has decorative sculptures

displaying women and couples.



The jagamohana (assembly hall)

measures 35 ft *30 ft from the inside,

55 ft *50 ft from the outside, entrances

from south and north and has a 98 ft tall

roof.

The tower is 180 ft high and the complex

has 150 smaller shrines.

The hall of offering and assembly hall

both has a pyramidal roof. It bears an

inverted bell and a kalasa in the top.


SURYA TEMPLE AT MODHERA (1026 AD).


It can be considered as the earliest and most splendid Hindu

temple of its period. The temple faces east so that the light of the

rising sun penetrates to the shrine of the sun god in its farthest

end.



The temple is constructed out of golden brown sandstone.

The major parts of the temple are:

a) The beautiful tank (Kunda) with interesting pattern of steps

b) The stairway from Kunda leads to a high platform (Kharashila) and

the main entrance gate (Keerthi Torana)

c) The Keerthi Torana leads to open pillared hall (Sabhamantapa)

d) The Sabhamantapa further leads to a twin pillared Subhamantapa

(entrance porch), which further leads to a closed hall

(Gudhamantapa) with two balconies


Guda Mandapa ( Main hall)


The broad terrace is constructed out of solid bricks with

stone facing for the exterior.

The moulding over the exterior relieves the intricate

richness to the multiple steps of the tank.

The Keerthi Torana with its richly carved columns and

archway acts as a perfect entrance to the whole temple

complex.



Assignment

Discuss the architecture of Sun Temple, Konark,

Jagannath Puri in detail.

Describe in detail the important architectural

features of Indo- Aryan Temples of Orissan and

Khajuraho Group.

Education

Lecture vi indo aryan temples