Indian Architecture in Concept and Execution Case Study of Dravidian Temple Architecture

Indian architecture in concept and execution Case Study of Dravidian Temple Architecture

Types of Indian Temple Architecture • Nagara

• • • •

Dravida Kalinga Maru-Gujara Chalukya Hoysala

Indian Temple Architecture FEATURES

• Gopuram: an elaborate gateway of south Indian temples, in the form of a tower. • Jagati: the platform on which the temple is erected. • Mandapa: a pillared hall for public rituals. • Antarala: an antechamber between the garbhagriha and the mandapa in north Indian temples. • Garbhagriha: the sanctum sanctorum where the presiding deity is kept. • Shikhara or Vimana: the tower over the garbhagriha

Dravidian vs. Nagara Temple Architecture • Dravidian architecture important features are the vimana and gopuram. Vimana is tall pyramidal tower consisting of several progressively smaller storeys, the peak of the vimanas is known as sikhara in south indian temples.

• In Nagara the beehived shaped tower is the most distinguished element called as shikhara. • The gateways are in the North and they are plain simple and small.

• Gopurams the welcoming gate became taller and taller overpowering the main shrine and its super structure and dominating the whole temple complex.

Nagara style vs Dravidian style

TEMPLES OF SOUTH INDIA

Introduction to Dravidaian Temple Architecture • Pallava (600-900AD)

• Chola (900-1150 AD) • Pandya (1100-1350 AD) • Vijayanagara (1350-1565 AD) • Nayaka (from 1600 AD)

Pallavas vs. Cholas • Dravidian architectures foundation laid

• Golden age for Dravidian architecture.

• Pallavas great patrons of art and architecture

• Proclaim their power through arts

• They used architecture to legitimize their rule by richly endowing the shrines and by naming the edifices after their kings. As a result, a complex relationship began to grow between the temple, community and the king.

• Used temple to make unequivocal statement about their political hegemony.

• Two phases • Mahendra and Mammala (610-690) • Rajasimha and Nandivarman (690-900)

• Brihadisvara temple (a royal monument of power)

Brihadeeshwara Temple FACTS:

FEATURES

• Built by Raja Raja Chola

• Axial and Symmetrical geometry rules temple layout.

• One of tallest (210 fts high) and largest tower in India

• The Kumbam (Kalasha or Chikharam) (apex or the bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is carved out of a single stone and it weighs around 80 tons

• Temple was built per ancient texts called Vaastu Shastras and Agamas

• Kumbam raised to its present height by dragging on an inclined plane of 6.44 km • Inner mandapa which is surrounded by massive walls that are divided into levels by sharply cut sculptures and pilasters providing deep bays and recesses

Brihadeeshwara Temple DISTINCT FEATURES

• The two large gopuras in line are first introduced here in Dravidian architecture. • The vimana is dvitala (double storied). • In the Dravida style, the Karuvarai takes the form of a miniature vimana with other features exclusive to southern Indian temple architecture such as the inner wall together with the outer wall creating a pradakshina around the garbhagriha for pradakshina. The entrance is highly decorated. The inside chamber housing the image of the god is the sanctum sanctorum, the garbhagriha The garbhagriha is square and sits on a plinth, its location calculated to be a point of total equilibrium and harmony as it is representative of a microcosm of the universe. In the center is placed the image of the deity.

Knowledge Systems • Vaastu Sastra • Floor Plan • Cosmic Being

• Trigonometry • Placing of Kumbam on top of the pyramidal tower

• Astronomy • Shadow of gopuram never falls on the ground

Vastupurushamandala and Temple Plan • Vastupurushamandala derived from 3 words: • Vastu refers to physical environment • Purusha refers to cosmic being • Mandala refers to diagram

• Square is a very fundamental form in Hindu philosophy.

• Mandala is actually a square subdivided into smaller squares in the form of a grid with each unit clearly making area of Gods. • Brihadeeshwara Temple as Padmagarbhamandala (16*16)

• Most common mandalas are 64 and 81, these are common in Dravidian temples.

Brihadeeshwara Temple: Vaastu Sastra FLOOR PLAN

Vertical Symbolism

The structure is so huge and it could signify Mt.Kailash

Horizontal Symbolism

Trigonometry 66m

α

• It is hypothesized that the kumbam which weighs over 80 tonnes is of single rock and was rised to its present height by dragging on an inclined plane of 6.44km. • A temporary inclined plane has been constructed and demolished after construction.

• Elephants have been used to drag the stone up this slope.

Mathematical Calculations • Sinα=66/6440 • α= 0.01

• F=m*g*sinα • m=72574.8 kg • g=9.81 • F=72574.8*9.81*0.010 • F=7296.4N approx. 7.3kN

• Weight a normal elephant can lift 300kg-500kg • No of elephants used: 7300/400=19

• Force the inclined plane has to withstand: • No: of elephants*mass*g*sinα+ Weight of kumbam • 19*5000*9.81*0.01+7300=16619.5 N= 16.7kN

INFERENCES • This shows how much force the temporary inclined plane must withstand. • Cholas should have taken huge amount of pain in constructing this. • Creating a temporary structure that could withstand this much Force is a big deal. • This clearly shows how Cholas were distinctly ahead in architecture and practical use of mathematics.

Astronomy • They should have had a decent knowledge about path of the sun.

• Combining this knowledge with their expertise in architecture they created a marvel. • Vimana doesn’t cast a shadow on temple premises. • This not only shows their skill set but also the planning Cholas possessed. • The architect Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachan should have thought of all these before hand and then executed it.

Sr. no

Temples of South India

Period

In Plan Area Ratio

Patterns in South Indian Temples Total Area of the temple (sq.m)

Total Wall Total Wall Area/Total, Total Area of the Area of the temple (sq.m) temple (%) 43.35 14.88%

1

Ladh khan temple, Aihole, Karnataka

5th cent.

291.24

2

Durga temple, Aihole, Karnataka

6th cent.

258.35

45.42

17.58%

3

Temple of papanatha, Pattadakal, Karnataka

7th cent.

199.42

58.07

29.11%

4

Temple of virupaksha, Pattadakal,Karnaataka

8th cent.

162.8

55.12

33.84%

5 6

8th cent. 9th cent.

32.91 148.81

20.59 49.82

62.56% 33.47%

11th cent.

2179.29

737.15

8 9 10

Shore temple, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu Jaina temple, Pattadakal, Karnataka Brihadeshvara temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu Mallikarjuna temple, Sudi, Karnataka Gangaiacondacholapuran temple, Karnataka Jain temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka

11th cent. 11th cent. 11th cent.

176.19 2084 198.11

78.51 729.49 73.23

33.82% 44.59% 34.98% 36.96%

11

Main Shrine , Itagi, Koppal district, Karnataka

12th cent.

378.72

131.98

34.98%

12th cent.

459.92

232.63

50.56%

12th cent.

336.03

125.64

37.38%

13th cent. 13th cent.

472.12 486.78

214.6 148.93

45.43% 30.48%

7

14 15

Temple of kallesvara, Kukkanur,Karnataka Virupaksha temple complex, Hampi,Karnataka Kesava temple, Aralguppe, Karnataka Isvara temple, Arisikerai, Karnataka

16

Chandrasekara temple, Hampi, Karnataka

14th cent.

335.56

110.8

33.01%

17 18

Chandikeshawa temple, Hampi, Karnatka Vitthal temple, Hampi, Karnataka

14th cent. 15th cent.

106.21 769.04

36.62 397.54

34.42% 49.95%

12 13

Patterns in Dravidian Architecture Time vs. Area of Temple

Patterns in Dravidian Architecture Time vs. Height of Temples

Conclusions