Lesson 1 Temple Architecture CivilsTap Crash Course for UPSC Prelims 2020| Ancient Indian History by Chandan Sharma Sir© Temple Architecture ..................................................... 2 Why do we study chola sculpture in temple architecture? ..................................................... 7 Emergence & Early Stages of Development ......2 Natraj................................................................. 7 Early Stages of Development ................................. 2 Important Features of Natraj Sculpture .............. 8 Panchayatan Style of Temple Architecture ............ 2 Other Important Schools of Temple Architecture Major Components of Hindu Temples ................... 3 ........................................................................... 8 Sanctum Sanctorum .......................................... 3 Nayaka School of Temple Architecture ................... 8 Mandapa ........................................................... 3 General Features ................................................ 8 Shikhara ............................................................ 3 Vesara Schoo l of Temple Architecture ................... 9 Vahana .............................................................. 3 General Features ................................................ 9 Major Styles of Temple Architecture ..................... 3 Vijayanagar School of Temple Architecture ............ 9 Nagara School of Temple Architecture .............3 General Features ................................................ 9 General Facts ........................................................ 3 Hoysala School of Temple Architecture ................ 10 Characteristic Features of Nagara School ............... 3 General Features .............................................. 10 Ground Plan - Panchayatan Style ....................... 3 Pala & Sena Tempe Architecture .......................... 10 Structural Features ............................................ 3 General Features .............................................. 10 Types of Shikhars ............................................... 4 Main Characteristics......................................... 10 Internal Features ............................................... 4 Important Temples outside India .................... 11 Odisha School of Temple Architecture ................... 4 Angkor Vat, Cambodia ......................................... 11 General Features ............................................... 4 Prambanan Temple, Java-Indonesia ..................... 11 Khajuraho School of Temple Architecture .............. 5 Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal .......... 12 General Features ............................................... 5 Preah Vihear Temple, Cambodia .......................... 12 Solanki School of Temple Architecture .................. 5 Katas Raj Temple, Pakistan ................................... 12 General Features ............................................... 5 Aditya Sun Temple of Multan, Pakistan ................ 12 Temple Architecture in South India ..................6 Munneswaram Temple, Sri Lanka ........................ 12 Temple Architecture under Cholas....................7 Previous Year questions ............................................... 13 Dravidian Architecture .......................................... 7 Major Characteristics of Dravidan Architecture ..... 7 High Boundary Walls ......................................... 7 Gateways (Gopuram)......................................... 7 Panchyatan Style ............................................... 7 Vimana & Shikhara ............................................ 7 Garbhagriha ...................................................... 7 Water Tank........................................................ 7 Chola Sculpture ..................................................... 7 Visit: www.courses.civilstap.com For Any Query Mail us: [email protected] or call us at - (+91)-8146207241 1 CivilsTap Crash Course for UPSC Prelims 2020| Ancient Indian History by Chandan Sharma Sir© TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE • Emergence of Shikharas (low & Third almost square). • Panchyatan Style EMERGENCE & EARLY STAGES OF Introduced. DEVELOPMENT Dashavatar temple, Deogarh ▪ Temple architecture emerged during the period of Guptas when simple structures • Main Shine became consisting of square sanctum and a pillared Fourth more rectangular porticos began to be used for ritualistic and Ter Temple, religious purpose. Maharashtra ▪ Gradually with time, these structures evolved • Introduction of circular Temples with from flat-roofed, monolithic temples in the Fifth shallow rectangular Maniyar Math at initial stages to the sculptured ‘shikhara’ in the projections later years. Rajgir ▪ Based on certain characteristics that got evolved, we can classify this evolution into 5 PANCHAYATAN STYLE OF TEMPLE stages. ARCHITECTURE EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT ▪ In the Panchayatan style of temple making, there were four subsidiary shrines along ▪ There were five stages of development in with the temple of the principal deity. Temple Architecture which have been ▪ The main temple was square with an identified and each stage is identified with elongated mandap in front of it, giving it a certain distinctive characteristics which can be rectangular shape. summarised in the table below: ▪ The subsidiary shrines were placed Stage Distinctive Characteristic Example • Flat Roof opposite to each other on either side of the • Square Shaped mandap, giving the ground plan a crucified Temples shape. First • Porticos on shallow ▪ Examples: Dashavatar temple at Deogarh Pillars • Structure on Low Temple No. 17 at (Uttar Pradesh), Durga temple at Aihole Platform Sanchi (Karnataka), etc. • Raised Platforms • Few instances of two- storied temples Second • Covered Ambulatory passage-way (used as Parvati temple at Pradakshina Path) Nachna kuthara in Madhya Pradesh. Crusified Shape in Panchayatan Style Visit: www.courses.civilstap.com For Any Query Mail us: [email protected] or call us at - (+91)-8146207241 2 CivilsTap Crash Course for UPSC Prelims 2020| Ancient Indian History by Chandan Sharma Sir© MAJOR COMPONENTS OF HINDU NAGARA SCHOOL OF TEMPLE TEMPLES ARCHITECTURE SANCTUM SANCTORUM ▪ Also known as Garbhagriha (literally womb- GENERAL FACTS house) is a small room, generally cubicle, which houses the principal deity of the temple. ▪ A distinctive style of architecture that developed in the Northern part of India, came MANDAPA to be known as the Nagara Style of ▪ The entrance to the temple. It may be a Architecture. portico or a hall and is generally designed to ▪ Within the Nagara school too, different sub- house a large number of worshippers. schools emerged in western, central and SHIKHARA eastern parts of the country. ▪ It is a mountain like spire. The shapes varies from pyramidal to curvilinear. VAHANA ▪ It is the mount or vehicle of the main deity and is placed just before the sanctum sanctorum. CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF NAGARA SCHOOL GROUND PLAN - PANCHAYATAN STYLE MAJOR STYLES OF TEMPLE ▪ The temples generally followed the ARCHITECTURE Panchayatan style of temple making, which consisted of subsidiary shrines laid out in a Nagara Style crucified ground plan with respect to the Dravidan Style principal shrine. STRUCTURAL FEATURES Nayaka Style ▪ There was a p resence of assembly halls or Major Forms of Vesara Style mandaps in front of the principal shrine. Temple Architecture ▪ Outside the garbhagriha, images of the river Hoysala Style goddesses, Ganga and Yamuna, were placed. ▪ There were no water tanks or reservoirs Vijayanagar Style present in the temple premises. ▪ The temples were generally built on upraised Pala & Sena School platforms. Visit: www.courses.civilstap.com For Any Query Mail us: [email protected] or call us at - (+91)-8146207241 3 CivilsTap Crash Course for UPSC Prelims 2020| Ancient Indian History by Chandan Sharma Sir© ▪ A pillared approach was followed for the INTERNAL FEATURES porticos. ▪ Inside the temple, the wall was divided into three vertical planes called rathas. These were TYPES OF SHIKHARS known as triratha temples. ▪ Additionally, there were 3 main types of ▪ Later, pancharatha, saptaratha and even Shikharas in the Nagara School of Architecture. navaratha temples came into existence. The ▪ The vertical end of the shikhara ended in a vertical planes were used as different panels horizontal fluted disc, known as the Amalak. to make narrative sculptures. On top of that, a spherical shape was placed ▪ The ambulatory passageway or the known as the kalash. pradakshina path around the sanctum LATINA OR REKHA-PRASAD sanctorum was covered. ▪ They were square at the base and the walls ▪ Generally, the temple premises did not have curve inward to a point on the top. elaborate boundary walls or gateways. ODISHA SCHOOL OF TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE Rekha Prasad PHAMSANA GENERAL FEATURES ▪ They had a broader base and were shorter ▪ The exterior walls were lavishly decorated in height than the Latina ones. They slope with intricate carvings, but interior walls were upwards on a straight line. plain. ▪ There was no use of pillars in the porch. Iron VALABHI girders were used instead to support the roof. ▪ They had a rectangular base with the roof ▪ The shikharas in the Odisha school were known rising into vaulted chambers. They were as rekhadeuls. They were almost vertical roofs also called wagon-vaulted roofs. which suddenly curved inwards sharply. ▪ The mandap was known as jagmohan in this region. ▪ The ground plan of