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Rock CUT ARCHITECTURE)

Rock CUT ARCHITECTURE)

1 TM Newspaper Analysis Programe WORKSHEeT -10 (UPSC PTcumMAINS-2020) ( CUT ARCHITECTURE)

Rock Cut

Architecture

NEWSPAPER ANALYSIS PROGRAMME – WORK-SHEET Part - 10

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2 TM Newspaper Analysis Programe WORKSHEeT -10 (UPSC PTcumMAINS-2020) (Rock CUT ARCHITECTURE)

Rock cut architecture of . Some of these caves, most of which The Rock-cut structures present the most trace back to the 3rd century BC during the rule of spectacular piece of ancient specimen. the (322–185 BCE), bear Most of the rock-cut structures were closely Ashokan inscriptions. These caves from the time associated with various religions and religious of the great Indian emperor and his activities. In the beginning, remarkable Buddhist grandson, Dasharatha speak volume of the policy and Jain rock-cut structures were built in areas of religious tolerance undertaken by the two such as Bihar in the east and in the emperors who were otherwise Buddhists. west. Numerous caves were excavated by the Different Jain sects also thrived under their rule. Buddhist monks for prayer and residence purposes. The best example of this is The , BIHAR (prayer halls) and (). Inside The Barabar Caves are the oldest examples of these rock-cut structures, windows and balconies Buddhist rock-cut architecture. and were carved as huge arch shaped openings. Cave Temples The Western Deccan region consists of many Early Caves early cave temples that date back to a period Natural caves were the earliest caves used by local between 100 BC and 170 AD. Such as Bhaja cave inhabitants. The natives used such caves for , Kanheri cave , Ajanta cave , Karle cave , are different purposes like places of worship and some examples of Buddhist caves in shelters. The Mesolithic period (6000 BC) saw the first use and modifications of the early caves. The Importance of caves in ancient India Bhimbetka rock shelters inside the tiger reserve The Buddhist missionaries employed the caves as called ‘Ratapani Wildlife Santuary’ located on shrines and shelters conforming to the religious the verge of the in concepts of leading a monastic life. in the state of , India, illustrates The ancient Buddhist and Jain cave basadis, the settlement of human life in these rock shelters monasteries and temples are instances of early some hundreds of thousands years ago as also of rock-cut architecture. The caves at Kanheri and the initiation of Stone Age in India. UNESCO Ajanta saw eventual occupation by the Buddhist declared this place as a World Heritage Site in monks. 2003 which bears several Stone Age rock Indications of association between the religion and paintings, some of which are more than 30,000 commerce are palpable from the relics of the years old. Early manifestations of dance art are caves. Sources mention that traders many a times also palpable from these caves. travelled the active international trade routes through India in company of the Buddhist MAURYAN age missionaries. The oldest surviving Indian rock-cut caves are the Barabar Caves that are situated in the Indian state

3 TM Newspaper Analysis Programe WORKSHEeT -10 (UPSC PTcumMAINS-2020) (Rock CUT ARCHITECTURE) For instance the situated 400 feet of the Bay of are the most excellent above the Bhaja village lies on a significant age- architectural edifices typifying monolith Indian old trade route that ran from the Arabian Sea rock cut architecture. The five structures shaped as eastward to the Deccan plateau. or chariots chiselled out of large block of ideology advocated trade practices and these stone of granite dates back to the 7th century and Buddhist monasteries often provided lodging are named after the five brothers and facilities for traders who stopped over in these their common spouse from the great Buddhist abodes while on trade routes. Indian epic ‘’. Marked as ‘Group of at Mahabalipuram’ by ‘UNESCO’ Later caves and enlisted in its World Heritage Sites list, the Many cave temples were later developed under site showcases varied . It the patronisation of southern Indian Hindu kings has reflections of the Buddhist Viharas and and were dedicated to Hindu gods and goddesses. Chaityas and became templates to temples of The earliest known examples of Hindu temples much higher dimensions built later in . are the Cave temples that comprise of four Hindu cave temples apart from a Jain and The Kailash temple considered as one of the most presumably a Buddhist cave temple situated in the colossal age-old rock-cut Hindu temples forms town of Badami in northern . These cave temple number 16 of Ellora, which is cave temples date back to the and are counted among the largest rock-cut - regarded as fine examples of Badami-Chalukya temple caves complexes of the world and marked architecture that adorn decorative pillars, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in intricately carved , embellished brackets Maharashtra, India. Among the 100 caves of and finely chiseled ceiling panels. Striking Ellora, 34 caves are open to public of which the sculptures adorning these cave temples including Kailash temple shaped as a chariot is regarded as that of -dancing as in one of the most magnificent cave temples in India. Cave 1 and of as Trivikrama in Cave Construction of this is attributed to the 2 among others illustrate Hindu themes and 8th century king I of the Rashtrakuta divinities. dynasty in 756-773 CE. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple showcases fine architectural works Monolithic Rock-Cut Temples including relief panels depicting the two main The architects of the initiated Hindu Epics namely the and the rock carving to create monolithic structures that Mahabharata. Pallava and Chalukya styles of resemble temples. A monolithic rock-cut temple is architecture are noticed in this cave temple which chiselled out of a single colossal rock in the shape is decorated with carved sculptures including that of masonry or wooden temples including of gods and goddesses from the Hindu , embellishment on walls and other areas mystical beings such as divine musicians and showcasing fine work of art and engineering. The nymphs and figures depicting fertility and good or Pandava Rathas of fortune. Mahabalipuram situated on the Coromandel Coast

4 TM Newspaper Analysis Programe WORKSHEeT -10 (UPSC PTcumMAINS-2020) (Rock CUT ARCHITECTURE) (2nd century BCE - 7th century saints. In many cases the stone is intricately CE) carved to look like . The Ajanta caves in , Maharashtra, a A rock-cut temple is carved from a large rock, and World Heritage site (1983), are 30 rock-cut excavated and cut to imitate a wooden or masonry Buddhist cave-temples carved into the sheer temple, with wall decorations, and works of art. vertical side of a gorge near a waterfall-fed pool The finest example of this type is the Kailashanāth located in the hills of the Sahyadri . Temple at Ellora. The Kailashanāth Temple, or Cave 16 as it is known at , is located Like all the locations of Buddhist caves, this one at Maharashtra on the Deccan Plateau, is a huge is located near main trade-routes, and spans six monolithic temple dedicated to Lord Siva. The centuries beginning in the 2nd or 1st century BCE Temple was created through a single, huge top- to 650 CE. A period of intense building activities down excavation 100 feet down into volcanic at this site occurred under the Vakataka King basaltic cliff rock. It was commissioned in 8th between 460-478 CE (Caves other than century by King Krshna I, and took more than 100 9, 10, 12 and 13). A profuse variety of decorative years to complete. Ellora Caves were designated , intricately carved columns, and carved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. reliefs are found, including exquisitely carved cornices and pilaster. Skilled artisans constructed Elephanta cave : Maharashtra living rock, imitating timber texture, grain, and Caves On the island of Elephant off the structure. Architectural elements such as harbour are the Elephant caves of the 8th century decorative carvings were ornamental, and not AD. The islands derive their name from the giant functional in the classic sense. Ajanta Caves were carving of an elephant which used to stand at the designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in old landing stage. 1983. consists of two groups of caves; one is the Hindu rock art and the other is the Ellora Caves (8th century CE) Buddhist rock art. The place is still worshipped by The Ellora caves include 34 monasteries and the locals, and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. temples located in Aurangabad district of The Ganesh Gumpha is one of the earliest Maharashtra. There are 12 Buddhist caves, 17 examples of the Brahmanical temple and has been Hindu Caves along with 5 caves dedicated to Jaina excavated in a rocky terrace. The masterpiece is a mendicants. The cave complex extends over 2 three-faced image () consisting of kilometers and they were carved out of volcanic (creator), Vishnu (preserver) and Shiva basaltic formation. It is a world heritage site and (destroyer). Other interesting sculptures in the one of most important ancient monuments in cave show the marriage of Shiva with ; India. ; Shiva in the tandava dance; , the Similar to the Ajanta caves, the Ellora caves demon king shaking Kailasa; Ardhanariswara— contain many frescoes, reliefs, and shrines, ‘the Lord who is both male and female’. including carvings of Buddha , , and

5 TM Newspaper Analysis Programe WORKSHEeT -10 (UPSC PTcumMAINS-2020) (Rock CUT ARCHITECTURE)

Kanheri Caves, Maharashtra Caves, Maharashtra constitute a group 109 of rock-cut Lenyadri contains nearly 40 rock-cut caves. The monuments located inside the Sanjay Gandhi best known and most visited is a group of 30 National Park, north of Mumbai. Built between caves located in a compact group and all facing the 1st century BC and 9th century AD, the towards the south. Kanheri Caves demonstrate the Buddhist These caves have been created in the 1st – 3rd influence on the art and and offer century AD as a Buddhist monastery. Later one of picnickers a getaway, especially during the rainy the Buddhist dwellings was turned into a popular season. shrine of Hindu god Ganesh. Lenyadri caves have Majority of the caves are monasteries, intended preserved traces of ancient cave paintings and for living, study and meditation. All of them have inscriptions. elaborately carved sculptures, relief’s and pillars and encompass rock-cut for worship. Pandavleni Caves, Maharashtra Karla Caves, Maharashtra The Pandavleni caves are a group of 24 caves Karla Caves are one of the ancient caves in which were carved between the 3rd and 2nd of Maharashtra that follows the mixed Century AD. Although these caves are located Hindu and Buddhists style of rock-carved caves near one of the holiest Hindu sites and have a architecture. The group at Karla consists of 16 name of Hindu , these rock-cut temples rock cut excavations of which cave 8 is the initially were started by Jains and later turned into chaityagriha which was carved during rather significant centre of Buddhism. Satavahanas dynasty (271 BCE to 30 BCE). The main cave or the ‘’ (prayer hall) is the These caves are some of the largest rock-cut best of all the caves as it has a beautiful Buddhist shrines in India. The monasteries at located within. The site has an excellent ancient Karla could be datable between circa 60-40 B.C. water management system and skillfully chiseled and 4th century A.D. out of solid rock are several attractive water tanks

4. Bhaja Caves, Maharashtra Joyeshwari Caves: Maharashtra Bhaja Cave is a group of 22 rock-cut caves dating These caves are within the island of Salsette back to the 2nd century BC located in , near which comprised the original ‘Bombay’ island. Lonavala, Maharashtra. These caves are cut in Although greatly defaced, they are of interest as steep cliff face 120 m above the surrounding they belong to the last stages of the plain, all looking to the west. . Brahmanical influence is The most impressive is the large shrine evident for the shrines are isolated and stand in the chaityagriha, a prayer hall with a stupa at one end. centre of a cruciform hall with more than one The other awe-inspiring features of the Bhaja entrance. The caves belong to the second half of caves is a group of 14 stupas, five inside and nine the 8th century. outside an irregular excavation

6 TM Newspaper Analysis Programe WORKSHEeT -10 (UPSC PTcumMAINS-2020) (Rock CUT ARCHITECTURE) Montpezir (Mandapeswar): Maharashtra cut architecture in eastern India in the field of These caves are of particular interest as they are architecture, art and religion. probably the only Brahmanical caves to be On the basis of inscriptional evidences, these converted into a Christian shrine. Even today, caves were first excavated by king of there is a Christian orphanage, the ruins of an old Chedi dynasty and his successors who were Portuguese , and a Franciscan monastery devout Jainas during the first century B.C. nearby. The three caves date from the 8th century. Junagadh Caves: Bagh: Madhya Pradesh Uparkot (meaning ‘citadel’) is an ancient fortress Bagh cave ,Located at a distance of around 97km which was the scene of historic sieges between the from Dhar Town in (Madhya middle of the 14th and end of the 16th century Pradesh), there are nine sandstone Buddhist caves AD. Its entrance, in the form of an archway, is a with beautiful frescoes and sculptured stonework. fine specimen of the Hindu torana. A tentative dating assigns them to 6th century AD Uparkot has many interesting Buddhist caves and but they may have predated the Ajanta frescoes. was evidently the site of a Buddhist monastery in ancient times. Some of the caves, apparently, were : Madhya Pradesh two or three storeys high. Belonging to about AD At Udayagiri, 20 rock-cut chambers were 300, their outstanding features are the halls, excavated during the Gupta period, two of which connected by winding staircases. In the upper bear inscriptions from the reign of Chandra Gupta chamber is a small refractory and a tank II. These caves are vital documents since they surrounded by a corridor, all supported by six constitute the earliest intact body of in richly carved columns indicative of fine India, and demonstrate that by the early fifth craftsmanship. century, many Hindu iconographic formulas were already well established. One of the most Bādāmi Caves - Early Chalukya Capital (6th important caves at Udayagiri is Cave 5, the century CE) KARNATAKA Cave (or niche). Its main feature is a Other examples of cave temple architecture are colossal rock-cut relief of the boar-incarnation the in Badami, the early (Varaha) of God Vishnu rescuing the Earth Chalukya capital, carved out in the 6th century Goddess from chaos in the presence of adoring CE. gods and saints. The town of Badami in India lies at the mouth of a ravine with rocky hills on either side. Carved out Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, of the soft sandstone of these hill cliffs, the four Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves are partly natural cave temples of Badami were built by the son of and partly artificial caves of archaeological, Pulakesi I – Kirthivarman (ruled in 567 – 598 AD) historical and religious importance near the city of and his brother Mangalesha I (ruled in 598 – 610 Bhubaneswar in Odisha, India. These two hills AD). represent one of the earliest groups of Jaina rock- Badami Caves represent the secular nature of the rulers then, with tolerance and a religious

7 TM Newspaper Analysis Programe WORKSHEeT -10 (UPSC PTcumMAINS-2020) (Rock CUT ARCHITECTURE) following that inclines towards , The five rath Buddhism and . Cave 1 is dedicated to 1. Dharmaraja Shiva, caves 2 and 3 to Vishnu, and cave 4 is a 2. Ratha . 3. Ratha, 4. Undavaili: 5. - Ratha, The caves near (Andhra Pradesh) are 7th century Hindu cave temples cut The ‘Rathas’ are now half buried in the sand, into five tiers along the slope of a back granite silent monuments to the age of kings gone by, hill. The main attraction is a reclining of their silhouettes, and graceful surface sculpture Vishnu, sculpted from a single block of granite. exact, in every detail, to the great temples of the The Buddha is given pride of place. south that would follow.

Mahābalipuram – the Pallavas (600-900 CE) There is no timeline that divides the creation of The next notable development in rock-cut rock-cut temples and free-standing temples built architecture occurs much later chronologically with cut stones, as they developed in parallel. (600-900 CE), as well as much further south, at Mahabalipuram, under the reign of the Pallavas of The building of free-standing structures began in Kanchi. They were the founders of what later 5th century, while rock-cut temples continued to came to be known as the ‘Dravidian Style’, which be excavated until the 12th century. An example became the style prevalent all over of a free-standing structural temple is the Shore during the medieval times. Temple, with its slender tower, built on the shore of the , with finely carved granite The Pallava architects started the carving of rock rocks, cut like bricks, and dating from 8th century. for the creation of monolithic copies of structural It is part of the Group of Monuments at temples (the 5 Rathas), which are now known as Mahābalipuram UNESCO World Heritage Site the ‘Five Rathas of Mahābalipuram’ or the ‘Seven (1984). ’. The ‘Rathas’ are not very large, the biggest measuring 42-feet by 35-feet, and the Varaha Cave Temple, Tamil Nadu tallest is 40-feet high. These ‘Rathas’ were not Built in the late 7th century, the Varaha Cave consecrated since their ‘stupas’ were still attached Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is one of the to the bedrock. The ‘Pancharathas’ is an example finest examples of Indian rock-cut cave of monolithic Indian rock-cut architecture dating architecture. The Varaha Cave Temple has from the late 7th century. beautifully moulded lion pillars, while the relief sculptures of , and Varaha, the The five monolithic rock-cut ‘Rathas” were built boar incarnation of Vishnu, are among the by Varman I (r. 630-668 CE). masterpieces of Pallava art.

8 TM Newspaper Analysis Programe WORKSHEeT -10 (UPSC PTcumMAINS-2020) (Rock CUT ARCHITECTURE) The structure is part of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1984.

Source: CCRT and others

Class explanation- mind map

9 TM Newspaper Analysis Programe WORKSHEeT -10 (UPSC PTcumMAINS-2020) (Rock CUT ARCHITECTURE) Q. Discuss the different characteristics and significance of rock cut . (10 Marks)

10 TM Newspaper Analysis Programe WORKSHEeT -10 (UPSC PTcumMAINS-2020) (Rock CUT ARCHITECTURE)

11 TM Newspaper Analysis Programe WORKSHEeT -10 (UPSC PTcumMAINS-2020) (Rock CUT ARCHITECTURE)

th th Aspire IAS - NOTIFICATION Written test 5 to 10 Nov (6 SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS)

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