Component-I (A) – Personal details: Prof. P. Bhaskar Reddy Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati. Dr. Ravi Korisettar, UGC Emeritus Fellow Karnatak University, Dharwad. Jitu Mishra and Zehra Chhapiwala Virasat E Hind Foundation. Bombay. Dr. Ravi Korisettar Karnatak University, Dharwad. 1 Component-I (B) – Description of module: Subject Name Indian Culture Paper Name Art and Architecture of India Module Name/Title Kalinga School of Temple Architecture Module Id IC / AAI / 20 Pre requisites Understanding the evolution and silent features of Kalinga Objectives School of Temple Architecture with special reference to Bhubaneswar and Konark in Odisha. Nagara School of temple architecture, Kalinga, Rekha Keywords Deula, Pidha Deula, Khakhara Deula, Bhubaneswar, Konark E-text (Quadrant-I) : 1. Introduction Odisha or the ancient Kalinga situated along the eastern seaboard of India has been a major centre of Hindu religious architecture from the 7th century AD. Bhubaneshwar, the capital of Odisha, literally means the Bhuban (abode) of Ishwar (Shiva). The city was at the heart of temple building activity of Kalingan order. The temples of Bhubaneshwar display exquisite craftsmanship and artisanship in the sculptures, carvings, ornamentation and architecture. The city was originally known as Ekamra Kshetra due to a popular legend as described in the EkamraPurana, a 13th century Sanskrit treatise that the swayambhu lingam of Lingaraja was discovered under a single mango (Ek Amra) tree. Ekamra Kshetra spreads over 1.6 km with the Lingaraj Temple and the adjoining Bindusagar lake at its centre. According to the Ekamra Purana, 7000 temples existed in the vicinity of Bindusagar of which only a few hundred are extant. From the 12th century AD, the focus of temple building shifted from Bhubaneswar to Puri (the great temple of Lord Jagannath, 12th century AD) and Konark (the Sun Temple, 13th century AD). 2. Kalinga Kalinga refers to the eastern coastal belt of India between the Mahanadi and the Godavari Rivers (Odisha and Andhra Pradesh). In the 3rd century BC, Kalinga was annexed by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka after the Kalinga War. It was subsequently ruled by several dynasties including Mahameghavahana, Sailodhbhava, Bhaumakara, Somavanshis and Eastern Gangas. Between the periods of 11thto 15th Centuries AD, Kalinga was ruled by the Eastern Gangas, who also bore the title Kalingadhipati. Some of Odisha’s greatest temples, such as the 2 Jagannath Temple at Puri and the Sun Temple at Konrak were built during the Eastern Ganga rule. Their capital was originally located at Kalinganagar (present day Mukhalingam on Andhra – Odisha border) and was later shifted to Katak (present day Cuttack) in the 12th century AD. 3. The Kalinga School The temples of Odisha followed a local style of Nagara or North India School of Temple architecture called Kalinga School of architecture. The temples of Lingaraj in Bhubaneswar, Jagannath in Puri and Surya in Konark represent the best examples of Kalinga School of Architecture. The temples of Kalinga order followed a common structural and elevation plan. The elevation plan is based on certain fundamental principles of stability and is named after parts of the human body. The superstructure is basically divided into three parts, the Bāḍa (lower limb), the Ganḍi (body) and the Mastaka (head). picture courtesy – wikimedia commons Bada is the vertical section of pilasters from the Pithha (plinth) up to the base of the Kalasa. The enclosure created by this Bada is the Garbhagruha or the sanctum sanctorum. The different vertical sections of Bada from the bottom are 3 (i) Paabhaga or Paada. sacred foot (ii) TaalaJangha. lower leg (iii) Bandhanni. knee (iv) UpparaJangha. upper leg (v) Barandi. Waistline Gandi is the body segment of temple above the Bada, where in the Rekhas or Paagas are prominent. These Rathakas or Paagas (Are the curvilinear pilasters like structures) rising above the Bada level, gradually curve inward and, form a horizontal surface called the Ghodachakadda. It is named as Ghoodachakadda because Chakaddameans a slab of stone and Ghooda means cover. Gandi (Body) In improvised temples, towards the lower middle portion of Gandi, Bajra Mastaka motifs are seen. In larger temples more than one Ghoodachakadda are used, which means that many levels or closed chambers are created. As per rituals, various things were kept in these chambers. For aeration, small openings through UdayataSingha are kept. And these Udayata Singha are located above the level of Ghoodachakadda.Udayata Singhas are lions standing atop an elephant, a variation of the Gaja Simha Vidala (another commonly seen sculpture on Kalingan temple walls). The Mastaka of temple generally divided into six parts: 1. Beki :The neck 2. Tripatta Dhara: Three thin line on upper portion of Beki and just under Amalakasila. 3. Amlakasila: It is also called the Amlakashree. A goose berry structured ribbed stone 4. Khapuri: Cap like structure on the Amlakasila. 5. Kalasa: Is the sacred pot with 8 subparts like Pada, Dori, Handi, Patti, Handi, Beki, Khapuri and Gaddi thus also called the Astanga Kalasa. 6. Ayudha: The sacred weapon atop the Astanga Kalasa on which the Dhwaja (flag) is tied 4 The floor plan has two apartments - The ‘deula’ is the cubical inner sanctum or apartment that enshrines the deity and is surmounted by a tall tower. In front of this is the porch, called the Jagamohana which is usually square shaped and has a stacked pyramidal roof. Later, two more mandapas or assembly halls, such as the natya-mandapa (dance hall) and the bhoga-mandapa(hall of offerings) were added in front of the Jagamohana. In Odiya, a shrine is called Deula. In contrast to the North Indian temples, which are enriched with lavishly carved inner chambers and projected balconies, the temples of Bhubaneswar have dark compact interiors devoid of pillars and artistic decorations. Kalinga Temples are typically of three types. 1. The Rekha Deula (those with a curvilinear roof above the inner sanctum resembling a peak called shikhara) 2. The Pidha Deula (the stacked pyramidal roof over an assembly hall) 3. The Khakhara Deula (the barrel vaulted roof with an inner sanctum) RekhaDeula Rekha in Odiya means a straight line. The typical Rekha Deula complex has a shrine with different parts of the temple which align along the same (east-west) line or axis It is a tall building with a prominent curvilinear roof (shikhara or vimana) resembling the peak of a mountain which covers and typically protects the rectilinear sanctum sanctorum (garbagriha – shrine which houses the deity). These temples may have other structures as a part of a larger temple plan, or house a singular deity as a complete small temple. These are typically dedicated to Vishnu, Surya and Shiva The most distinct examples of Rekha Deula type of temples is the Jagannath Temple at Puri or the Lingaraj Temple at Bhubaneswar. Pidha Deula Pidha Deula refers to the square building with a pyramidal shaped roof which consists of Pidhas (horizontal platforms) that are layered upon each other to form the roof, arranged into three tiers. Typically these structures are seen as supportive structures to a Rekha Deula style of temple with a Jagamohan (assembly or congregation hall), and often a Natyamandir (dance hall) and a Bhogamandapa (hall of offerings) are built in this style. A Pidha Deula is used to house the deity on very rare occasions. This structure is seen in Shiva, Vishnu and Surya Temples. 5 The assembly hall of the Konark Sun Temple is an outstanding example Khakhara Deula The Khakhra Deula is a different type of structure quiet similar to the DravidaGopuram design. The word is derived from Khakharu (pumpkin, gourd) as the crown looks like a barrel vaulted elongated roof. It is a rectangular building with a truncated pyramid shaped roof, like the gopuras. These temple complexes will have a Khakharadeula and a Pidhadeula, but no Rekhadeula. The temples of the feminine deities such as Shakti are of the Khakhara style Varahi Temple at Chaurasi and Vaital Deula of Bhubaneswar are examples of Khakhara order. 4. The Evolution of Kalinga School of Temple Architecture The temples of Odisha portray a picture of organic evolution from Parasurameswar to Lingaraj in Bhubaneswar, eventually culminating in Puri and the gigantic Konark. Phases of evolution 1. The Formative Phase – 6th to 9th centuries AD Dominant Dynasty–Bhaumakaras Finest example – Vaital Deula During this phase Rekhadeula style temples are seen with flat roofed Jagamohan. 2. The Transitional Phase – 9th to 11th centuries AD Dominant Dynasty – Somvansis Finest examples – Mukteshwar Temple, Rajarani Temple and Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneshwar The Pidhadeula was developed and surmounted with a stacked conical roof. It became an inseparable part of the Orissa temple Ornamentation like Rathakas and agnishikharas were introduced on the Gandi Udayata Singhas embellished the Mastaka along with Amalakashila with khapuri, Ayudha and Dhwaja 6 3. The Mature Phase – 11th to 13th centuries AD Dominant Dynasty – Eastern Gangas Finest examples – Konark Sun Temple, Jagannath Temple, Puri The temples were built on raised platforms. As a result the pistha became clearly visible. The natyamandapa and bhogamandapa were added in front of the Pidha Deula, each structure ascending in height to the previous one. There was distinct development of the design in Saptaratha plan. Provisions are made for porches and subsidiary temples for accomodting the Parsvadevata One of the most dominant features of the Jagamohana was the Siksadana motif of a guru imparting instructions or related motifs of a royal figure surrounded by courtiers or riding in a procession. This became a standard decoration of the Gavaksamandana (panel on transept), a placement prescribed in the Silpaprakash. From this was developed the concept of Muktimandapa during 15th century. 4. The Decline Phase – 14th to 16th centuries AD Dominant Dynasty - Gajapatis 5. Art The sculptural art of Kalingan Temples may broadly be classified into 1.