SOUTH INDIAN TEMPLE FORMS

Shweta Kardam

Syed Asif FurqanSyed Asif Furqan

Syed Imran Imamuddin

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

HISTORY

COMPOSITION & STRUCTURE

FEATURES FEATURES

EXAMPLES

TYPES OF SOUTH INDIAN TEMPLES &

EXAMPLES

Dravidian architecture was a style of architecture that emergedthousands of years ago in the Indian subcontinent. They consistprimarily of pyramid shaped temples which are dependent onintricate carved stone in order to create a step design consistingof numerous statues of deities, warriors, kings, and dancers. The

INTRODUCTION

of numerous statues of deities, warriors, kings, and dancers. Themajority of the existing buildings are located in the SouthernIndian states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, andKarnataka.Various kingdoms and empires such as the Pallavas, Cholas,Chalukyas, Pandayas etc amongst the many others have made asubstantial contribution to the evolution of Dravidian architecturethrough the ages.

The architectural history of the Dravidian country starts only with thebeginning of the seventh century A.D .

The earliest temples were built with perishable materials like timberand clay. Cave-temples, temples carved out of the stone or built withbricks came later. Heavy stone structures with ornate architectureand sculpture belong to a still later period.

HISTORYHISTORYHISTORYHISTORY

bricks came later. Heavy stone structures with ornate architectureand sculpture belong to a still later period.

The building of temple has progressed more or less on a set pattern.This is because there is a basic philosophy behind the temple, itsmeaning and significance.

The Dravidian style, has its towers in the form of truncated pyramids.In its later evolution the circular or stellar plan was retained for thevimana.

The Dravidian school of architecture mainly belongs to the Tamil region which wereboth rock-cut and structural. The later rock-cut temples which belong roughly to theperiod 500-800 A.D, patronised by three great ruling dynasties of the south, namelythe Pallavas of Kanchi in the east, the Chalukyas of Badami in the 8th century A.D,the Rastrakutas of Malkhed came to power and they made great contributions to thedevelopment of South Indian temple architecture.

The Dravida style became very popular throughout south India only from theVijayanagar times onward. The prasada or vimana of the Dravida style rises like astepped pyramid, tier upon tier.

During the next thousand years (from600 to 1600 A.D.) there was a phenomenalgrowth in temple architecture both in quantity and quality.

In South India the temple is a massive & complex structure,

often covering large areas. It is usually conspicuous because

of its gate towers or the main central tower, which can be

seen dominating the landscape for miles around.

COMPOSITION & STRUCTURECOMPOSITION & STRUCTURECOMPOSITION & STRUCTURECOMPOSITION & STRUCTURE

Dravidian style temples consist almost invariably of the four following parts,

arranged in various manners, as afterwards to be explained :

The main Sanctum (garbhagraha)

An open or closed hall (mandapam)

In front of the mandapam is offering

platform (balpitha)platform (balpitha)

A surrounding courtyard enclosed by a

wall (prakara) with a axial doorway in line

with the sanctum.

This doorway is surmounted by a large

stepped tower structure (gopurams)stepped tower structure (gopurams)

For shiva temples the vehicle is a bull

(nandi), for Vishnu it is a winged man

(garuda), for ganesha a rat, for durga

by the figure representing this vehicle

placed on the corners of the towers.

Types of South Indian Temples

The South Indian style of temple architecture is very distinctfrom that of the rest of India. It is convenient to resolve thetypes of architecture into four periods corresponding to theprincipal kingdoms that ruled in southern India down thecenturies i.e. the Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas and theVijayanagara rulers.Vijayanagara rulers.

According to the plan -- four sided, polygonal or curvilinear -- thesouthern Vimanas are classified in the southern Silpa andAgama texts as Nagara (distinguished by the curvilineartowers), Dravida (having truncated pyramids) andVesara(square, octagon and the apse or circle in the plan).

PALLAVAS

(600-900 AD)

The earliest examples of temples inthe Dravidan style belong to thePallava period.

The temple architecture of thePallavas is divided into two groups:rock-cut (610-690 AD) andPallavas is divided into two groups:rock-cut (610-690 AD) andstructural (690-900 AD).

Pallavas greatest constructedaccomplishments are the single Rocktemples in Mahabalipuram and theircapital Kanchipuram, now located inTamil Nadu.

The greatest accomplishments

Of the Pallava architecture are

the rock-cut temples at

Mahabalipuram. There are

excavated pillared halls and

monolithic shrines known as

rathas in Mahabalipuram.

The five rathas were built by Narasimhavarman I (625-645 AD) and are

named after Draupadi, Arjuna, Bhima, Dharmaraja and Sahadeva. The

Dharmaraja ratha is the longest and most complete of these rathas.

Some fine examples of the Pallava temples are The Kailasanatha temple

also called Rajasimha Pallaveswaram in Kanchipuram built by

Narasimhavarman II Shore Temple constructed by Narasimhavarman II near

Mahabalipuram.

The Shore Temple Shore Temple Shore Temple Shore Temple at Mamallapuram

The Shore Temple (700-728 CE) is so named

because it over looks the Bay of Bengal. It is a

structural temple, built with blocks of granite,

dating from the 8th century AD.

ArchitectureArchitectureArchitectureArchitecture

The Shore Temple is a five-storeyed structural Hindutemple rather than rock-cut as are the othermonuments at the site. It is the earliest importantstructural temple in Southern India. Its pyramidalstructure is 60 ft high and sits on a 50 ft squareplatform. There is a small temple in front which wasthe original porch. It is made out of finely cut localgranite.granite.

The entrance is through a transverse barrel vaultgopuram. The two shikharas have a pyramidal outline,each individual tier is distinct with overhanging eavesthat cast dark shadows. The outer wall of the shrine toVishnu and the inner side of the boundary wall areextensively sculptured and topped by large sculpturesof Nandi. The temple's outer walls are divided byplasters into bays, the lower part being carved into aseries of rearing lions.

The temple has a garbhagriha in which the deity, Sivalinga, is enshrined, and a small

mandapa surrounded by a heavy outer wall with little space between for circumambulation.

At the rear are two shrines facing opposite directions. The inner shrine dedicated to

Ksatriyasimnesvara is reached through a passage while the other, dedicated to Vishnu, faces

the outside. The Durga is seated on her lion vahana. A small shrine may have been in the

cavity in the lion's chest.

Virupaksha TempleVirupaksha TempleVirupaksha TempleVirupaksha Temple

This temple was built by

Lokamahadevi, the Queen of

Vikaramaditya II in about

A.D.740 to commemorate her

husbands victory over the

Pallavas of Kanchipuram. It closelyPallavas of Kanchipuram. It closely

resembles the Kailasanatha temple at

Kanchipuram on plan and elevation and represents a fully developed and

perfected stage of the Dravidian architecture.

PlanFacing east, this temple has on plan a square sanctum (garbha-griha) with a circumambulatory path (pradakshinapatha), an antarala with two small shrines for Ganesa and Mahishamardini facing each other infront, a sabha-mandapawith entrance porches on the east, north and south and a separate Nandi-mandapa in front. The complex is enclosed by high prakara walls. is enclosed by high prakara walls. Against the inner faces of these walls there were small shrines (originally 32) dedicated to the subsidiary deities (parivaradevatas) of which only a few are extant now. The enclosure has been provided with ornate entrance gates ((pratolis) on both east and west.

CHALUKYASCHALUKYASCHALUKYASCHALUKYAS

AD 543 - 753

The Badami Chalukyas also called the Early

Chalukyas, ruled from Badami, Karnataka

and spawned the Vesara

style called Badami Chalukya Architecture.

The finest examples of their art are seen in

Pattadakal, Aihole and Badami in northern

Karnataka. Over 150 temples remain in theKarnataka. Over 150 temples remain in the

Malaprabha basin.

The most enduring legacy of the Chalukya

dynasty is the architecture and art that they left behind. More than one hundred and fiftymonuments attributed to the Badami Chalukya, and built between 450 and 700, remain inthe Malaprabha basin in Karnataka.

The rock-cut temples of Pattadakal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Badami and Aihole aretheir most celebrated monuments.

Here we would like to discuss in detail of its these two examples:

LADKHAN TEMPLE, DURGA TEMPLE

AIHOLEAIHOLEAIHOLEAIHOLE

Aihole (Kannada) is a temple complex in the

Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It is a

very popular tourist spot in north Karnataka.

Aihole is to the east of Pattadakal, along the

Malaprabha River, while Badami is to the

west of both.west of both.

Aihole was the first capital of the early Chalukyas. The village of Aihole contains

over 125 temples from the Early Western Chalukya and later periods (6th - 12th

century).

Aihole has its own historical significance and is called as cradle of Hindu rock

architecture. Many temples and caves of historical importance can be found at

Aihole.

LADKHAN TEMPLE

The north face of the temple is shown.

The temple's sloping two-tiered roof,

which imitates wood construction, is

furnished with stone "logs" that cover

the joints between the roofing slabs.

The temple's design(plan). contains otherunusual featuresThe porch fronts asquare mandapa.In the center of theMandapa , a NandiFaces the smallinterior shrine, whichabuts the rear wall ofabuts the rear wall ofthe mandapa. Insteadof the usual tower ,a roof top shrine(the structure on topof the roof in thisphoto) is positionedover the center of themandapa.

PLAN

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

Porch

The porch, which faces

east, is decorated with pot

motifs and couples.motifs and couples.

Balcony Decoration

Decoration on the outer balcony

of the porch includes pots

(center), river goddesses (left),

and couples (right)

Chalukya Emblems

Emblems of the Chalukyas found on

the temple include a boar, a curled-up

lotus stem (behind the boar), a solar

disk above , and a circular object

(mirror?) on a stand to the right.

Column DecorationColumn Decoration

The decoration combines motifs of kingship

and fertility. Below a canopy with royal

symbols (parasol and crossed chauris) are

two registers with lotus flowers. Beneath

those, a design with dwarf pipers (ganas) and

kirttimukhas.

Nandi

As usual, Nandi faces the temple's

shrine.

CoupleThe affectionate pair is framed

by a lunette, with a maid at their feet. The composition is well -

fitted to its defined space. The man's back and head conform to the

curve of the lunette. His

rear leg extends into one corner of the arch, while the figure of the maid

fills the opposite corner.

DURGA TEMPLE

The name "Durga" refers to a fort,

not to the goddess ; apparently at

one time the building was used as a

military outpost (durg). It is not known

to which deity the templeto which deity the temple

was originally dedicated. The photo

was taken from the southwest

corner. It shows the south wall and

curved west end (rear) of the temple.

The entrance is from east.

Sculpture Key

A = Shiva,

B = Narasimha,

C = Vishnu,

D = Varaha,

E = Durga, E = Durga,

F = Harihara

The temple's unusual apsidal form is thought to imitate theearlier Buddhist chaitya halls. An inner wall of similar shapeencloses the sanctuary (plan). An incomplete tower (closeup)perches on the roof above the sanctuary.

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

Entrance Porch

The porch faces east. Entrance

stairs run up sideways, behind

the frontal barrier wall in the

foreground.

Column Decoration

Entrance Porch, Durga Temple, Aihole

The columns are decorated with couples.

Ceiling Medallion

The medallion depicts a stylized lotus

pond. A school of fish, encircled by a

band of lotus plants, converges radially

to a central nub. The design is symmetric,

with plants arranged in alternating closed

and open views. The formal pattern is

much enlivened by the naturalistic

rendering of its fish and plant motifs.

A naga king , his body coiled into aA naga king , his body coiled into a

Circle , is accompanied by female

attendants. In his right hand, the naga

carries a garland (not his tail, as it may

seem at first). In his left hand, he

bears an offering platter which like

those of the attendants, is filled with

fruits of the earth.

Celestial Couple

These exquisite flying divinities

emerge like a dream from the

much-damaged ceiling.

Celestial City

This paradise scene is from

the lintel above the sanctuary

entrance. Its foundations are

supported by a gana bearing

elaborate garland.

Shiva with Nandi

Eight - armed Shiva poses with Nandi in a

sculpture from one of the niches in the

colonnade. The location of this and the

following sculptures , which are seen by

proceeding through the colonnade in the usual

counterclockwise direction, is indicated in the

plan of the temple.

Narasimha

The man- lion form of

Vishnu lounges in

tribhanga posture, his

front right forearm

casually supporting a

club (missing) .

Vishnu with Garuda

The mount of Vishnu appears here in an odd-

looking, dwarf-like form. Some wing feathers

are visible to the right of the figure.

Varaha

Vishnu's Boar avatar lifts Bhu Devi on the

crook of his arm, while suppressing the

snakes with his foot.

Durga

Durga attacks the buffalo demon, as her lion

grimaces fiercely from the side. The

goddess's left leg and several arms are

missing. As mentioned earlier, the temple is

not named after this goddess.

HariharaHarihara

Although many attributes are missing on

right side, this figure can be identified by

the gana at his lower right. Ganas are

attendants on Shiva, but his opposite side is

Vishnu ( with conch and discus attributes , and

attended by a female) , so taken together this

figure must be Harihara.

CHOLAS

850 CE - 1250 CE

The period of the Cholas was an age of continuous improvement and refinement of

the Dravidian art and architecture. They utilised their wealth in building long-lasting

stone temples and exquisite bronze sculptures. Most of these still stand proudly.

ArchitectureArchitecture

The Cholas continued the temple building traditions of the Pallava dynasty. The Chola

kings built numerous temples throughout the kingdom. The evolution of the temple

architectural styles can be divided into three phases - the early phase starting with

Vijayalaya Chola, the middle phase of Rajaraja Chola and Rajendra Chola when the

achievements scaled heights never reached before or since and the final phase during

the Chalukya Chola period of Kulottunga Chola I and after.

BRIDESHVARA TEMPLE

The Brihadeswara or Rajarajeswara Temple

of Shiva in Tanjore built by Rajaraja

Chola in 1010 A.D. is the largest and

highest of Chola temple. Undoubtedly,

the most impressive aspect of the

temple is the square tower that rises

some 66 metres above the ground,

directly over the sanctuary. This is built directly over the sanctuary. This is built

of granite blocks laid without any mortar,

cantilevering inwards and hollow on the

inside. The tower is carried on walls

divided into two storeys, each marked by basement mouldings,

Pilastered walls with sculpture panels, and overhanging eaves, the upper

storey being completed by a parapet of model vaulted roof forms. The walls

are rhythmically divided into alternating recesses and projections, the latter

punctuated by niches to house carved images of Shiva in different aspects,

including Nataraja. They are replaced by guardian figures beside the

window openings in the middle of each side.

.

The tower above is a steeply pyramidal

composition of thirteen storeys, each with

pilastered walls and a parapet of model

roof forms, diminishing gradually in scale

to create an impression of limitless height.

This notion of a multi-storeyed

pyramidal tower is, in fact, an essential

feature of the Dravida style, dating back to the

earliest South Indian temples of the seventh and eighth centuries. At the top is a

massive octagonal-to-dome roof, once though to consist of a single piece of

The 13-stoned pyramidal tower

massive octagonal-to-dome roof, once though to consist of a single piece of

stone, but actually fashioned from several

tightly fitted sections

View of the gopura (portal) and the temple

The temple stands in a vast

Rectangular compound,

entered on the east through

a towered gateway known

as a gopura.

This entrance structure is

aligned with the temple

itself, the core of which itself, the core of which

consists of a square linga sanctuary surrounded by a passageway

on two levels. Windows on three sides admit light into the

passageway, while at the same time giving expression to the

luminous energy of the linga radiating outwards. The shrine is

approached from the east through a vestibule with side doorways reached by flights of

steps. Further to the east are two spacious columned halls, intended for

congregational gatherings and public ceremonies

PANDYA ARCHITECTUREPANDYA ARCHITECTUREPANDYA ARCHITECTUREPANDYA ARCHITECTURE

1100-1350 AD Pandya architecture includes both rock-cut and structural temples. The

early rock-cut temples have monolithic vimanas. The structural ones aresmall stone temples and have all the features of bigger temples i.e.vimana, mandapa and sikhara. Groups of small temples are to be seen atTiruchirapalli district of Tamil Nadu. The Shiva temples have a Nandi infront of the maha mandapa.

The period of the latter Pandya rulers saw the development of elegant The period of the latter Pandya rulers saw the development of elegantvimanas with finely sculptured idols and the gopurams or portals of thetemples. The rectangular entrance or portals of the temple are called thegopurams. The portions above the entrance is pyramidal in shape.Gradually the gopurams were given more importance than the sikharas.While the former were higher and more imposing, the latter declined inheight. Lofty gopurams of great proportions with lavish decoration wereconstructed by succeeding dynasties.

Meenakshi Temple at Madurai

1. The Meenakshi Sundareswarar

temple (twin temples) is one of the

biggest temples in India. The plan for

the current temple structure was

laid by Viswanath Naik and was

completed by Tirumalai Nayakar.

2. There are 12 massive gopurams in

the temple, the four tallest gopurams at

the outer walls (The tallest is the southern

gopuram, measuring 49 metres). There are

four entrances. The main entrance is to the

Meenakshi Amman shrine.

Ashta Shakthi Mandapam is

reached from the eastern gateway. It was built

by Thirumalai Nayakar's wives Rudrapathi

Ammal and Tholimamai. The scenes from the

Thiruvilayadals of the Lord and from Meenakshi

Amman's life as a princess are depicted on the

pillars of this mandapam.

The thousand pillared hall is an architectural &

engineering marvel, built in the 16th century. The

pillars have the Yazhi figure sculpted on

them. There are musical granite pillars just outside

this mandapam, which when struck yield different

musical notes.

The Meenakshi temple was designed as a series of concentric courtyards, or parikramas. The outermost ring had buildings of a more practical nature - accounts, dormitories, kitchens, shops selling items for rituals, maintenance areas and 'parking' for the increasing number of chariots. The inner circles contained parikramas for singing and religious tales, bathing tanks and guest houses. And in the innermost courts were the pavilions for the dancing girls and the treasury .

With temple building losing its architectural challenge and becoming architectural challenge and becoming more a town planning exercise, the craftsman was restricted to working on pavilions, halls and Gopurams, the last of which grew ever larger and imposing. The huge hall in the Meenakshi temple needed 985 pillars to support its roof. This is the famous 'Hall of a Thousand Pillars'. Unfortunately its size cannot compensate for its architectural mediocrity,

Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram Temple is a famous Hindu

temple dedicated to god Shiva located in the

island of Rameswaram in the state of Tamilnadu,

India.

Like all ancient temples in South India, there is a Like all ancient temples in South India, there is a

high compound wall (madil) on all four sides of

the temple premises measuring about 865 feet

furlong from east to west and one furlongs of 657

feet from north to south with huge towers

(Gopurams) at the east and west and finished

gate towers on the north and south. The temple

has striking long corridors in its interior, running

between huge colonnades on platforms above five feet high.

Temple Structure

The junction of the third corridor on the

west and the paved way leading from the

western gopuram to Setumadhava shrine

forms a unique structure in the form of chess

board and it is popularly known as

Chokkattan Madapam where the Utsva

deities are adorned and kept.deities are adorned and kept.

The outer set of corridors is reputed to be the longest in the word being

about 400 feet in each in the east and west and about 640 feet in north and

south and inner corridors are about 224 feet in east and west and about

352 feet each in north and south. Their width varies from 15.5 feet to 17

feet in the east and west about 172 feet on the north and south with width

varying 14.5 feet to 17 feet. The total length of those corridors is thus 3850

feet. There are about 1200 pillars in the outer corridor. Their height is about 30

feet from the floor to the center of the roof.

Outer WingEast-West690

feet North-South435

feetInner wingEast-West649

feet North-South395 feet

Total number of pillars1212Total number of pillars1212

Height of corridor is

22 feet 7.6 inch