Architecture in medieval India

Social holiday homework

JUNE 1, 2022
by rishikaa
7E DSE
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Dravidian architecture
Dravida Style of Architecture is one of the types of Temple architecture.
Dravidian architecture, or the South Indian temple style, is an architectural
idiom in Hindu temple architecture that emerged in the southern part of the
Indian subcontinent or South India and in Sri Lanka, reaching its final form by
the sixteenth century. The Dravidian style of temple architecture of South India
was pioneered by the Pallavas who reigned in parts of Karnataka, Andhra
Pradesh, and northern Tamil Nadu until the ninth century.

Mentioned as one of three styles of temple building in the ancient book Vastu
shastra, the majority of the existing structures are located in the Southern
Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana,
some parts of Maharashtra, Odisha and Sri Lanka.[1][2] Various kingdoms and
empires such as the Satavahanas, the Cholas, the Chera, the Kakatiyas, the
Reddis, the Pandyas, the Pallavas, the Gangas, the Kadambas, the Rashtrakutas,
the Chalukyas, the Hoysalas, and Vijayanagara Empire among others have made
substantial contribution to the evolution of the Dravida architecture.
Fergusson, James (1864). The Rock-cut Temples of India: Illustrated by Seventy-
four Photographs Taken on the Spot by Major Gill. J. Murray.
Hardy, Adam (2007). The Temple Architecture of India. Wiley

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Features of Dravidian architecture:

 The temple is enclosed within a compound wall.

 Gopuram: The entrance gateway in the centre of the front wall.
 Vimana: The shape of the main temple tower. It is a stepped pyramid that
rises up geometrically (unlike the Nagara style Shikhara that is curving).

 In the Dravida style, shikhara is the word used for the crowning element at
the top of the temple (which is shaped like a stupika or octagonal cupola).
 At the entrance to the garbhagriha, there would be sculptures of fierce
dvarapalas guarding the temple.
 Generally, there is a temple tank within the compound.
 Subsidiary shrines could be found wither within the main tower or beside
the main tower.
 In many temples, the garbhagriha is located in the smallest tower. It is also
the oldest. With the passage of time and the rise of the population of the
temple-town, additional boundary walls were added. The newest structure
would mostly have the tallest gopuram.
 In the 8th to 12th centuries – temples were not confined to being religious
centres but became administrative centres as well with large swathes of
land.

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Examples of Dravidian architecture:

Chennakesava Temple in Belur

Hoysaleswara temple in Halebidu

Sriranganathar Temple at Srirangam

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Nagara architecture:
Nagara style is one of the styles of temple architecture. It is the temple
construction style of North India. In this style of the temple, there is only one
peak or Shikhara. A Nagara temple, it is placed on a high platform accessed by
stairs. There are four smaller temples in the corners, and all the towers or
shikharas rise high, upward in a curved pyramidal fashion, emphasizing the
temple's vertical thrust ending in a horizontal fluted disc called an amalak
topped with a kalash or vase.

Features of Dravidian architecture:

 Nagara style of temple architecture that became popular in northern India

is known as Nagara.
 In North India it is common for an entire temple to be built on a stone
platform with steps leading up to it.
 Another unique characteristic is that it does not usually have elaborate
boundary walls or gateways.
 The garbhagriha is always located directly under the tallest tower.
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  There are many subdivisions of Nagara temples depending on the shape of
the shikhara.
 Amalaka or Kalash which is installed on Shikhara is another characteristic
feature of this form of temple style

Classification of Nagara style of temple architecture based on the style

of Shikhara

Rekha-Prasad or Latina: These temples are characterized by a simple Shikara

with a square base and inward curving walls that have a pointed top.

Shekari: is a variation of the Latina where the Shikara comprises of a main

Rekha-Prasad Shikara and one or more rows of smaller steeples on both sides of
the central spire. Additionally, the base and corners also feature mini Shikaras.
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Valabhi: style temples are rectangular in shape comprising of barrel-vaulted
roofs

Phamsana: are shorter but broader structures comprising of roofs with

numerous slabs that rise upwards in a gentle slope on a straight incline like a
pyramid meeting at a single point over the mid-point of the building.

Bhumija: Another type of Nagara temple that evolved from the Latina style was
the Bhumija architecture developed in Malwa under the Paramara dynasty.
These temples have a flat upward tapering projection comprising of a central
Latina spire and miniature spires on the quadrant formed by the tapering tower

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Examples of Dravidian architecture:

Konark Sun Temple

Kandariya Mahadev Temple in Madhya Pradesh

The Sri Jagannath Temple of Odisha

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Vesara architecture style:

Vesara style of architecture flourished in the Deccan part of India. Also called
the Hybridised style. Vesara is a combination of Nagara and Dravidian style of
temple architecture styles. The term Vesara is believed to have been derived
from the Sanskrit word vishra meaning an area to take a long walk. Many
historian agree that the Vesara style originated in the what is today Karnataka.
The trend was started by the Chalukyas of Badami (500-753AD) who built
temples in a style that was essentially a mixture of the Nagara and the Dravida
styles, further refined by the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta (750- 983AD) in
Ellora, Chalukyas of Kalyani (983-1195 AD) in Lakkundi, Dambal, Gadag etc. and
epitomized by the Hoysalas (1000-1330 AD) .Chalukya’s rulers and Hoysala
rulers promoted this style.

Unique features of Vesara style of temple architecture:

 Ornamentation: In case of ornamentation of temple walls and pillars,
Chalukyan temple shows indigenous quality.

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 Transformation of Dravida tower: The Chalukyan builders modified the
Dravida towers by minimizing the height of each storey and arranging them
in descending order of height from base to top with much ornamentation in
each storey.

 Transformation of Nagara tower: Instead of inclined storey here modification

is seen in the vertical shape of the tower

 Two special features of Chalukya temples – Mantapa and Pillars:

1)Mantapa: The mantapa has two types of roof – domical ceilings (the dome
like ceilings standing on four pillars are very attractive) or Square ceilings (these
are vigorously ornamented with mythological pictures).
2)Pillars: the miniature decorative pillars of Chalukya temples stands with its
own artistic value.

Examples of vesara style of architecture:

The most famous temples of Vesara style are:

Kailashnath temple

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The Chalukya Shiva Temple (earlier known as Ladhan Temple) ,dedicated to
Shiva, is one of the oldest Hindu temples.

Virupaksha temple

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