(Circa 500 BC to Present Day)

India was named after the Indus River – one of the oldest
civilization in the world.
‐ Also known as the World’s Largest Democracy / Land of
the Hindus / Jewel of the Crown / Land of Prayers
‐ Has a triangular shape located in South Asia
‐ The seventh largest industrial country
‐ The second largest producer of cloth
‐ The biggest exporter of jewelries
‐ The second most populated country in the world, next
to China
‐ Has 14 languages and 831 dialects
A.GEOGRAPHICAL
India’s Boundaries: North – high mountain ranges stretching
from the Hindu Kush in the West through the Pamirs,
Karakorams and the Himalayans to the Mountains of Szechwan
in China, in the Northest: East, South, West – the areas is
bounded by the sea
‐ Famous rivers: Ganges is used by Hindus as a holy place
for cleaning and ashes of their dead
‐ Indus and Ganges Rivers – provided trade ways and
many of the area’s most important cities were founded along
them
‐ Excavations at Harappa (now Pakistan) and Rajasthan
indicate close links between the so called “Indus Valley ‐
Harappan Culture” and ancient Mesopotamia
‐ New Delhi, the capital of India, considered as the
“Rome” of India, bounded on the River Jumuna
‐ Other cities are Bombay, Calcutta and Madras
B.GEOLOGICAL
The materials found in India used for building construction

1. Timber
2. White marble from Rajasthan
3. Fine red and cream sandstone from Agra
4. Granite from Deccan
5. Volcanic potstone from Halebid

Northern mountain range – Shish am, Hardwood/ Deodar, Softwood

Riverine Plains of Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab – alluvial soil

makes good bricks
In the Western Ghats, the horizontal rock strata which rise in
perpendicular cliffs, made possible the rock cut sanctuaries of Karli,
Ajanta and Elephanta

Rock Cut sanctuaries of Karli Rock Cut sanctuaries of Elephanta

Rock Cut sanctuaries of Ajanta

Mamallapuram and Ellora – rock‐cut temples known as raths,
were hewn out of amygdaloidal trap formation
C.CLIMATIC
The climate varied widely.
East – generally ward and humid but not excessively hot
North – temperature rise high in the summer months and drop
markedly about the winter solstice
D.HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL

The earliest defined civilization in the subcontinent is that of

the so‐called Indus Valley Harappan Cultures of Western Asia
They are influenced by Aryan, Persian, Graeco‐Roman
(Persia and Western Asia), Sassanian, Moslem, Portuguese, French
and English
Most famous excavated sites of this period are those at
Mohenjo‐Daro in Sind Harappa (about 100 miles South of Lahore)
Indigenous People:
Dravidian – indigenous people of India with
dark skinned. They built cities, temples and arts. They
belonged to lower level of society.
Aryans – invaders from Indus Valley. They
speak Sanskrit and founded small kingdom in the
plains of Northern India. They gave Vedic literature,
Sanskrit epics, Hinduism and caste system
Castes System:
Brahmas – priest
and scholars
Kshatriyas –
leaders and
warriors
Vaishyas –
farmers, artists
and traders
Untouchables –
people who
don’t belong to
any activities,
they do the
dirtiest job
Empire in India
1. Persian and Greeks
Darius I of Persia
 Aramaiko writing
 Purdah – keeping of ladies inside the house and wearing of
veil in public
 Zoroastroanism – believe in astrology

Alexander the Great of Macedonia

 opened India in Europe for trade
 prepared Indian unity
2. Maurya Empire – founded by
Chandragupta Maurya in 322‐232 BC
Asoka – greatest emperor in Maurya empire,
273‐232 BC
Buddhism – state religion
Built hospitals, inns and homestead
Chandragupta Maurya

3. Gupta Empire – Golden age of India

Founded by Chandragupta I, rajah of
Magadha during 320‐647 AD

Emperor Asoka
4. Mogul Empire – brought Islam from Persian Gulf in 711 AD
Akbhar the Great – founder of Mogul empire, grandson of Babur
Shah Jahan – grandchild of Akhbar, known for his architectural
works, built Taj Mahal in Agra for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal

Akbhar the Great Shah Jahan

5. British Empire – first European were
Portuguese, Vasco De Gama
 British East India Company
 Stopped the purdah (separation of girls),
Caste system (classification of people
according to religion, race, language), and
suttee (burning of widows)
 Unity of India with centralized
government
 Modernization of transportation and
communication, rails, roads, phone,
telegraph and post office
 Printing press, newspaper, system in
agriculture and water, sanitation and
medical
 Education became westernized
 Gave freedom to India on August 15, 1947
and date of separation of Pakistan from
India.
Vasco De Gama
6. Nationalism – 1947 to present
Two Important Personalities in
India
1. Mohandas Karamchad Gandhi –
Indian nationalist leader who spent
his life campaigning for human
rights in India. His strategy was to
use a combination of passive
resistance to and noncooperation
with the British, who ruled India. He
is known as the father of Free
Indians; changed into Mahatma
(holy soul) Gandhi. He has a
“Mission of Peace” and he ended
the cruel practice in India such as
caste system, purdah (seclusion of
women), and suttee (burning of
widows). Gandhi died in 1948.
2. Jawaharlal Nehru – A
charismatic nationalist leader who
fought for Indian independence
from British rule for nearly three
decades beginning in the late
1910s. He was deeply involved in
the political opposition and was
imprisoned numerous times for
civil disobedience. He became the
first and longest prime minister of
India and a friend of Mahatma
Gandhi
E.RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
1. Buddhism – 600 BC, new religion
and founded by Siddharta Gautama
Buddha, which means Enlightenment;
son of a rich rajah in Nepal. Born in
566 BC, as a prince. At the age of 29,
he left his family and palace and
traveled as poor beggar to find truth.
He had been enlightened under the Bo
Tree and found truth and salvation. He
died at Nepal in 486 BC.
Four Teachings of Buddhism
1. Life of person is full of sacrifices
2. Sufferings of people are caused of
selfish motives
3. People will end his suffering by
means of controlling his selfish desire
4. After avoiding the suffering, the
people will reach the state of Nirvana
(perfect happiness)
To reach nirvana, people should follow eight‐fold path
Buddhism splits into two branches:
1. Mahayana – (greater vehicle) which involves priests. By the first
century AD, it reached Tibet China, Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia
Mahayana (Sanskrit for "Great Vehicle") is one of two (or three,
under some classifications) main existing branches of Buddhism and
a term for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice.
2. Hinayana – (lesser vehicle) which involves personal, direct
worship. It remained in Nepal and Ceylon wherein buildings became
concentrated in monasteries and shrines
Buddhist Prayer Wheels – rows of colorful prayer wheels line the
outer walls of a Buddhist temple in Gangkok, India. Each wheel bears
the text of a mantra, or sacred prayer. Buddhists believe that the
simple act of spinning a prayer wheel releases the benevolent forces
of the mantra. Gangkok, the capital of Indian state of Sikkim, has a
large Buddhist population.
 Buddhist Prayer Wheels

Mathura Buddha – figure carved out of

sandstone from Mathura, a city in
northern India that was at the center of
Buddhist sculptural activity from the
2nd century BC to the 6th century AD.
2. Jainism – founded by Mahavira who was himself a Brahman; goal
is salvation through successive rebirths; Mahavira and 24 saints are
worship.
The Jain religion arose in India about 500 BC. Its followers
believe in reincarnation but do not worship a deity or divine being.
Through the Jain, sect is relatively wealthy in India and has financial
means to construct large temples, it is not a large sect and has few
followers outside the country. Jains are strict vegetarians and some
monks even cover their mouth while walking to avoid accidentally
swallowing an insect.

Jain Image of Mahavira – a priest

attends an image of Mahavira in a
Jain temple in the southern India.
Jains revere Mahavira, who lived
in the 6th century BC, as a great
teacher or tirthankara (founder of
the path).
3. Hinduism or Brahmanism – oldest organized religion in the world
and the dominant religion in India. It evolved from a combination of
the faiths of the indigenous Dravidians and Aryan invaders. The
Dravidian cult of “Bahkti” (devotion to an incarnation, and so to
images) modifying the Aryan preference for abstract principles. These
Aryan preferences are incorporated in the “Rigveda” a series of
hymns composed sometime between 1500‐1800 BC. About the
beginning of Christian era. The Vedic Gods were superseded by the
trinity of modern Hinduism; Vishnu – the preserver, Shiva – the
destroyer and Brahma – (prime being of trinity) soul and creator of
universe. Brahman – priesthood – authorized to officiate any major
occasion.

Present Religion – Hinduism 85%, Muslim 11%, Buddhism, Sikhism,

Jainism
The Ten Incarnations of Vishnu (painting created about 1890 in Jaipur)
The Hindi god Vishnu appears on Earth in ten incarnations, called avatars, to
destroy injustice and save humankind. Sacred Hindu writings called Puranas
describe these incarnations. Vishnu is always depicted in dark blue or black
and usually with four arms, though his avatars may take other forms, such as
the golden fish, man lion or white horse.
4. Sikhism – a monastheistic religion founded during the 15th century
in the Punjab region by guru, Nanak Dev. This system of religious
philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the
Gurmut literally “wisdom of the Guru”. It advocates the pursuit of
salvation in a social context through the congregational practice
meditation on the name and message of god. It embodies the
qualities of a saint‐soldier. It believes in one god, engage in social
reform through the pursuit of justice for all human beings. The type
principal beliefs of Sikh are faith in Waheguru (meaning one god).
F. ARCHITECUTRAL CHARACTER
Indian Architecture is generally obscured and overwhelmed
by a “rhythmical multiplication” of pilasters, cornices, moldings, roof,
finials, and an exuberant overgrowth of sculptural decorations.

Architectural Feature
‐ Known for its “raths” Rock‐cut temples, the amygdaloidal trap
formation and the Buddhist chaityas carved in the horizontal strata of
the living rock where it rises sheer from the ground in perpendicular
cliffs.
Cave Temple at Ajanta
Styles of Different Period
1. Buddhist Architecture (4th
century to 9th century AD)
Characteristic – decorative detail
used for emphasizing structures
and most of the structures are
designed for congregational use
Stambha or Lath – columns
which were carved with
inscriptions crowned by emblems
such as elephant or lion,
reminiscent of Persepolitan
Architecture, these are
monumental pillars, standing free
without any structural function
with circular or octagonal shafts.
Examples: Sarnath, Allahabad;
Lauriya Nandangarh
Chakra – wheel of law
Wheel of Life
The wheel of Life, also known as
the Wheel of Law, depicts the
cylindrical nature of life according
to Buddhism. In this wall painting,
the artist shows the animal which
represents death holding the
wheel. The tree cardinal sins,
depicted in symbolic form, make
up the center of the wheel. The
cock symbolizes passion, the pig
stupidity, and the snake hatred.
Surrounding the sins are those
who fall prey to bad karma on the
right, and those with good karma
on the left. The six spheres of
existence make up the next circle.
The Wheel, like the Buddha’s
search for truth, culminates in the
outermost circle, which depicts
the 12 links in the chain of
causation.
Stupa or Topes – sacred mounts containing sacred relics called
dagoba

The dome‐shaped mound known as stupa is the principal form of early Buddhist
monuments. The stupa, which is an object of veneration, is based on the eight
mounds under which the body of Buddha was buried. The finest surviving example
is the Great Stupa at Sanchi in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It was built
between the 3rd century BC and the 1st century BC.
Great Stupa, Sanchi – the oldest stone construction in India
Dagoba – it is often raised on
platform surrounded by
railings or monumental
structure containing relics of
Buddha

Chaitya – used as
assembly hall or sanctuary
which were excavated out
of a solid rock resulting in
the presentation of one
external façade
Vihara – a monastery
design with courts or
shrines with a central
square space surrounded
by priests’ chambers

Torana – a richly decorated

gateway in the enclosure of
a Buddhist stupa in Indian
Architecture
Carvings on the Great Stupa
Four gateways were built as entrances to the Great Stupa at Sanchi,
India, during the 1st century BC. This detail of one of the gateways
shows the intricate relief carvings of elephants, horses, camels, and
human figures that decorate the gateways.
The temple complex at Khajuraho – adhering to the shikhara
temple style architecture is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
2. Jain Architecture (Early Jain 3rd century BC – 7th Century AD) (Late
Jain AD 1000‐1700)
Characteristics – lighter and more elegant
Important structures – temples and vihara
Temples were patterned from Buddhist temples. Temple
building is a virtue ensuring happy future state
a. Rock‐cut caves in Barabar Hills, Gaya, Bihar
b. Rock‐cut monasteries in Khandagiri and Udaigiri Hills, Orissa – 35
excavations
Ranigumpha – (Queen’s Cave) , Bihar – largest and most important
Dilwarra Temple – built of white marble which is located in Mount
Abu
Temple Rampur – on the side of the Aravalli Mountains in Rajasthan,
give the most complete picture of a Jain monument
Jain Temple – with its glass mosaics and colorful stonework, the
Sitambara Jain Temple in Kolkata is one of the most ornate religious
centers in India. Built in 1867 in the northwest part of the city, the
temple honors Sheetalnathji, Tenth of the 24 Jain tirthankars or
prophets.
Ancient City of Vaishali – located in the Indian state of Bihar is an
important site for Buddhists and was the birthplace od Mahavira, the
founder of Jainism.
Jain Temple of Jaya Sthamba – the 15th century Jain temple in
Ranakpur, a town tucked in a mountain valley in the Indian state of
Rajastan. An important pilgrimage site, the temples is notable for its
many richly carved stone towers.
3. Hindu Architecture – combination of the Vedic cult, Buddhism and Brahmanism
Temple contains the following:
a. Vimana – sanctuary
b. Garbha‐griha – small unlit shrine crownet with spire‐shape sikhara or shrine
c. Mandapas – porch‐like hall used for religious music and dancing
d. Gopuram – a pyramidal gateway tower to an Indian temple
Indians also has a pagoda which are multi‐storeyed shrine like towers
originally Buddhist monument of diminishing sizes with corbelled
cornice and mouldings
a. Northern India (AD 350 to the present)
Temple of Orissa – (800‐1200) on the east coast form a series which
presents the finest example of this type
Dharmapala Temple & Monastery, Paharpur in Bengal (late 18th
century) – built under the Pala‐sena dynasty during the Buddhist –
Hindu Renaissance and is closely related to Javan temples of Loro
Djongrang and Candi Sewu at Prambanam and Barabudur
Black Pagoda , Kanarak (13th Century) – is the ruin of a huge,
uncompleted Temple to the Sun.
b. Northwest (Kashmir)

Sun Temple, Marthand (8th Century) Siva Temple, Pandrethan, Srinagar

( 12th Century)
c. Central
Landarya Mahadev Temple, Khajuraho of the late Central Period –
typical of a large group of temples in Central India
d. West

Golden Temple of Sikhs, Amritsar (1766)

1. The Sas Bahu Temple, Gwalior (1093)
– very strongly influenced by Mughal
building

Birla Temple, New Delhi (1938) – an

attempt to translate traditional forms into
contemporary idioms in reinforced concrete
2.Central Deccan
Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebid (1141‐1182) – consist of unfinished twin
temples standing side by side on a terrace 1.5 m (5 ft height) with detached
pillared porches
Great Temple, Bellur (1117) – has the typical star‐shaped garbha‐griha
and an elaborately pillared mandap, all covered with highly ornate
carvings. It served as a theater for ritual dances

Temple, Somnathpur (1268)

3. Southern Dravidian (600‐1750)

a. Pallava – (AD 600 – 900) Temple Kanchipuram, Vellore (8th

century)

Rock‐cut Kailasa Temple,

Elephanta
Ellora (750‐950)
b. Cholan – (AD 700‐1150)
The Great Temple, Tanjore
c. Later Pandyan
Madura
Srirangam
Tinnevelly
Temple of Devi Jogadantam, India – exemplifies a style of architecture
that flourished in north central India from the 10th to the 13th
century. The features of the style include a longitudinal layout, rich
sculptural decoration on both interior and exterior walls, and a central
spire surrounded by clusters of secondary spires. Because of its
remote location, the temple complex in Kahuraho is better preserved
than Indian archaeological sites of comparable antiquity.
Orissan Temples, Bubaneshwar, Orissa State, India – contains around
30 Orissan temples dating from the 6th century. These temples
display the characteristic emphasis on strong horizontal patterns and
beehive‐ shaped towers crowned with a flat round stone.
Ibrahim Roza, Bijapur, India – constructed by Ibrahim Adil Shah II in
the early 1600s for his queen, Taj Sultana. The minarets, or prayer
towers are 24 m (about 79ft) high and may have inspired those of the
Taj Mahal. Ibrahim Adil Shah and his family are buried here.
Secular Architecture
Man Mandir Palace of Gwalior Fort
(c. 1500) built for Maharaja Man
Singh in an indigenous manner, a
Munghal‐influenced Hindu
Architecture.

Madura Tanjore Fort (c. 1700) –

show traces of European precedent
in the pillared halls
In Indian towns, the formal plan according o the ancient law books
(the Manansara) with its 4 main avenues aligned at right angles and
zoning of buildings, is rarely seen today except at Jaipur (18th
century)
Ghats – public bathing places, inseparable from town or village life,
ablutions playing an essential part in Hindu Social and religious ritual.
Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore, in southern India – considered one of
the country’s most spectacular buildings. It was built in 1954 in neo‐
Darvidian style, the granite building houses the Karnataka State
Legislature and the secretariat.
Delhi’s Red Fort completed in 1648, once served as the imperial
palace of India’s Munghal emperors. The outer walls, seen here, are
made of red sandstone.
Baha’I Temple, Delhi, India – is one of the city’s most distinctive
landmarks. Popularly known as the Lotus Temple, it is build of white
marble in the shade of half opened lotus flower. Baha’I is a
nondenominational religious faith founded in the late 19th century.
The world’s largest Baha’I community is found in India, where about 2
million people adhere to the faith. Social aims based in the principles
of the Baha’I faith include the abolition of racial and religious
prejudice.
Tomb of Itimad‐ud‐Daula, Agra
Khajauraho Temple Complex, Madhya Pradesh, India – it does not
only represent a melody of life, but also encompasses different
emotions ranging from joy, love and sex. Life states in different forms
and moods have been depicted in stone carvings
Chennakesava Temple, Belur, India
Qutub Minar, Delhi, India – the Qutub Minar was constructed with
red sandstone and marble in the 13th century by Qutubuddin Ayba,
the Muslim founder of the Delhi Sultanate, and his successors. The
tower is the tallest minaret in India and has a height of 73 m (240 ft)
with five storeys, each with a balcony. It is a prominent example of
Islamic Architecture in India.
Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar, India – its construction was mainly
intended to build a place of worship for men and women from all
walks of life and all religions to come and worship God equally.
Taj Mahal – (Crown Place) the India’s most famous structure built in
1631‐1648, it consists of tomb, mosque, gardens, gateways and
fountains.
The Mysterious sealed Temple Door no one Can Open
The Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of India's most popular
and most sacred temples. Located in Thiruvanathapuram in Kerala,
India, it is one of the most visited temples in the country. However,
inside its heavily‐guarded gates is a locked room with supposedly
hidden treasures and for sure a deadly legend. And in order to
understand the mystery behind the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, one
must learn about its history.
The Naga Bandham is said to the power
that is protecting Chamber B. Tourists or
foreigners who have heard of this phrase
will be looking at a more intricate aspect
of Hinduism.

The Naga Bandham is also called a

snake‐binding spell. A successful spell
will have various serpentine deities
guard the treasure of a particular place.
This is also the reason why there are
various snake idols worshipped in
temples around the country. In fact, the
deity Vishnu is also often depicted riding
a snake. There are also special parts of
the temple dedicated for these snake
deities.
Vastu Shastra – is an ancient doctrine which consists of precepts born
out of a traditional view on how the laws of nature affect human
dwellings.
In accordance with the position occupied by the gods in the
mandala, guidelines are given for zoning of site and distribution of
rooms in a building. Some of these are:
1. North – treasury
2. Northeast – prayer room
3. East – bathroom
4. Southeast – kitchen
5. South – bedroom
6. Southeast – armoury
7. West – dining room
8. Northwest – cowshed