UNIT-II

QUESTIONBANK

Part – A (2-mark Question)

1. How was the house design during the Sangam period?

➢ The residences referred to in the Sangam literature as 'Manai' were designed with the
structures of 'Thinnai', 'Pillar', 'Attil', 'Murtam', 'Staircase', 'Window', 'Doorpost' and
'Madam'. These designs were featured during the development of residential architecture.
➢ It can be assumed that these might have been the residential structures of people of slightly
higher economic status.

2.What were the types of household product designs during the Sangam period?
i) Aryakal (or) Enthiram
ii) Ural - Ulakkai
iii) Attukkal or Attural
iv) Ammi
v) Oil Sekku
vi) Karumbalai

3. What were the important building materials used during the Sangam period?
(i) Wood, (ii) Flint, (iii) Suthai (iv) Bomboo, (v) Straw, (vi) Brick

4. What are the general elements of architecture?

i) Kadaikal
ii) Bearing or Foundation
iii) Wall
iv) Vimanam (Tower) or Roof

5. What are the substances and compounds found during Keezhadi subsurface analysis?
Sample of bricks, lime mortar, roof tiles and limestone casing well lining found at Kizhadi
excavations were analyzed at Vellore University of Technology. It was confirmed that the presence
of minerals such as silica sand, lime, iron, aluminium and magnesium was found in each of them.
Their combinations are given below.
i) Bricks and roof tiles: > 80% Silica
ii) As Binding Factor : >7% lime
iii) Lime Mortar :> 97% lime
6. Write four of the other names given to Hero stones.
i) Vediappan Stone or Vediappan Temple
ii) Vedar
iii) Krishnarappan
iv) Meenarappan
v) Sanyasiappan
vi) Anjaneya Stone
vii) Sirameetan Temple

7. What was the method of worshiping Hero stones (Nadukal) during the Sangam period?
➢ There was a custom of offering flowers and smoke to the Hero Stones every day. It was
called Hero Stone worship.
➢ It is mentioned in books like Purunanooru, Silapathikaram, Malaipadukadam, etc., Stones
are placed around the Hero Stone to make it a hoard. It is called 'Vallan Padukkai God'.
➢ They beat hand-drum, perform pooja with the liquor Thoppi and sacrifice animals.

8. What are the various stages of stage Constructions in Silapathikaram?

1. Space for Arena
2.Fetching bamboo
3. Bamboo scale
4. Cross beam board
5. Entrance to the arena
6. Setting the entrance light
7. Screens (Ezhinigal)
8. Canopy and festoons

9. What are the types of screens?

(i) One side pulling screen
(ii) Porumuga Ezhini
(iii) Karanthuvaral Ezhini

10. Explain rock cut cave temples?

➢ Temples built on top of big hills are called Kudaivara Temples.
➢ Starting from a specific point in the rock, the rock should be precisely carved according to
the construction design.
➢ Adequate acoustic tests were carried out to ensure the stability of the stones.

11. What are Embossed sculptures?

Embossed sculptures have a three dimensional structure even if we look at them from four sides.
These sculptures appear to be attached to the wall and are self-contained outside.
12.Name four of the great temples of the Chola period.
A large number of temples were built by the Cholas in Tamil Nadu.
i) Airavatheeswarar Temple, Tarasuram
ii) Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram
iii)Thiagaraja Swamy Temple, Tiruvarur
iv) Pragatheeswarar Temple, Thanjavur
v) Rajagopalaswamy Temple, Mannargudi
vi) Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Ariyalur

13. Mention the special features of Thirumalainayakar Mahal.

➢ Thirumalainayakar Mahal is famous for its pillars, which consist of 248 colossal pillars.
➢ The pillar is 82 feet high and 19 feet wide.
➢ The building that can be seen today is the main palace where the king lived.
➢ Tirumalainayakar palace building was coated with white part of egg white, jaggery and
mustard with lime to give it a smooth and glossy look.

14. Architecture of Chettinad Houses - A brief note.

➢ The architecture of Chettinad houses are world famous. There are also houses with a
thousand windows.
➢ These Chettinad houses are built on a plot of one acre and two acres. The house is built so
grandly that the front door faces one street and the back door faces another.
➢ The floors of the houses are built up to five feet above the street.
➢ Between these houses there is a large open courtyard structure. This courtyard brings air
and skylight into the house.
➢ The interior of the house is pleasant even in summer.
➢ Architects, experts and researchers from different countries are studying this architecture.

15. Explain Indo-Saracenic architecture.

➢ Indo-Saracenic architecture is a collection of decorative elements from Indo-Islamic
architecture, particularly Mughal architecture, British Indian classical style, and Hindu
temple architecture.
➢ The high towers belong to Indian heritage. Domes belong to Islamic art. Beautiful floral
carvings at the ends of the buildings and canopies with beautiful carvings deserve
appreciation.
 பகுதி - ஆ / Part – B (16-Mark Question)

1.Highlight the technical details about the Stage Constructions in Silapathikaram.

Stage Constructions in Silapathikaram
About 2000 years ago, Elango Adigal has given a very detailed account of the setting up of the
theatre.
Madhavi had a curly hair. At the age of five, she performed the ritual of learning to dance and
learned the art till the age of 7. At the age of 12, she came to the Chola Court to stage her dance.

Platform Structure
1. Space for the Arena
They chose a suitable land according to the unchanging nature suggested by a learned sculpture
writer, for the stage for dancing.

2. Fetching Bamboo
On the high sacred hills like Pothigai Hill, among the tall bamboos, they cut down a single bamboo
and used it to build a dance stage.

3. Bamboo Scale
According to the information given in books, a piece of bamboo was made into a 'stick', called as
a kol, measuring 24 (about 4 feet) the thumb size of a well-grown average man. They built a dance
stage of 7 Kols (28 feet) wide, 8 Kols (32 feet) long and one Kol (4 feet) high.

4. Installation of the Upper Board

Pillars were erected on the four sides of the platform and an upper board was fixed on them. A
board was also installed on the floor of the arena. Between these two boards they placed a space
of four Kols (16 feet) high.

5. Entrance to the Arena

They arranged two entrances for the performers to enter as well as to exit. On the top floor of the
arena, they painted images of the four types of Varuna Bhudaas for everyone to worship.

6. Installation of Entrance Lights

They placed illuminant lamps so that the shadow of the pillars did not fall on the stage and the
hall.

7. Ezhinigal (or) Screens

The screens are of three kinds.
(i) One Side Pulling Screen
A curtain that is set up so that it is drawn on one side of the stage is called a single curtain.
 (ii) Porumuga Ezhini
A screen that overlaps in the middle so that it can be pulled from either side of the stage is called
Porumuga Ezhini.
(iii) Karanthuvaral Ezhini
A screen that descends when needed from the top of the platform is called Karanthuvaral Ezhini.
The above mentioned three types of curtains were arranged nicely.

8. Canopy and Festoons

They also erected a canopy with paintings. All over the stage, the famous pearl garlands like Sari,
Thooku and Thamam were hung beautifully.
It is mentioned in Silapathikarm that they built a dance hall with such artistic works.