HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2ND YEAR, YR: 2015 SEM:ODD

GENERAL:

• Word ‘temple’ derived from Latin word templum means a sacred precinct.

• It’s a representation of the macrocosm (the universe) as well as the microcosm (the
inner space).

• According to the definition temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual

activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites.

• The ideology behind the designing of Hindu temples is to link man with the gods.

• The design philosophy of the Hindu temple is based on concepts of Hindu cosmology
i.e. the divine ‘Vastupurushamandala’. The influence of this basic divine concept on
the layout of the temple plan and its external and internal forms and features is further
explained with the examples of temples the North Indian style and the South Indian
style from different time periods.

• The typical plan of a Hindu temple is an illustration of sacred geometry where the
temple is representation of the mandala. Here the sacred geometry means the
science of the accurate laying out the ground floor of the temple in relation to the
astronomical movements and positions. The mandala is the sacred form consisting of
the intersection of the circle and the square.
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2ND YEAR, YR: 2015 SEM:ODD
 It is one of many grids used to
build Hindu temples. In this
structure of symmetry, each
concentric layer has significance.
The outermost layer, Paisachika
padas, signify aspects of Asuras
and evil; while inner Devika
padas signify aspects of Devas
and good. In between the good
and evil is the concentric layer of
Manusha padas signifying
human life; All these layers
surround Brahma padas, which
signifies creative energy and the
site for temple’s primary idol for
darsana. Finally at the very
center of Brahma padas is
Grabhgriya (Purusa Space),
signifying Universal Principle
present in everything and
everyone.

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2ND YEAR, YR: 2015 SEM:ODD

ELEMENTS OF HINDU TEMPLE:

It was the later half of the 7th century that the Hindu temple structures of India began to
acquire a definite form. The common elements of a Hindu temple are as follows:

The sanctuary as whole known as the Vimana consisting of two parts. The upper part is
called as the Sikhara and the lower portion inside the Vimana is called the Garbhagriha
(cella or inner chamber).

• ‘Sikhara’ meaning the tower or the spire. It is the pyramidal or tapering portion of the
temple which represents the mythological ‘Meru’ or the highest mountain peak. The
shape and the size of the tower vary from region to region.

• ‘Garbhagriha’ meaning the womb chamber. It is nucleus and the innermost chamber
of the temple where the image or idol of the deity is placed. The chamber is mostly
square in plan and is entered by a doorway on its eastern side. The visitors are not
allowed inside the garbhagriha in most of the temples, only the priests perform the
rituals and worship.

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2ND YEAR, YR: 2015 SEM:ODD

Typical plan

Typical elevation
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2ND YEAR, YR: 2015 SEM:ODD
• ‘Pradakshina patha’ meaning the ambulatory passageway for circumambulation. It
consists of enclosed corridor carried around the outside of garbhagriha.

• ‘Mandapa’, is the pillared hall in front of the garbhagriha, for the assembly of the
devotees. ‘Natamandira’ meaning temple hall of dancing. In some of the earlier
temples the mandapa was an isolated and separate structure from the sanctuary.

• ‘Antarala’ meaning the vestibule or the intermediate chamber. It unites the main
sanctuary and the pillared hall of the temple.

• ‘Ardhamandapa’ meaning the front porch or the main entrance of the temple leading
to the mandapa.

• ‘Gopurams’ meaning the monumental and ornate tower at the entrance of the temple
complex, specially found in south India.

• ‘Pitha’ the plinth or the platform of the temple. (Jagati)

• ‘Toranas’ the typical gateway of the temple mostly found in north Indian temple.

• ‘ Amalaka’ the fluted disc like stone placed at the apex of the sikhara

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2ND YEAR, YR: 2015 SEM:ODD

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2ND YEAR, YR: 2015 SEM:ODD
Typical plan
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2ND YEAR, YR: 2015 SEM:ODD
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2ND YEAR, YR: 2015 SEM:ODD
MATERIAL OF CONSTRUCTION:

• The Indian temples were built with all types of materials depending upon the
availability from region to region. The range of material varied from timber to mud,
plaster, brick and stone during all periods and throughout India.
• Earlier Hindu temples were constructed in timber and bamboo. Many of the later
stone temples were modelled on wood and bamboo architecture is apparent from
the carvings, roof forms and window shapes.
• This usage of timber and bamboo governs the form of temples mostly in the
Himalayan valleys and regions of Kerala and Bengal. The brick and mortar temples
were constructed in the region were there was easy availability of brick and the
availability of suitable stone were limited.
• The construction of temple in stone is the most distinctive expression of Hindu
architecture. The construction in stone dates back to 2nd and 3rd centuries in the
form of rock cut sanctuaries and later in the form of temples with use of stones like
granite, marble, sandstone and locally available stones.

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2ND YEAR, YR: 2015 SEM:ODD