SESSION 4

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

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE - II

OBJECTIVE
• To provide an understanding of the
evolution of Hindu Architecture in India in
its various stylistic modes, characterized
by technology, ornamentation and
planning practices.

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

HINDU TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

NAGARA

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

 • LINGARAJA
• SUN TEMPLE
ORISSA • JAGANNATH PURI

• KANDARIYA NAGARA • SOMANATH TEMPLE

MAHADEVA TEMPLE STYLE • SAS-BAHU TEMPLE

GUJRAT
KHAJURAHO &
RAJASTHAN

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

 Gujrat
&
Rajasthan

SOMANATH TEMPLE SAS-BAHU TEMPLE

Gujrat Rajasthan

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

 GUJRAT TEMPLES
CHARACTERS:-
• General layout of the temples of these western group consists of same system of
compartments as in the most of Indian temples, namely shrines with its cella and mandapa.
• Plans maybe divided into two kinds:
- PARALLEL TYPE: in this case two compartments are joined so as to unite the entire building
within a parallelogram. (Eg. Sun Temple, Modhera)
- DIAGONAL TYPE: in this case two compartments are attached diagonally in which each
compartment forms a separate rectangle. (Eg. Somanath Temple, Kathiawar)

Somanath Temple, Kathiawar, 12th century

• The Somnath Temple, located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra on the western
coast of Gujarat, India, is the first among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.
• The temple is considered sacred due to the various legends connected to it. Somnath
means "Lord of the Soma", an epithet of Shiva.
• Somnath Temple is known as "the Shrine Eternal". This legendary temple has been
destroyed and rebuilt several times (seven) by Islamic kings and Hindu kings respectively.
• Most recently it was rebuilt in November 1947, when Vallabhbhai Patel visited the area for
the integration of Junagadh and mooted a plan for restoration.
• The second temple, built by the Seuna kings of Vallabhi in Gujarat, replaced the first one on
the same site around 649 CE.
• In 725 CE, the Arab Muslim governor of Sind, sent his army and destroyed the second
temple.The Gurjara-Pratihara king Nagabhata II constructed the third temple in 815, a large
structure of red sandstone.
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2ND YEAR, YR: 2015SEM:ODD
ARCHITECTURE
• The seven-storied structure of Somnath is tall to 155 feet.
• Constructed in the Chalukya style of architecture.
• The temple is sited in such a manner that no mass of land can be seen from Somnath
seashore till Antarctica.

INTERIOR
• Columns are placed geometrically making an octagonal nave in the centre of the main hall,
surrounding spaces are aisles.
• The shaft of the pillars is divided horizontally into decorative zones.
• Central pillars carry the architrave above, raising the ht of the nave.

SHRINE DOORWAY
• Significant feature, consists of horizontal bands of figures.

EXTERIOR
• The building elevation is divided into three main horizontal sections
- Pitha (basement)
- Mandovara (the wall face upto the entablature)
- Sikhara (the superstructute)

PITHA
• Consists of series of carved mouldings. The respective mouldings from bottom to top:
- Garaspatti: a row of horned heads
- Gajapathi: a row of elephant fronts
- Aswathara: a row or horses
- Narathara: a row of human beings HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2ND YEAR, YR: 2015SEM:ODD
MANDOVARA
• Above the basement is the second or middle portion called Mandovara, the most significant
feature.
• It is the main vertical wall face reserved for figure sculpture.

SIKHARA
• The roof of the assembly hall is a low pyramid composed of horizontal courses diminishing as
they rise and terminating in a usual vase-shape finial.

Similar to many monuments built in ancient and medieval India, The new Somnath temple has a
massive facade structure, known as “Shri Digvijay Dwar.” This structure built by using sandstone,
consists of three adjacent towers, each having its own spire. The main gate to the temple is in the
middle tower. There is a small porch supported by two massive pillars outside the gate. There are
5 windows with balconies on the front side and few more on the two sides of the facade structure
and some full relief carvings of some Gods and Goddesses in line with the lower windows. Here is
a forecourt with nicely manicured garden, that surrounds the temple.

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

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2ND YEAR, YR: 2015SEM:ODD
 RAJASTHAN TEMPLES
Sas-Bahu Temple, Udaipur, 10th century
• At Nagda in Rajasthan are the remains of the SahastraBahu temples of the early 10th century
AD, dedicated to Vishnu. It is popularly referred to as Sas Bahu temples (a local corruption of
the original Sahastra-Bahu, meaning "One with thousand arms", a form of Vishnu).
• Built by King Mahapala in the 10th century, the complex includes a cluster of temples dedicated
to Lord Vishnu
• Etymology of Saas Bahu Temple: Due
to the close association of the temples,
they are known by the name of Saas
Bahu Ka Mandir. Original name
"Sahastra Bahu" mean ‘One with
thousand arms’, a form of Vishnu.
• Architecture of Saas Bahu Temple:
- Carved lintels and a multi-lobed arch in
its middle mark the entrance. Both the
structures have an altar, a Mandapa with
projections and a porch.
- The temple of ‘Saas’ is larger than that of
the Bahu.
- The ‘Bahu’ temple has an octagonal
ceiling, which is adorned with beautifully
carved eight intricate female figures

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

- The ‘Saas’ temple has a torana in its front and it is believed that the image of the
Lord Vishnu was swung from the torana along with hymns in the praise of lord on
ceremonial occasions.
- Facing towards the east direction, both the temples are constructed on a common
platform.
- Made in two steps, the sculptures are arranged in such a way that one encircles the
other. Images of Lord Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu are carved on one platform.
- On the other platform, images of Rama, Balaram and Parashuram have been
carved.
- A lotus is seen adorning the roof of the temple.
- The main entrance to the temples is made through a door that has carved lintels and
a multi-lobed arch in its middle. Both the structures are laid out on a same plan
having an altar, a mandapa (columned prayer hall) with projections and a porch.

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

• The temple of Sas is comparatively larger than
that of the Bahu. The 'Bahu' temple has an
octagonal ceiling, which is adorned with
beautifully carved eight intricate female
figures.
• The 'Sas' temple has a torana (archway) in its
front and it is believed that the image of the
Lord Vishnu was swung from the torana along
with hymns in the praise of lord on ceremonial
occasions.
• Both the temples are constructed on a
common platform facing towards the east
direction. The temple is accredited for having
wonderful carvings.
• The larger (Sas temple) is surrounded by ten
subsidiary shrines, while the smaller one
(Bahu temple) is a five-shrined complex. On
plan, each temple consists of a pancharatha
sanctum, vestibule, hall with lateral transepts
and porch, enclosed by a decorated
balustrade.
• The niches on its walls harbour images of
Brahma, Siva and Vishnu on the east, north
and west faces respectively. Stylistically, these
are assignable to the last quarter of the tenth
century A.D.
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2ND YEAR, YR: 2015SEM:ODD
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2ND YEAR, YR: 2015SEM:ODD