DIFFERENT PHASES IN DRAVIDIAN ARCHITECTURE

The Dravidian style/ Southern style of architecture can be classified into the following periods

1. Pallavan Style 600AD – 900AD

2. Chola Style 900AD – 1150AD
3. Pandya Style 1100AD – 1350AD
4. Vijayanagara Style 1350AD – 1565AD
5. Nayak/Madura Style 1600 AD onwards

• The Dravidian Style of architecture can be categorized as a distinct Evolution in Temple architecture
through the various phases
• There is a marked evolution in the planning of the temple and the architectural treatment
• Complexity in planning due to the complexity in the rituals arose by the 12 th c. AD (Pandya)

Broadly the classifications would be as follows:

Pallavan - Rock cut and Structural Temples
Chola - Development of the Vimana (Shikhara),
Walled enclosures
Gopurams
Pandya - Evolution of the Gopuram – number, height, embellishment
High walls for enclosure for security( Muslim invasion)
Vijayanagara - Addition of Mandapas, Secondary halls and Gopurams
Nayaks - Temple cities, addition of Gopurams to existing temples
 GENESIS OF DRAVIDIAN STYLE UNDER THE PALLAVAS
600 AD – 900 AD
There were two phases of architecture under the Pallavas

1st Phase- Rock cut

•Mahendra Group 610 – 640 AD Mandapas/ Pillared halls
•Mamalla Group 640 – 690 AD Rathas and Mandapas
(Narasimhavarma)

2nd Phase- Structural

•Rajasimha group 690 – 800 AD Temples
•Nandivarman group 800 – 900 AD Temples

Mandapas Rathas

1. Excavated Monolith

2. Open pavilion Shrine/ Temple chariot

3. Simple columned hall with Series of shrines which is an

one or more cellas at the rear exact copy in granite of a structural

prototype
Kailasanatha temple - kanchipuram
The temple has retained the Pallava architecture in its original stylized form with influence of the later
styles developed by the Chola Dynasty and Vijayanagara Emperors
It is of stone built architecture unlike the rock cut architecture built into hallowed caves or carved into
rock outcrops as in Mahabalipuram. The tall gopuram (tower) is to the left and the temple complex is
to the right.
The temple's foundations are made of granite, which could withstand the weight of the temple, while
the super structure including the carvings are all made of sandstone. Initially, only the main sanctuary
existed with pyramidal vimana and a detached mandapa(main hall)
The temple complex is complete in all respects as it has garbagriha (sanctum
sanctorum), antarala (inner enclosure), mandapa, a high compound wall, and an entrance gate, the
gopuram.The mandapa, which was initially detached, was made part of the main shrine by
interposing an ardhamantapa(smaller hall). The pillars of the mandapa have the repetitive features of
mythical lion mounts.
The structure has a simple layout. with a tower or shikara at the center of the complex.
the top of this tower, there is a small roof in the shape of a dome. The pillar elements with mythical
animal shapes (lions on the base) are extra features in Pallava style.
At the entrance, the gopuram walls are plastered. Its entrance wall has eight small shrines and a
gopura, precursor to the main gopura. At some later stage, the mandapa and the sanctuary were
joined by an intermediate hall called the ardhamantapa. The temple is enclosed within walls in a
rectangular layout.
CHOLA ARCHITECTURE – 900 - 1150 AD

The capital of the Chola dynasty was the city of Thanjavur from 836 – 1267 AD
The great temple of Thanjavur was founded by Rajaraja I
The Cholas ruled the Deccan and emerged victorious among many other kingdoms such as
Pallavas, Pandyas, Chalukyas
They advanced as far as Bengal, Sri Lanka, Sumatra and had trade links as far as Indonesia

Their military and economic power was reflected in the grand architectural productions under this
period at Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram, Dharasuram and Tribhuvanam

Airateswara Temple-Darasuram
1146-1173 AD
Gangaikondacholapuram Temple
1014-1044 AD

Kambahareswara Temple-
Tribhuvanam (Kumbakonam) 1178-
1218
CHOLA ARCHITECTURE – 900 - 1150 AD
Early Temples

Typical Features:
•The temples are of modest proportions
•Built entirely of stone
•These show the Dravidian style in its formative stages
•Use of well dressed granite
•Pallavan influence observed in the vimana - similar to the rathas
•Similarities to the Chalukyan in shape of the domical finial of the shikhara, which is similar to bldgs
at Patadakkal
•Treatment- simplification of the exteriors compared to the Pallavas with elimination of the details
•Absence of the lion motif and pillar
CHOLA ARCHITECTURE
Brihadeeswara Temple Thanjavur – 1010 AD

The Brihadeeswara Temple at Tanjavur was constructed around 1010 AD

The largest, highest and most ambitious project at its time – a landmark in the evolution of South
Indian Architecture
The main structure is 180’ long above which is the tower 190’ high

Planning:

Dedicated to Shiva
Surrounded by 2 walled precincts
The first one measures 270m x 140 m consisting of a high wall running along the banks of the
river Kaveri
The 2nd wall consists of a portico with a double row of pillars, measures 150m x 75m
The perimeter wall forms a rectangular cloister which could be divided into 2 squares
The center of the 1st square contains the Nandi Pavilion and the 2nd contains the Cella
Over the cella is the main Gopuram 60m high and 15m at its base
 Brihadeeswarar Temple has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the list of ‘Great
Living Chola Temples’.
An approximate of 130,000 tons of granite was used in the formation of this temple.
The holy shrine has a temple tower (vimana) that is built at a height of 216 feet. Being the tallest
in the world, it symbolizes Mount Meru. ‘Gopuras’ or the two gateways are located at the eastern
entrance of the temple.
The temple’s entrance has a large statue of Nandi (sacred bull) that measures about 16 feet in
length and 13 feet in height. This statue has been carved out of a single stone.
‘Kumbam’ is the topmost component of the holy shrine and weighs about 80 tons. It has been also
carved out from 2 granite stone (weigh 40 tons each).
A huge idol of Lord Shiva with three eyes is present inside the temple along with the 108 dance
forms or ‘karmas’.
The exterior part on the other end is decorated with sculptures. There are 250 lingams in the
entire temple compound.
This famous sanctuary is made up of a pillared hall and an assembly hall which is known as
mandapas and many sub-shrines.
 The inner part of the mandapas is highly significant and is divided into various categories with the
help of sculptures and pilasters.
Being a masterpiece in itself, the shadow of the tower over the gateway of the shrine never falls
on the ground, more significantly in the premises of the temple.
PANDYA ARCHITECTURE – 1100 – 1350 AD
The Genesis of the Gopurams of Dravidian Style

After the Cholas- architecture was at its peak with the concentration being on the Vimana

Changes during the Pandya period:

Vimana ceased to be the centre of concentration

The supplementary and outlying portions were developed
Reasons were sentimental- do not touch God
Walls were built/Pylons were the centre of concentration for architecture
Became the main feature of South Indian Temples
Derivation of the Cow gate- City gate- Temple gate- Gopuram
MEENAKSHI SUNDARESWARA TEMPLE
 Considerable political changes were taking place. The most threatening force was from
the north -conquering hordes of Islam. 
This threat made the Pandya rulers hurriedly throw up makeshift battlements around their
cities and the heart of their towns -the temples. This called for modifying the Temple to a
Fortress which was unacceptable
The solution was hence to raise the gates of the fortress to the level of architecture. This
was the genesis of the famous gopurams, or entrance gateways of the temple cities of the
south. 

The towers, or the gopurams for which this temple is known, are visible from a distance.
No less than 12gopurams or towers adorn this temple and the 4 outer ones tower to a
height of over 160 feet.
Surrounding the Shiva and Meenakshi temples is a huge prakaram with imposing 9 tiered
gopurams, in each of the 4 cardinal directions. The tallest of these is the southern tower,
rising to a height of 170 feet. There are thus a total of 12 gopurams, two gold plated
vimaanams (crowning the sancta) and several mandapams with carved pillars within
the Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple complex.
 
 the Gopura too resembles a Mandala; With
sculptures and carvings of Yalis and mythical
animals located in the outer enclosure.
Humans and divine beings are in the inner
enclosures.
The peak of the Gopura, the Kalasha, is at
the centre of the Mandala
 Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, also known as Thiruvaranga Tirupati dedicated to Vishnu. Situated
in an ethereal setting on the island of Srirangam that is bounded by
the two rivers of Cauvery and Kollidam (a tributary of Cauvery.

More importantly, it is not just a temple but a temple-town, a temple centred settlement pattern
that comprises of Sapta (seven) concentric rectangular enclosures or prakarams formed by thick
and huge rampart walls that run round the sanctum sanctorum in which the deity presides.
While the inner five enclosures of the complex constitute the temple, the outer two enclosures
function as the settlement.

Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the Temple Complex is massive in scale and
spread over 156 acres (63.131 hectares).