Pillars of Hindu temples- Complete Compendium (original) (raw)
INAC, 2024
Third and final part of 3 Books about the Construction of Hindu Mandir PART III
Journal Paper The Rubric of Hindu Temple Architecture v.F
THE RUBRIC OF HINDU TEMPLE ARCHITECTURAL STYLES: A Study of the Evolutional Diversity in Typological Idioms, 2023
Local traditions govern temple architectural typologies; often, structural styles and building methods were progressively blended depending on congregation of experts and promotion of construction activity. While the texts enumerate many nuances in temple architectural styles, only about twenty-odd types dominate the landscape. Early natural caves and frescoed caverns, inspired by Buddhist prayer halls, evolved to rock-cut caves, which progressively incorporated iconographic objects and sculptures. The form evolved from simple, functional structures to imposing, magnificent buildings, which indicate progression of elaboration of and opulence in rituals― it reflects complexities in symbolism too. Local materials and influences determined regional preferences for designs, which evidence mutual inductance and overlapping of styles. This paper documents the diverse and numerous Hindu temple architecture styles based on not only the designs and traditions that are more recurrently featured in ancient texts, but also the exemplars and archetypes that are most commonly observed in ancient temple structures.
Structural Elements of a Hindu or Jain temples
Shilpani, works of art of man, imitate the divine forms, by employing their rhythms, they metrically reconstitute, and interpret the limitless knowledge, of the sacred hymns, from the limits of being human.-Aitareya Brahmana, Rig Veda, 6.5.27 Aayiram Kaal Mandapam-A carrier of the cultural heritage that encapsulates Madurai, this part of the Sri Meenakshi Temple,Madurai,India houses a thousand pillars built out of a single rock edifice. Together with this, it also houses several brass structures, paintings, idols of various deities from the times of the Pandyas, which make it an important cultural hotspot.
Temples in India: Origin and Developmental Stages
This volume is a study of the beginning and evolution of temple architecture in India which covers sculptures and carvings as well. With over a hundred plates of temples and carvings on them including cave facades and pillar depictions it deals with temples constructed by the different ancient and medieval dynasties in Indian history particularly the early western Calukyan and later western Calukyans Pallava Pandya, Cola Hoyasala and Nayaka with illustrations that include maps plans of caves and even viharas and caityas it undertakes a study of the temples found in different states of India. The research discusses the variations in plans and elevations to examine development of temple architecture over time and new experiment actions in the building of temples by use of various materials. Reconstructing art and architectural styles from the remnants of the ruined temples in many places it explains terms and concepts in temple building and architecture and cites examples of various temple style and traditions including the best and earliest ones. The focus is on the Dravida and Nagara temple styles and a third hybrid form of sikhara that developed in the Deccan. Many Jaina temples are also covered.
Complexities and Intricacies of the South Indian Temples
Indo Nordic Authors' Collective, 2022
Complexities and Intricacies of the South Indian Temples the evolution of the Dravidian temple design and Architecture took over a 1000 years. Here is the complete story. CONTENTS Introduction page 3 Chapter 1-Dravidian Architecture :History of Temple Architecture in South India page 8 Chapter 2-Shaivite landscapes of “India” and South East Asian Countries and the conflict between the followers of Shiva and Vishnu/ Vaishnavism vs Shaivism Chapter 3-Vimana Temples – Architectural Marvel Of South India page 50 Chapter 4-GOPURA of South Indian Mandirs page 70 CHAPTER 5-Structural Integrity of the South Indian Temples page 95 Chapter 6-The Meenakshi Temple of Madurai mpage 125 Chapter 7-SACREDNESS of HINDU TEMPLES page 156
Sleevenotes for the film 'Temples of India', included as a special feature with the film Shiraz (Osten, 1928) released by BFI (2018)
The decline of the Gupta Age by the end of the 6 th century witnessed the birth of a paramount power in north India under the Vardhanas of Thaneswar. Harshavardhana, the prominent ruler of this dynasty, however, for most part of his life ruled from Kannauj. Soon after them, i.e., by the second half of the 7 th century, smaller kingdoms emerged in north, central and northwestern India. These royal houses played a very important role in the further development of Nagara style of temple architecture which was introduced by the Guptas in the 5 th-6 th centuries. The major dynasties that flourished at different periods of time between 7 th and 11 th centuries, and which gave immense patronage to temple building activities, were the Gurjara-Pratiharas (8 th-11 th century), the Kalachuris (8 th-13 th century), the Paramaras (9 th-14 th century), the Solankis (10-13 th century) and the Chandellas (10 th-13 th century). They, individually and collectively, contributed greatly to the growth of the Nagara architectural tradition but with regional variations. The early Pratihara temples at Gwalior, Gyaraspur and Baroli in Madhya Pradesh show various stages of the development of central Indian temple architecture. For example, the Teli-ka-Mandir (c. 9 th century) dedicated to Sakti cult at Gwalior, is the oldest Pratihara temple in this region (Pl. 31). It has a rectangular mula-prasada (mula means 'root', 'original', etc., the main shrine where deity is consecrated) with the oblong sikhara or spire. It is also significant to note that here the Dravida style of sikhara penetrated somewhat strangely in this heartland of India at this early stages. The topmost part of the sikhara has the barrel-vaulted or wagon-top roof called sala sikhara-the reminiscent of the Dravidian order. The stepped-pyramidal roof, also called as 'Phamsana roof', built above the porch, is also peculiar to this early temple in this region. The sides of the temple wall have three projections with intermediate recessions. Rudimentary form of 'Latina' sikharas (sikharas resembling 'sugar loaf' mass), kudu window arches and lotus medallions decorate the exterior. From this simple style of architecture developed Latina mula-prasadas with pradakshina-pathas, balconies with chajjas or overhanging eaves, mandapas or halls with open vedika (railing) for free transmission of air and light. The Phamsana, or gable roofs, were adorned with purna-kalasa or padma-kumbha capitals or finials fixed along the long axis of the gable roof. The later Pratiharas further developed the mula-prasada and its superstructure. The basic elements of the north Indian temples are found in these temples (Figs. 33, 34, 35a, 35b & 36). This development can be seen in the temples of Baroli and Gyaraspur in Madhya
Some Distinguished Temples of Hinduism BOOK
Indo Nordic Author's Collective, 2021
Some Distinguished Temples of Hinduism --A BOOK CHAPTER I-Why were temples built? Why do we worship idols? The science of HINDU Temple Construction page 5 CHAPTER II-Medieval temple architecture: North Indian style page 23 CHAPTER III-1000 Petal Temple- Page 34 CHAPTER IV- A Shivling Established by Lord Kartikeya Himself tht emerges and submerges each day page 43 CHAPTER V-Ananthapura Lake Temple, Kerala - A beautiful lake temple with a crocodile guardian page 63 CHAPTER VI- Dashavatara दशावतार page 70 CHAPTER VII- Virat hridaya padma sthalam Chidambaram Sri Thillai Nataraja Temple page 144 CHAPTER VIII- CHIDAMBARAM TEMPLE TAMIL NADU,INDIA Interesting design Facts over and above those earlier written about page 218 CHAPTER IX- EMERGE SUBMERGE TEMPLE & GOD KARTIKEYAN-PART II page 238 About the Author page 261
A LIVING STRUCTURE: FUNDAMENTALS OF HINDU TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
Journal of Northeastern University, 2022
Hindu temple architecture is known from the earliest time in the world as per Hindu philosophy. Various ancient Hindu texts like Epics, Puranas, Vedas, Mayamata, Brihat Samhita, etc. inculcates the subject called Vastu. The key source for the Hindu temple architecture is derived from the magical geometry i.e. Vastupurusha Mandala. The structure of the temple building acts as a single human body. It is a metaphysical philosophy which deals beyond the reality. The Vastu plays a vital role during construction of temples and building structures. The formation of any ancient Indian structures is possible due to some guidance in terms of units which can be evaluated and fixed easily by the help of traditional system of measurement. The importance of traditional measurement unit is framed rigidly in the paper for understanding the geometry of the structures with better perception. The main objectives of the research paper are (1) to study the architectural geometry from its origin and its measurement unit, (2) to explore the evolution of Vastushastra and its types, (3) to analyse the interlinkages between the Vastupurusha Mandala with temple building and temple with Purusha (human being). Hence this research paper is a unique in its own way for describing the architectural design pattern of Hindu temples in a systematic manner. At last but not least the proposed findings and conclusion of the research paper based on the Vastushastra is that the evolution of the concerned ancient building structures can be easily determined on the basis of traditional measurement system. The magical diagram can be taken into account in various fields from architecture to planning level with sustainable approach. Through achieving the certain objectives help to depict the way of designing, constructing and planning any Hindu temple structures at present scenario in a confined manner.