Dravidian architecture
Dravidian architecture, also known as South Indian Temple Architecture, flourished from the 3rd century BCE to the 17th century CE in the Indian subcontinent. In contrast with North Indian temple styles, Dravidian architecture uses shorter and more pyramidal towers, called Vimana, over the garbhagriha or sanctuary, where the north has taller towers, usually curving inwards as they rise, called shikharas.
These are Characterized by:
1. Gopuram: Towering gateways, often decorated with intricate carvings.
2. Vimana: Sanctum sanctorum, housing the deity.
3. Mandapa: Assembly halls, featuring intricate carvings and sculptures.
4. Pradakshina Patha: Circumambulatory path around the temple.
5. Ratha: Chariot-shaped shrines, often dedicated to subsidiary deities.
Types of Dravidian Architecture:
1. Pallava Style: Characterized by simple, rock-cut temples (7th-9th centuries).
2. Chola Style: Features grand, imposing temples with intricate carvings (9th-13th centuries).
3. Pandya Style: Known for its ornate, intricate carvings and sculptures (13th-15th centuries).
4. Vijayanagara Style: Characterized by grand, imposing temples with intricate carvings (14th-16th centuries).
Famous Examples:
1. Brihadeeswarar Temple (Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu)
2. Meenakshi Amman Temple (Madurai, Tamil Nadu)
3. Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangam, Tamil Nadu)
4. Vitthala Temple (Hampi, Karnataka)
5. Padmanabhaswamy Temple (Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala)
Dravidian architecture is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of South India, showcasing the region’s expertise in temple building and architectural innovation.
- The Pallavas ruled from 275 CE to 900 CE, and their greatest constructed accomplishments are the single rock temples in Mahabalipuram and their capital Kanchipuram, now located in Tamil Nadu.
The Parthasarathy Temple in Chennai is one of the oldest temples of Pallavas dating early 500 CE. The rock-cut Shore temple of the temples in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, dated between 700-728 CE is also a good example.
Contrary to popular impression about the succeeding empire of the Cholas pioneering in building large temple complexes, it was the Pallavas who actually pioneered not only in making large temples after starting construction of rock cut temples without using mortar, bricks etc.
Pallava style temples, which flourished from the 7th to the 9th centuries, are characterized by:
Key Features:
1. Rock-cut temples: Pallava temples were often carved directly into granite rocks.
2. Simple, austere designs: Early Pallava temples featured simple, rectangular plans.
3. Rathas: Pallava temples often featured rathas, or chariot-shaped shrines.
4. Mandapas: Assembly halls, often featuring intricate carvings.
5. Gopurams: Towering gateways, often decorated with intricate carvings.
Characteristics of Pallava Style Temples:
1. Use of granite: Pallava temples were often built using local granite.
2. Intricate carvings: Pallava temples feature intricate carvings, often depicting Hindu mythology.
The Pallava style temples mark the beginning of South Indian temple architecture, showcasing the region’s expertise in rock-cut temple construction and intricate carvings.
Famous Examples:
1. Mahabalipuram Shore Temple (Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu)
2. Mahabalipuram Five Rathas (Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu)
3. Kailasanathar Temple (Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu)
4. Vaikunta Perumal Temple (Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu)
5. Tiruchirappalli Rock Fort Temple (Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu)
6. Parthasarathy Temple in Chennai
2.The Rashtrakutas who ruled the Deccan from Manyakheta, Karnataka in the period 753–973 CE built some of the finest Dravidian monuments at Ellora (the Kailasanatha temple), in the rock-cut architecture idiom, with a style showing influences from both north and south India.
The Rashtrakuta contributions to art and architecture are reflected in the splendid rock-cut shrines at Ellora and Elephanta, situated in present-day Maharashtra.
3. The Badami Chalukyas also called the Early Chalukyas, ruled from Badami, Karnataka in the period 543–753 CE. The rock-cut temples of Pattadakal, (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) , Badami, Aihole and Mhakuta are their most celebrated monuments.
4.The Western Chalukyas also called the Kalyani Chalukyas or Later Chalukyas ruled the deccan from 973 to 1180 CE from their capital Kalyani in modern Karnataka and further refined the Chalukyan style.
5. The Hoysala kings ruled southern India during the period (1100–1343 CE) from their capital Belur and later Halebidu in Karnataka and developed a unique idiom of architecture called the Hoysala architecture in Karnataka state.
The finest examples of their architecture are the Chennakesava Temple in Belur, Hoysaleswara temple in Halebidu, and the Kesava temple in Somanathapura.
The modern interest in the Hoysalas is due to their patronage of art and architecture rather than their military conquests. Their architectural style, an offshoot of the Western Chalukya style, shows distinct Dravidian influences.
- Chennakesava Temple in Belur
2. Hoysaleswara temple in Halebidu
3. Kesava temple in Somanathapura
6. Chola style temples, flourished from the 9th to the 13th centuries. The Imperial Chola kings ruled from 848 CE to 1280 CE and included Rajaraja Chola 1 and his son Rajendra Chola who built temples such as the three Great Living Chola Temples.
The maturity and grandeur to which the Chola architecture had evolved found expression in the two temples of Tanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram. Of course, the two Brihadiswara Temples at Thanjavur and Gangaikonda Cholapuram as well as the other two Siva temples, namely the Airavateswara Temple of Darasuram, and the Sarabeswara(Shiva )Temple or Kampahareswarar Temple at Thirubuvanam, both on the outskirts of Kumbakonam were the royal temples of the Cholas to commemorate their innumerable conquests.
Key Features:
1. Grand, imposing structures: Chola temples are known for their massive size and grandeur.
2. Vimanas: Towering spires that rise above the temple complex.
3. Gopurams: Towering gateways, often decorated with intricate carvings.
4. Mandapas: Assembly halls, featuring intricate carvings and sculptures.
5. Intricate carvings: Chola temples are renowned for their intricate carvings, often depicting Hindu mythology.
Famous Examples:
1. Brihadeeswara Temple (Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu)
2. Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple (Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu)
3. Airavateswara Temple (Darasuram, Tamil Nadu)
4. Kampahareswarar Temple (Thirubuvanam, Tamil Nadu)
5. Nataraja Temple (Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu)
The Chola style temples mark the pinnacle of medieval South Indian temple architecture, showcasing the region’s expertise in building grand, imposing structures with intricate carvings.
7. Pandya style temples, which flourished from the 13th to the 15th centuries, are characterized by:
Key Features:
1. Intricate carvings: Pandya temples are renowned for their intricate carvings, often depicting Hindu mythology.
2. Vimanas: Towering spires that rise above the temple complex.
3. Gopurams: Towering gateways, often decorated with intricate carvings.
4. Mandapas: Assembly halls, featuring intricate carvings and sculptures.
5. Ornate pillars: Pandya temples feature ornate pillars, often with intricate carvings.
Famous Examples:
1. Meenakshi Amman Temple (Madurai, Tamil Nadu)
2. Nellaiappar Temple (Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu)
3. Kantimathi-Nellaiyapper Temple (Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu)
4. Tenkasi Kasi Viswanathar Temple (Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu)
5. Srivilliputhur Andal Temple (Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu)
8. The whole of South India was ruled by Vijayanagara Empire from (1343–1565 CE), who built a number of temples and monuments in their hybrid style in their capital Vijayanagara in Karnataka. Their style was a combination of the styles developed in South India in the previous centuries.
Vijayanagara architecture is a vibrant combination of the Chalukya, Hoysala, Rashtrakuta, Pallava, Pandya and Chola styles, idioms that prospered in previous centuries
Vijayanagara style temples, which flourished from the 14th to the 16th centuries, are characterized by:
Key Features:
1. Grand, imposing structures: Vijayanagara temples are known for their massive size and grandeur.
2. Vimanas: Towering spires that rise above the temple complex.
3. Gopurams: Towering gateways, often decorated with intricate carvings.
4. Mandapas: Assembly halls, featuring intricate carvings and sculptures.
5. Intricate carvings: Vijayanagara temples feature intricate carvings, often depicting Hindu mythology.
Famous Examples:
1. Virupaksha Temple (Hampi, Karnataka)
2. Vitthala Temple (Hampi, Karnataka)
3. Hazara Rama Temple (Hampi, Karnataka)
4. Krishna Temple (Hampi, Karnataka)
5. Raghunatha Temple (Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh)