Indian architecture in

concept and execution

Case Study of Dravidian Temple Architecture
Types of Indian Temple Architecture
• Nagara
• Dravida
• Kalinga
• Maru-Gujara
• Chalukya Hoysala
Indian Temple Architecture
FEATURES
• Gopuram: an elaborate gateway of south Indian temples, in the form of a tower.
• Jagati: the platform on which the temple is erected.
• Mandapa: a pillared hall for public rituals.
• Antarala: an antechamber between the garbhagriha and the mandapa in north Indian temples.
• Garbhagriha: the sanctum sanctorum where the presiding deity is kept.
• Shikhara or Vimana: the tower over the garbhagriha
Dravidian vs. Nagara Temple Architecture
• Dravidian architecture important • In Nagara the beehived shaped
features are the vimana and tower is the most distinguished
gopuram. Vimana is tall pyramidal element called as shikhara.
tower consisting of several • The gateways are in the North
progressively smaller storeys, the and they are plain simple and
peak of the vimanas is known as small.
sikhara in south indian temples.
• Gopurams the welcoming gate
became taller and taller
overpowering the main shrine and
its super structure and dominating
the whole temple complex.

Nagara style vs Dravidian style

TEMPLES OF SOUTH INDIA
Introduction to Dravidaian Temple Architecture
• Pallava (600-900AD)
• Chola (900-1150 AD)
• Pandya (1100-1350 AD)
• Vijayanagara (1350-1565 AD)
• Nayaka (from 1600 AD)
Pallavas vs. Cholas
• Dravidian architectures foundation laid • Golden age for Dravidian architecture.
• Pallavas great patrons of art and architecture • Proclaim their power through arts
• They used architecture to legitimize their rule • Used temple to make unequivocal
by richly endowing the shrines and by statement about their political hegemony.
naming the edifices after their kings. As a • Brihadisvara temple (a royal monument of
result, a complex relationship began to grow power)
between the temple, community and the
king.
• Two phases
• Mahendra and Mammala (610-690)
• Rajasimha and Nandivarman (690-900)
Brihadeeshwara Temple
FACTS:
• Built by Raja Raja Chola
• One of tallest (210 fts high) and largest
tower in India
• Temple was built per ancient texts called
Vaastu Shastras and Agamas
FEATURES
• Axial and Symmetrical geometry rules temple layout.
• The Kumbam (Kalasha or Chikharam) (apex or the
bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is carved out
of a single stone and it weighs around 80 tons
• Kumbam raised to its present height by dragging on an
inclined plane of 6.44 km
• Inner mandapa which is surrounded by massive walls
that are divided into levels by sharply cut sculptures
and pilasters providing deep bays and recesses
Brihadeeshwara Temple
DISTINCT FEATURES
• The two large gopuras in line are first introduced
here in Dravidian architecture.
• The vimana is dvitala (double storied).
• In the Dravida style, the Karuvarai takes the form of
a miniature vimana with other features exclusive to
southern Indian temple architecture such as the
inner wall together with the outer wall creating
a pradakshina around the garbhagriha
for pradakshina. The entrance is highly decorated.
The inside chamber housing the image of the god is
the sanctum sanctorum, the garbhagriha The
garbhagriha is square and sits on a plinth, its
location calculated to be a point of total equilibrium
and harmony as it is representative of a microcosm
of the universe. In the center is placed the image of
the deity.
Knowledge Systems
• Vaastu Sastra
• Floor Plan
• Cosmic Being
• Trigonometry
• Placing of Kumbam on top of the pyramidal tower
• Astronomy
• Shadow of gopuram never falls on the ground
Vastupurushamandala and Temple Plan
• Vastupurushamandala derived from 3 words:
• Vastu refers to physical environment
• Purusha refers to cosmic being
• Mandala refers to diagram
• Square is a very fundamental form in Hindu philosophy.
• Mandala is actually a square subdivided into smaller squares in the form of a grid with each unit
clearly making area of Gods.
• Brihadeeshwara Temple as Padmagarbhamandala (16*16)
• Most common mandalas are 64 and 81, these are common in Dravidian temples.
Brihadeeshwara Temple: Vaastu Sastra
FLOOR PLAN
 Vertical Symbolism

The structure is so huge and it could signify Mt.Kailash

Horizontal Symbolism
 Trigonometry

66m

• It is hypothesized that the kumbam which weighs over 80 tonnes is of single rock and was rised to
its present height by dragging on an inclined plane of 6.44km.
• A temporary inclined plane has been constructed and demolished after construction.
• Elephants have been used to drag the stone up this slope.
Mathematical Calculations
• Sinα=66/6440
• α= 0.01
INFERENCES
• F=m*g*sinα
• This shows how much force the temporary
• m=72574.8 kg inclined plane must withstand.
• Cholas should have taken huge amount of
• g=9.81
pain in constructing this.
• F=72574.8*9.81*0.010 • Creating a temporary structure that could
• F=7296.4N approx. 7.3kN withstand this much Force is a big deal.
• Weight a normal elephant can lift 300kg-500kg • This clearly shows how Cholas were
distinctly ahead in architecture and practical
• No of elephants used: 7300/400=19
use of mathematics.
• Force the inclined plane has to withstand:
• No: of elephants*mass*g*sinα+ Weight of kumbam
• 19*5000*9.81*0.01+7300=16619.5 N= 16.7kN
Astronomy
• They should have had a decent knowledge about path of the sun.
• Combining this knowledge with their expertise in architecture they created a marvel.
• Vimana doesn’t cast a shadow on temple premises.
• This not only shows their skill set but also the planning Cholas possessed.
• The architect Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachan should have thought of all these before
hand and then executed it.
 Sr. no Temples of South India Period In Plan Area Ratio

Patterns in South Indian Temples Total Area of the

Total Wall
Area of the
Total Wall
Area/Total, Total
temple (sq.m) Area of the
temple (sq.m)
temple (%)
1 Ladh khan temple, Aihole, Karnataka 5th cent. 291.24 43.35 14.88%
2 Durga temple, Aihole, Karnataka 6th cent. 258.35 45.42 17.58%
3 Temple of papanatha, Pattadakal, Karnataka 7th cent. 199.42 58.07 29.11%
4 Temple of virupaksha, Pattadakal,Karnaataka 8th cent. 162.8 55.12 33.84%
5 Shore temple, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 8th cent. 32.91 20.59 62.56%
6 Jaina temple, Pattadakal, Karnataka 9th cent. 148.81 49.82 33.47%
Brihadeshvara temple, Thanjavur, Tamil
7 11th cent. 2179.29 737.15
Nadu 33.82%
8 Mallikarjuna temple, Sudi, Karnataka 11th cent. 176.19 78.51 44.59%
9 Gangaiacondacholapuran temple, Karnataka 11th cent. 2084 729.49 34.98%
10 Jain temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka 11th cent. 198.11 73.23 36.96%
11 Main Shrine , Itagi, Koppal district, Karnataka 12th cent. 378.72 131.98 34.98%
Temple of kallesvara,
12 12th cent. 459.92 232.63 50.56%
Kukkanur,Karnataka
Virupaksha temple complex,
13 12th cent. 336.03 125.64 37.38%
Hampi,Karnataka
14 Kesava temple, Aralguppe, Karnataka 13th cent. 472.12 214.6 45.43%
15 Isvara temple, Arisikerai, Karnataka 13th cent. 486.78 148.93 30.48%
16 Chandrasekara temple, Hampi, Karnataka 14th cent. 335.56 110.8 33.01%
17 Chandikeshawa temple, Hampi, Karnatka 14th cent. 106.21 36.62 34.42%
18 Vitthal temple, Hampi, Karnataka 15th cent. 769.04 397.54 49.95%
Patterns in Dravidian Architecture
Time vs. Area of Temple
Patterns in Dravidian Architecture
Time vs. Height of Temples
Conclusions