THE SOUTH HINDU OR DRAVIDIAN ARCHITECTURE

DRAVIDIAN ARCHITECTURE

•The south India was little affected by outside invasions. It

enjoyed full freedom.
•Hence Dravidian architecture developed into its own form and
tradition.
•Temples were not only place of worship but also center of
learning. Along with elaborate religious rituals, festivals,
performances of dances, dramas based on religious theme
were continued.
•Dravidians being fine craftsman ,temples were designed most
elegantly with great interest to display ornamentation and fine
art that covered every part of the temple.
•Dravidian architecture which dates back from 600 AD to 1000
AD may broadly be divided into rock cut monuments to
structural monuments.
Dravidian architecture is sub divided into 5 styles:

1. Pallava style
2. Chola style
3. Pandya style
4. Vijayanagar style
5. Late Pandya style or Madhura style

1. Pallava style
Pallavas were the pioneers and laid the foundation of
Dravidian style. They made their capital at Kanchipuram,in
Madras.
There are two phases in this style .the first phase consist of
wholly rock-cut temples and second one of wholly structural
temples.
 In first phase we come across ‘RATHAS and MANTAPAS.’
RATHAS
RATHAS are small shrines carved out of a monolithic rock. In
general Ratha is known as chariot used for carrying the image of
the deity during religious procession.
But here in pallava style it commonly refers to a monolithic
shrine which contains all the essential features of a temple
including domed storey to shikhara.
There are series of 7 monolithic Rathas ,chiseled out of big
boulders at Mahablipuram.
The five rathas are known as Panch Pandav rathas after the 5
sons of Pandu, king of Hastinapur.
These are Dharmaraja, Bhima,Arjuna ,Nakula and Sahdev
Rathas.
There is also a Draupadi’s Rathas, named after a common wife
of five Pandava brothers.
Draupadi’s Rathas
•Draupadi’s Ratha is the smallest
and well finished .it is entirely rock
cut and stands on a square plinth
of 3.5 m and has a vaulted roof
,evidently derived from the hut
with a straw roof.
•It is 6 m high.
•In the Ratha the image of
Draupadi is enshrined as a
goddess of Lakshmi.
•There are monolithic carving of
lion on its west faces whereas that
of Nandi or Shiva’s Bull on the east
face of this Ratha
Arjun’s Rathas
Arjun’s Ratha lies to the south of Draupadi’s Rathas. It is
planned like Buddhist vihara. Measuring 3.5m x3.5m and rising
to a height of 6.6 m .its shikhara(Vimana) is built in four tiers
containing little heads set in the horse-shoe shaped arches
which are characteristics.
There are images on the rear wall of the Ratha.
Bhima ’s Rathas
It sands on rectangular platform measuring 13m x 7.6m and
Vimana rises to a height of 8m.
The approach is through a double row of carved columns.
It has a pillared gallery running all around the roof which is like
the Buddhist vault.
Dharmaraja ’s Rathas
It is carved similar to Arjuna Ratha and is the tallest. It stands
on the plan of 8mx9m and vimana rises to a height of 12 m in
four storey's.
Nakula and Sahadeva ’s Rathas
The Ratha is based on ‘Chaitya Hall’ of Buddhist temple with an
apsidal end on the south side and double pillared portico on
the north side. Its plinth measures 5.5m 3.35m and rises to a ht
of 5m in four tiers. The roof is elaborately carved.
GANESHA RATHA