HINDU & INDIAN

ARCHITECTURE

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE
JOHN CARLO QUINIA
 TERMS & DEFINITIONS

Hinduism- An Indian religion and a way of life (dharma) It is the world's third-
biggest religion with about 1.2 billion followers, or 15–16% of the worldwide
population
Hindu- A person who follows Hinduism beliefs and practices
Brahma- The god responsible for the creation of the world and all living things
Vishnu- The god that preserves and protects the universe
Shiva- The god that destroys the universe in order to recreate it
Devi- The goddess that fights to restore dharma
Krishna- The god of compassion, tenderness and love
Lakshmi- The goddess of wealth and purity
Saraswati- The goddess of learning
Harappans- Developed the first accurate system of standardized weights and
measures, some as precise as to 1.6 mm. Harappans made model, seals,
earthenware, and gems from materials, for example, earthenware, metal, and
stone.
Indus- People who lived near the Indus river, the longest river of Pakistan
Ashoka- Or Ashoka The Great was an Indian emperor during Maurya Dynasty
Stupas- Is a hemispherical structure containing relics, (for example, śarīra –
normally the remaining parts of Buddhist monks or nuns) that is utilized as a
position of meditation. A related engineering term is a chaitya, which is a petition
corridor or sanctuary containing a stupa.
Sanchi Stupa- One of the oldest Buddhist temple in India.
Gandhara- A name of the land given to the civilization that existed in northern
Pakistan and Afghanisthan.
 BACKGROUND

The term Indian methods numerous things in numerous specific

circumstances. Truly the term Indian alludes for the most part to individuals living
inside the limit of Indian sub-continent that used to encompass today’s India,
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Afghanistan, and freely in certain nations
like America and Australia, the natives are alluded to as Indians. The development
of sovereign India changed the definition and made it increasingly centered around
Indian as a political notwithstanding social character. All things considered political
India is a lot more youthful to social India. In the present setting, the term alludes to
a mixture of individuals, who are residents by birth, residents by marriage, residents
by privileged citizenship and residents by political thought by the administration,
with no thought to strict confidence of the individual.
Hindu, then again, implies anyone, who independent of his/her citizenship or
place of residence believes in Hinduism and enjoys and favors Hindu customary
traditions. Hinduism, however the greatest composed non-Abrahamic and most
oldest religion of the world, was never institutionally sorted out and controlled
religion like Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam. Hinduism is fairly a way of
thinking of life dependent on the idea of "Truth prevails". The way of thinking
developed in India and rehearsed by individuals living in India for over 5000 years,
before any composed religion appeared. It a chronicled certainty that before the
Muslim intruders from Mongolia and Persia established realms in India, the
individuals of India was 100% Hindus. It likewise bewilders that notwithstanding 800
years of Muslim guidelines followed by 200 years of British imperialism, as on today
85% of Indian populace is authoritatively Hindu. This is the motivation behind why
truly Indian and Hindu are seen as equivalent. Be that as it may, there exist a few
contrasts between an Indian and a Hindu.
 INFLUENCES

HISTORICAL
India's history and culture is dynamic, spreading over back to the beginning of
human development. It starts with a secretive culture along the Indus River and in
cultivating networks in the southern terrains of India. The historical backdrop of
India is punctuated by consistent combination of relocating individuals with the
differing societies that encompass India. Accessible proof recommends that the
utilization of iron, copper and different metals was generally pervasive in the Indian
sub-landmass at a genuinely early period, which is characteristic of the advancement
that this piece of the world had made. Before the finish of the fourth thousand years
BC, India had risen as a locale of exceptional developed civilization.

RELIGION

Hinduism is the world's most oldest religion, according to scholars, with roots
and customs going back over 4,000 years. Today, with around 900 million
supporters, Hinduism is the third-biggest religion behind Christianity and Islam.
Approximately 95 percent of the world's Hindus live in India. Since the religion has
no particular organizer, it's hard to follow its inceptions and history. Hinduism is one
of a kind in that it is anything but a solitary religion however a gathering of numerous
conventions and ways of thinking.
Most scholars believe Hinduism began somewhere close to 2300 B.C.
furthermore, 1500 B.C. in the Indus Valley, close to advanced Pakistan. However,
numerous Hindus contend that their confidence is ageless and has consistently
existed. In contrast to different religions, Hinduism has nobody originator however
is rather a combination of different convictions.
 Around 1500 B.C., the Indo-Aryan individuals moved to the Indus Valley, and
their language and culture mixed with that of the indigenous individuals living in the
area. There's some discussion over who impacted who more during this time. The
period when the Vedas were created got known as the "Vedic Period" and kept going
from around 1500 B.C. to 500 B.C. Ceremonies, for example, forfeits and reciting,
were regular in the Vedic Period. The Epic, Puranic and Classic Periods occurred
between 500 B.C. furthermore, 500 A.D. Hindus started to underscore the love of
divinities, particularly Vishnu, Shiva and Devi. The idea of dharma was presented in
new messages, and different religions, for example, Buddhism and Jainism, spread
quickly.

BELIEFS
Here are some practices and beliefs of Hinduism.
Hinduism grasps numerous strict thoughts. Consequently, it's occasionally
alluded to as a "lifestyle" or a "group of religions," rather than a solitary, sorted out
religion.

Brahma
the god responsible for the creation of the world and all living things

Vishnu
the god that preserves and protects the universe
 Shiva
the god that destroys the universe in order to recreate it

Devi
the goddess that fights to restore dharma
 Krishna
the god of compassion, tenderness and love

Lakshmi
the goddess of wealth and purity
 Saraswati
the goddess of learning
Most types of Hinduism are henotheistic, which implies they revere a solitary
god, known as "Brahman," yet at the same time perceive different gods and
goddesses. Supporters accept there are numerous ways to arriving at their god.

Samsara
Hindus have confidence in the tenets of samsara (the persistent pattern of life,
demise, and rebirth) and karma (the general law of circumstances and logical
results).
One of the key considerations of Hinduism is "atman," or the confidence in soul.
This way of thinking holds that living animals have a spirit, and they're all piece of
the incomparable soul. The objective is to accomplish "moksha," or salvation, which
parts of the bargains resurrections to turn out to be a piece of the absolute soul.
One essential rule of the religion is the possibility that individuals' activities and
considerations straightforwardly decide their present life and future lives. Hindus
endeavor to accomplish dharma, which is a code of living that accentuates great lead
and ethical quality. Hindus adore every single living animal and consider the cow a
sacrosanct creature. Food is a significant piece of life for Hindus. Most don't eat beef
or pork, and many are vegans. Hinduism is firmly identified with other Indian
religions, including Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.

GEOLOGICAL
The geographical areas comprehensively follow the physical highlights and
might be gathered into three districts: the Himalayas and their related gathering of
mountains, the Indo-Ganga Plain, and the Peninsular Shield.
The Himalayan mountain belt toward the north and the Naga-Lushai mountain
in the east, are the areas of mountain-building development. The vast majority of
this territory, presently introducing probably the most brilliant mountain view on
the planet, was under marine conditions around 600 million years back. In a
progression of mountain-building developments starting around 70 million years
prior, the dregs and the storm cellar rocks rose to incredible statures. The enduring
and erosive organizations dealt with these to create the help seen today. The Indo-
Ganga fields are an extraordinary alluvial tract that isolates the Himalayas in the
north from the Peninsula in the south.
Peninsula is an area of relative soundness and incidental seismic unsettling
influences. Exceptionally transformed rocks of the most punctual periods, going
back the extent that 380 crore years, happen in the territory; the rest being secured
by the beach front bearing Gondwana arrangements, magma streams having a place
with the Deccan Trap development and more youthful sediments.

SOCIAL

The History of India starts with the introduction of the Indus Valley Civilization,
all the more accurately known as Harappan Civilization. It prospered around 2,500
BC, in the western piece of South Asia, what today is Pakistan and Western India.
The Indus Valley was home to the biggest of the four antiquated urban human
advancements of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China. Nothing was thought about
this human progress till 1920s when the Archeological Department of India did
unearthings in the Indus valley wherein the vestiges of the two old urban
communities, viz, Mohenjodaro and Harappa were uncovered. The vestiges of
structures and different things like family articles, weapons of war, gold and silver
trimmings, seals, toys, ceramics products, and so forth., demonstrate that nearly
four to 5,000 years back an exceptionally evolved Civilization thrived in this area.
The Indus valley development was fundamentally a urban human
advancement and the individuals lived in very much arranged and all around
constructed towns, which were additionally the places for exchange. The remnants
of Mohenjodaro and Harappa show that these were wonderful shipper urban
communities very much arranged, logically laid, and all around cared for. They had
wide streets and an all around created waste framework. The houses were made of
prepared blocks and had at least two stories.
The profoundly enlightened Harappans knew the specialty of developing oats,
and wheat and grain comprised their staple food. They devoured vegetables and
products of the soil sheep, pork and eggs also. Confirmations show that they wore
cotton just as woolen pieces of clothing. By 1500 BC, the Harappan culture reached
a conclusion. Among different causes credited to the rot of Indus Valley Civilization
are the repetitive floods and other regular causes like seismic tremor, and so forth.

Also known as Vedic civilization, The Vedic civilization is the earliest civilization
throughout the entire existence of antiquated India. It is named after the Vedas, the
early writing of the Hindu individuals. The Vedic Civilization thrived along the
waterway Saraswati, in a district that currently comprises of the cutting edge Indian
conditions of Haryana and Punjab. Vedic is equivalent with Hinduism, which is
another name for strict and profound idea that has advanced from the Vedas. The
Ramayana and Mahabharata were the two incredible epic of this period.
 Buddhist era
During the existence time of Lord Gautam Buddha, sixteen extraordinary
forces (Mahajanpadas) existed in the seventh and mid sixth hundred of years BC.
Among the more significant republics were the Sakyas of Kapilavastu and the
Licchavis of Vaishali. Other than the republics, there were monarchical states,
among which the significant ones were Kaushambi (Vatsa), Magadha, Kosala and
Avanti. These states were managed by energetic characters who had set out upon
the arrangements of glorification and retention of neighboring states. Be that as it
may, there were unmistakable indications of the republican states while those under
the rulers were extending.
Buddha was conceived in BC 560 and passed on at eighty years old in BC 480.
The spot of his introduction to the world was a woods known as Lumbini, close to
the city of Kapilavastu, at the foot of Mount Palpa in the Himalayan ranges inside
Nepal. Buddha, whose unique name was Siddhartha Gautama, was the author of
Buddhism, the religion and the philosophical framework that developed into an
incredible culture all through much of southern and eastern Asia.

POLITICAL

Alexander’s invasion
 During the existence time of Lord Gautam Buddha, sixteen incredible forces
(Mahajanpadas) existed in the seventh and mid sixth hundreds of years BC. Among
the more significant republics were the Sakyas of Kapilavastu and the Licchavis of
Vaishali. Other than the republics, there were monarchical states, among which the
significant ones were Kaushambi (Vatsa), Magadha, Kosala and Avanti. These states
were controlled by incredible characters who had set out upon the arrangements of
magnification and retention of neighboring states. Notwithstanding, there were
particular indications of the republican states while those under the rulers were
extending.
Buddha was conceived in BC 560 and kicked the bucket at eighty years old in
BC 480. The spot of his introduction to the world was a forest known as Lumbini,
close to the city of Kapilavastu, at the foot of Mount Palpa in the Himalayan ranges
inside Nepal. Buddha, whose unique name was Siddhartha Gautama, was the author
of Buddhism, the religion and the philosophical framework that developed into an
incredible culture all through quite a bit of southern and eastern Asian 326 BC,
Alexander attacked India, in the wake of intersection the stream Indus he progressed
towards Taxila. He at that point tested lord Porus , leader of the realm between the
streams Jhelum and Chenab. The Indians were vanquished in the savage fight,
despite the fact that they battled with elephants, which the Macedonians had at no
other time seen. Alexander caught Porus and, similar to the next nearby rulers he
had vanquished, permitted him to keep on administering his domain.
During this outing to waterways Hydaspes and Indus in the south, Alexander
searched out the Indian thinkers, the Brahmins, who were acclaimed for their
shrewdness, and bantered with them on philosophical issues. He got incredible for
a considerable length of time in India for being both, a savvy logician and an intrepid
champion.

The Mauryan Empire

The period of the Mauryan Empire (322 BC-185 BC) denoted another age
throughout the entire existence of India. It is supposed to be a period when
sequence got positive. It was a period when governmental issues, craftsmanship,
exchange and business raised India to a heavenly tallness. It was a time of unification
of the domains which lay as divided realms. Also, Indian contact with the outside
world was built up viably during this period.
The disarray following the passing of Alexander allowed Chandragupta Maurya
a chance to free the nations from the burden of the Greeks, and along these lines
involve the regions of Punjab and Sindh. He later ousted the intensity of Nandas at
Magadha with the guide of Kautilya, and established a sublime Mauryan domain in
322 BC. Chandragupta, who managed from 324 to 301 BC, accordingly, earned the
title of hero and the main ruler of Bharata.
 At a higher age, Chandragupta got intrigued by religion and left his seat to his
child Bindusar in 301 BC. Bindusar vanquished the Highland of Deccan during his rule
of 28 years and gave his seat to his child Ashoka in 273 BC. Ashoka developed not
just as the most well known lord of the Maurya administration, but at the same time
is viewed as one of the best ruler of India and the world.
His domain secured the entire region from Hindu Kush to Bengal and stretched
out over Afghanistan, Baluchistan and the entire of India except for a little zone in
the farthest south. The valleys of Nepal and Kashmir were additionally remembered
for his realm.
The most significant occasion of Ashoka's rule was the success of Kalinga
(present day Odisha) which end up being the defining moment of his life. The Kalinga
war saw horrendous murder and annihilation. The sufferings and barbarities of the
front line cut the core of Ashoka. He made a purpose not to take up arms any more.
He understood the insidiousness of common success and the excellence of good and
otherworldly triumph. He was attracted to the lessons of Buddha and committed his
life to the triumph of men's heart by the law of obligation or devotion. He advanced
an arrangement of Dharma Vijaya, 'Triumph by Piety'.

Gupta Dynasty
After the Kushanas, the Guptas were the most significant line. The Gupta time
frame has been depicted as the Golden Age of Indian history. The primary acclaimed
lord of the Gupta tradition was Ghatotkacha's child Chandragupta I. He wedded
Kumaradevi, the girl of the head of the Licchavis. This marriage was a defining
moment in the life of Chandragupta I. He got Pataliputra in endowment from the
Lichhavis. From Pataliputra, he established the framework of his domain and began
overcoming many neighboring states with the assistance of the Licchavis. He
governed over Magadha (Bihar), Prayaga and Saketa (east Uttar Pradesh). His realm
reached out from the waterway Ganges to Allahabad. Chandragupta I additionally
got the title of Maharajadhiraja (King of Kings) and controlled for around fifteen
years.
Harshavardhana Dynasty
With the beginning of the seventh century, Harshavardhana (606-647 A.D.)
climbed the seat of Thaneshwar and Kannauj on the demise of his sibling,
Rajyavardhana. By 612 Harshavardhana united his realm in northern India.
In 620 A.D. Harshavardhana attacked the Chalukya realm in the Deccan, which
was then governed by Pulakesin II. In any case, the Chalukya obstruction
demonstrated intense for Harshavardhana and he was vanquished. Harshavardhana
is notable for his strict toleration, capable organization and political relations. He
kept up strategic relations with China and sent emissaries, who traded thoughts of
the Chinese rulers and built up their insight about one another.
 ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
The architecture of India is established in its history, culture and religion.
Among various structural styles and customs, the differentiating Hindu sanctuary
architecture and Indo-Islamic design are the most popular authentic styles. Both of
these, however particularly the previous, have various territorial styles inside them.
An early case of town arranging was the Harappan engineering of the Indus Valley
Civilization. Individuals lived in urban communities with heated block houses, roads
in a matrix format, expound drainage systems, water flexibly frameworks, storage
facilities, bastions, and groups of huge non-private structures. A lot other early
Indian design was in wood, which has not endure.

The Indus Civilization

The Great Bath at Mohenjodaro

For the Indus people, architecture was useful rather than embellishing, and urban
communities were spread out along a framework with broad waste frameworks. The
houses were worked of consistently measured blocks, which was exceptional in
different civic establishments during that period . Additionally, stone and wood were
utilized. One of the most significant structures was the Great Bath of Mohenjodaro,
which had one of the most advanced water systems in the world.

Mauryan Wooden Architecture

 At the beginning of the Mauryan time period around the fourth century BCE.
architecture was described by its utilized of wood. It is said that skilled worker aced
the specialty of finishing wood with the goal that the wood would really sparkle like
a mirror. Since a large portion of the structures during this time were developed
from wood, most have been devastated. In any case, a couple of shafts have stayed
from a fortification built by Chandragupta Maurya.

Mauryan Rock-Cut Architecture

During the Maurya domain, landmarks started to be worked out of stone. The
impact of Greek, Persian and Egyptian culture was apparent is a portion of the
shapes and brightening structures. In the third century BCE, with the reign of Ashoka
and his enthusiasm for stone development, the Buddhist school of architecture
started.
Many rock-cut caves, pillars, stupas and palaces were built during this period.
The caves were designed as sanctuaries for monks and were simple, lacking any
interior decorations. The oldest rock-cut sculpture in India is the rock-edict at Dhauli,
which has a carved elephant on the top symbolizing Ashoka's conversion to
Buddhism. About thirty of these huge pillars were built on holy sites, but only two
are still in good condition. The Sarnath pillar is considered to be the finest sculpture
during Ashoka's control.

Column capital with Greek and Persian influence

 Ashoka's Buddhist Architecture
Numerous stupas were commissioned by Ashoka to hold the relics of the
Buddha. These were basic in plan with a hemispherical shape and a low base. The
most celebrated of these stupas is the Sanchi Stupa or Great Stupa at Sanchi which
is the most seasoned of the stupas. Different renowned stupas incorporate
Amaravati Stupa and Gandhara Stupa.
Ashoka constructed religious communities affected by the Gandhara
engineering style, which was the style of the district during this time and described
by models of the Buddha. Normally, the primary structures were encased inside a
walled patio with the monastery community towards the north and the stupa
toward the south. He likewise developed royal residences. The most acclaimed was
the royal residence close Patna. It is said that a Chinese explorer thought it was made
by spirits since its carvings were so very much done.

Mughal Architecture
Building style that prospered in northern and focal India under the support of
the Mughal sovereigns from the mid-sixteenth to the late seventeenth century. The
Mughal time frame denoted a striking recovery of Islamic architecture in northern
India. Under the support of the Mughal heads, Persian, Indian, and different
common styles were combined to deliver works of irregular quality and refinement

PROMINENT EXAMPLES

Taj Mahal
 The Taj Mahal or the ”Crown of the Palace” in English is a mausoleum made
in ivory on the southern bank of the stream Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was
appointed in 1632 by the Mughal head Shah Jahan (ruled from 1628 to 1658) to
house the tomb of his preferred spouse, Mumtaz Mahal; it additionally houses the
tomb of Shah Jahan himself. The tomb is the highlight of a 17-hectare (42-section of
land) complex, which incorporates a mosque and a visitor house, and is set in formal
nurseries limited on three sides by a crenelated divider.
Development of the said mausoleum was basically finished in 1643, yet
work proceeded on different periods of the venture for an additional 10 years. The
Taj Mahal complex is accepted to have been finished completely in 1653 at an
expense assessed at an opportunity to be around 32 million rupees, which in 2020
would be roughly 70 billion rupees (about U.S. $916 million). The development
venture utilized approximately 20,000 artisans under the direction of a leading body
of architects drove by the court, architect to the emperor, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.
And uses Mughal architectural style.
Taj Mahal was assigned as an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for
being "the gem of Muslim craftsmanship in India and one of the generally respected
showstoppers of the world's legacy". It is viewed by numerous individuals as the best
case of Mughal engineering and an image of India's rich history. The Taj Mahal pulls
in 7–8 million guests per year and in 2007, it was pronounced a champ of the New
7 Wonders of the World (2000–2007) initiative.
 Ustad Ahmad Lahauri

Lakshmana Temple
 Lakshmana temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, was worked from 930-950 AD
during the rule of King Yasovarman of the Chandella realm. It houses a sacrosanct
picture of Vaikuntha-Vishnu brought from Tibet. Despite the fact that the sanctuary
is one of the most established in the Khajuraho fields, it is additionally one of the
most exquistely designed, secured totally with pictures of more than 600 divine
beings in the Hindu Pantheon. The primary hallowed place of the sanctuary, which
faces east, is flanked by four unsupported auxiliary altars at the edges of the
sanctuary stage.
The sanctuary is popular for the explicitly sexual carvings on the southern
side of the sanctuary, however these make up just a little part of the total.
 CITATIONS

Ching, Frank, Mark Jarzombek, and Vikramaditya Prakash. A Global History of

Architecture. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2017.
“Culture And Heritage - Ancient History.” Know India: National Portal of India.
Accessed June 3, 2020. https://knowindia.gov.in/culture-and-heritage/ancient-
history.php.
Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. “Taj Mahal.” UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
Accessed June 3, 2020. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/252/.
“Sacred Space and Symbolic Form at Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho (India)
(Article).” Khan Academy. Khan Academy. Accessed June 3, 2020.
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/south-east-se-
asia/india-art/a/lakshmana-temple-india.