161117628 architecture
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ARCHITECTURE FEAUTURE
INDIAN TEMPLES
HINDU BUDDHIST JAIN Plan Hindu temples are similar in plan to Jaina
temples, but with local differences ; Dravidian
temples, for instance, have in addition
characteristic " choultries " or " halls of 1,000
columns," and the surrounding wall generally
encloses sacred lakes or water tanks, while
Chalukyan temples are usually star-shaped on
plan.
The remains of Buddhist " chaityas" show that these temples were hewn out of the rock with
only one external facade. In plan they resemble
Christian cathedrals with three aisles formed by
two rows of piers or columns ; while the
sanctuary around which the aisle is carried is
semicircular. The "viharas " (monasteries) are
also rock-cut, and generally consist of a central
hall surrounded on three sides by cells for the
priests. Sometimes there are columns in the
central space to support the rock overhead, and
in the larger " viharas " the sanctuary is a special
apartment with a screen of columns, as at Nasik.
Temples owe much to picturesque grouping on hill-sides or in wooded valleys. They consist of a square cell for the image of the Jina, roofed with a high curvilinear pyramidal tower or " sikra." In front is a pillared portico with pointed dome supported on eight pillars forming an octagon which was brought to a square by adding four angle columns (p. 792 B), and further columns make the structure externally cruciform on plan. The planning of the dome, on an octagonal base makes the width of nave to aisles in the proportion of o to 7, a some-what similar treatment adopted in the successful interior of S. Stephen, Walbrook, London (p. 725). The larger temples stand in a great open court surrounded by numerous cells, which at Girnar number seventy, each containing a cross-legged statue of the Jina to whom the temple is dedicated.
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Elevation ( Form )
Wall construction and treatment is very similar in Buddhist, Jaina, and Hindu buildings. The material is principally massive blocks of granite,
stone, or marble, sometimes laid without mortar. Plain wall surfaces seem to have been avoided, and the characteristic Eastern treatment of the
whole surface of walls with sculpture is employed in all three styles. The " gopuras" or gate pyramids of the Dravidian style resemble, in their
massiveness, the pylons of Egyptian temples.
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Columns
The Northern Hindu Column at Baroli, with
its sculptured shaft reminiscent of the Temple
of Artemis at Ephesus, has evidently lost its
bracket capital, and, with a companion column
on the right, formerly supported a " toran " or
archway. In Dravidian " choultries " there was
great scope for the inventiveness of the Hindu
craftsman. Capitals are of the " bracket " type,
and in some instances not more than two
columns in a building are alike. Some, as at
Madura or Seringham, have life-size figures of
saints or Yalis (weird lion-like monsters)
attached to them, forming a contrast to Greek
caryatids. In other cases there are compound
piers formed of one sturdy and one slight
column.
Indian columns are most characteristic and are
unlike those in any other style. The origin of
their form is unknown, but it seems certain that
they had a timber prototype. There was no
standardised system of recognised types as in
Greece or Rome. The shaft is as much
ornamented as capital and base, and the
characteristic bracket capital takes a variety of
forms. Buddhist columns are often octagonal. In
the great rock-cut Chaityas at Karli and Bedsa
they are stumpy and so closely set as to screen
the rock-wall behind. They gave the necessary
light and shade to the interior, as did the
columns to the exterior of a windowless Greek
temple. The numerous forms of capitals,
resembling in certain instances those of Assyria
and Persepolis, are bewildering. Sculptured
lions, horses, or elephants supporting men,
women, and the " chakra " or Buddhist wheel
occur, as at Bedsa ; while at Elephanta, torus or
Dutch-cheese mouldings, ornamented with palm
leaves, are found under capitals of a coarse
Roman Doric type. In north-west India, in the
Gandhara district, Greek or Byzantine influence
produced capitals with delicate acanthus-leaf
carvings.
Columns are much used and exhibit great
variety of design, and capitals are of the "
bracket" type, probably derived from a
timber original. Sometimes, as at Mount
Abu, they are even superimposed, the upper
supporting an architrave which is further
upheld in the centre by stone struts resting
on the lower capital.
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Decorations
In all three styles mouldings are normally of a bulbous, swelling outline and often lack refinement. A form made by overlapping rectangular
slabs is frequently used in the bases and capitals of columns and " dagobas " (shrines). In other instances, as at Bedsa, a semicircular open-work
moulding, recalling basket-work, is employed. The torus is used, and the double-convex shape, into which the cross-pieces of the " rails " are cut,
forms deep horizontal bands of ornament and takes the place of mouldings proper.
Sculpture is carried out in all three styles with a profusion unknown in other countries, and is executed principally in hard stone ; having little
plain wall surface as a frame, it forms a monument of patient labour, perhaps unequalled. Sculpture is indeed so bound up with the peoples'
religion and mythology, of which it forms the mirror, that the two cannot be considered separately. In Jaina architecture, each of the twenty-four
Jinas had a distinctive sign, which was utilised by the sculptors. The trident, shield and " chakra " (or wheel), the " rail " ornament, copied from
the Sanchi Tope, and imitations of window fronts and facades are also repeated on the fronts of the early chaityas, as at Bedsa, Nasik, and
elsewhere. Most characteristic are the repetitions on a facade or tower of numerous miniature carved representations of itselfa mode of
decoration also used in Assyriaand the remains often enable a fanciful restoration to be made. Painted frescoes were employed, as at Ajanta,
where the walls of the cave were left plain for the purpose. The evolution of the sculptured umbrella-shaped " tee " surmounting the " dagoba "
is interesting as the prototype of the nine-storeyed pagodas of China. On the Gateways at Sanchi (of which there is a plaster copy in the Indian
Museum, South Kensington) are represented legendary events from the life and religion of Buddha, the worship of trees and relics as well as war-
like scenes. The three, five, or seven-headed Naga or serpent is frequently introduced ; while horses, lions, " hansas " (sacred geese) form
favourite subjects, in striking contrast to the motifs of Mahometan sculpture
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Openings
Flat-headed openings are usual, but
variations in roofs are made by the use of
brackets supporting purlins of stone on which
other brackets were placed, thus gradually
reducing the span so that stone slabs could
roof over the apartment, as at the Dravidian
temple at Chidambaram. Chalukyan buildings
have pierced window slabs, as at Baillur and
Hullabid in star-shaped patterns, ornamented
with foliage or with mythological subjects (p.
798 B). These pierced slabs are very distinctive
of this style, though somewhat similar to
Byzantine and Saracenic treatment.
The gateways of the Sanchi Tope are special
and peculiar features of this style. In rock-cut
facades a horse-shoe arch forms one great eye
as the only opening for light. Within this arch an
open decorated wooden screen moderated the
glare of the Eastern sun. This single beam of
subdued light is thrown from behind the
worshippers on to the shrine, and produces an
impressive effect of light and shade among the
surrounding close-set columns.
Openings are normally square-headed. In
pillared porches stone architraves rest on
bracket capitals, and a characteristic Eastern
effect was produced by stone struts,
evidently derived from a timber form, and
occasionally filled in with ornament to form a
triangular-headed opening. An extension of
the bracket capital is sometimes applied to
wall openings, lintels being supported by
brackets built out in horizontal courses.
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Roof
Dravidian temples have roofs over the "vimana" of the storeyed pyramidal type, normally carried to a considerable height and carved with miniature representations of itself in each well-defined storey. Chalukyan towers are either of the storeyed Dravidian type and follow the curvilinear outline of the Northern Hindu temples or are in the form of a straight-sided stepped cone.
The early rock-cut " chaityas " have semicircular roofs excavated in the rock with stone imitations of wooden ribs.
The " sikra over the idol-cell was formed of stone slabs in horizontal courses ; its external curved outline was probably produced by following the internal pointed dome, and the apex was crowned by a melon-like ornament and finial. The roofs of Jaina porches are of two types :(I) A roof of flat slabs which was evolved from the simple square slab of stone resting on architraves supported by four columns. Larger spaces were roofed by introducing courses of triangular slabs at the four angles to support the square slabs. Still larger spaces were roofed by the addition of two extra columns on each side to support the longer architrave, making twelve columns to the compartment, of which the intermediate columns form an octagon. (2) The Jaina dome, which seldom exceeds 30 ft. in diameter, is formed in horizontal courses (cf. the Treasury of Atreus, Mycenae, and is pointed or conical in section so that a single stone can crown the top. When covering an octagonal plan, the circular cornice from which the dome springs is supported by struts from the capitals of the columns forming the octagon beneath, instead of by pendentives, as in the Byzantine style. The use of ornamental struts gives an appearance of strength to the architrave, but their constructive value is doubtful. Decoration in concentric rings followed the horizontal lines of the construction and a top stone formed a pendant.
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Architectural Type
The architecture of Hindu temples evolved
over a period of more than 2,000 years and
there is a great variety in this architecture.
Hindu temples are of different shapes and
sizes rectangular, octagonal, semicircular
with different types of domes and gates.
Temples in southern India have a different
style than those in northern India. Although
the architecture of Hindu temples is varied,
they mainly have many things in common.
Buddhist temples are often the center of cultural activities. From a modern viewpoint, temples can be compared to museums, for they contain precious and spectacular art forms, and in fact, are beautiful art forms themselves. Like art museums, they are a combination of architecture, sculpture, painting, and calligraphy. Temples offer a harmonised environment and a spiritual atmosphere that allows one to become serene and tranquil. They are valuable places for distressed persons to lay down their burdens, soothe their minds, and achieve a sense of calm. The Buddhist architecture of every region has its own unique character due to differing cultural and environmental factors. Close in proximity, Ceylon's architecture is similar to India's architecture. Burma, Thailand, and Cambodia also share a similar style, with structures that incorporate the use of wood into their design. Java's stupas resemble those of Tibet, which are made of stone and represent the nine-layered Mandala (symbolic circular figure that represents the universe and the divine cosmology of various religions: used in meditation and rituals). Tibet's large monasteries are typically constructed on hillsides and are similar in style to European architecture in which the buildings are connected to each other, forming a type of street-style arrangement.
Jain temples are built with various
architectural designs. Jain temples in North
India are completely different from the Jain
temples in South India, which in turn are
quite different from Jain temples in West
India. All Jain temples have many marble
pillars which are carved beautifully with
Demi god posture. There is always a main
deity also known as mulnayak in each
derasar. The main part of Jain temple is
called "Gambhara" (Garbha Graha) in which
there is the stone carved God idol. The main
deity of a Jain temple is known as
a mulanayak. A Manastambha (column of
honor) is a pillar that is often constructed in
front of Jain temples.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manastambha
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Enlarged Plans
HINDU PLAN BUDDHIST PLAN
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JAIN PLAN
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RR EE FF EE RR EE NN CC EE SS
http://hinduism.about.com/od/temples/p/hindutemple101.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_temple_architecture
http://www.oldandsold.com/articles23/architecture-143.shtml
http://mitchtestone.blogspot.com/2010/04/meenakshi-temple.html
http://hinduism.about.com/od/temples/p/hindutemple101.htmhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_temple_architecturehttp://www.oldandsold.com/articles23/architecture-143.shtmlhttp://mitchtestone.blogspot.com/2010/04/meenakshi-temple.html