2. • Introduction and Beginning of Hindu
Architecture in India
• Features of Hindu Architecture
• Types of Hindu Temples
• Decline
HINDU ARCHITECTURE - Temple of Orissa
3. INTRODUCTION
Location: Bhubaneshwar, Orissa
Built By: Jajati Keshari
Built In: 11th Century
Dedicated To: Lord Shiva
Architecture Style: Kalinga Architecture
Material Used : Laterite stone
Total Area: 1049.66 sq m
HINDU ARCHITECTURE - Temple of Orissa
4. HINDU ARCHITECTURE - Temple of Orissa
Lingaraj temple is dedicated to lord Shiva.
Lingaraj temple is believed to be the oldest and largest temple of Bhubaneshwar,
it is more than 1100 years old.
The assembly hall (jagamohana), sanctum and temple tower were built during the eleventh century,
while the hall of offering (bhoga- mandapa) was built during the twelfth century.
5. One of the finest examples of purely Hindu temple in India".
The Lingaraja temple faces east and is built of sandstone and laterite.
The main entrance is located in the east, while there are small entrances in the north and south.
The temple is built in the deula style that has four components namely, garbhagriha, jagamohana
(assembly hall), natamandira (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings).
The door in the gate of the entrance porch is made of sandalwood.
HINDU ARCHITECTURE - Temple of Orissa
8. HINDU ARCHITECTURE - Temple of Orissa
• It is built around 1240 on the shores of the Bay of Bengal.
• The temple is set on a high base, its walls covered in
extensive, detailed ornamental carving.
• These include 12 pairs of enormous wheels sculpted with
spokes and hubs, representing the chariot wheels of the
sun God who, in mythology, rides a chariot driven by 8
horses, sculpted here at the entrance staircase.
• The whole temple thus comes to resemble a colossal
processional chariot.
• On the southern wall is a massive sculpture of Surya
carved out of green stones.
• It is said that there were 3 such images, carved out of a
different stone placed on the three temple walls, each
facing different directions.
• The fourth wall had the doorway into the temple from
where the actual rays of the sun would enter the
garbhagriha
SUN Temple, Konark.
9. HINDU ARCHITECTURE - Temple of Orissa
Konark houses a colossal temple dedicated to the Sun God.
•Even in its ruined state it is a magnificent temple reflecting the genius of the architects that dreamed and built it.
•Konark is also known as Konaditya. The name Konark is derived from the words Kona - Corner and Arka - Sun;
it is situated on the north eastern corner of Puri or the Chakrakshetra.
•Konark is also known as Arkakshetra.
•This temple built in 1278 CE by the Ganga King Narasimha Deva. It is one of the grandest temples of India and
was referred to as the Black Pagoda.
•The ruins of this temple were excavated in late 19th century.
•The tower over the Garbagriha is missing, however the Jagmohana is intact, and even in this state it is awe-
inspiring.
•The Konark temple is widely known not only for its architectural grandeur but also for the intricacy and
profusion of sculptural work.
SUN Temple, Konark.
10. HINDU ARCHITECTURE - Temple of Orissa
•The entire temple has been conceived as a chariot of the sun god with 24 wheels,
each about 10 feet in diameter, with a set of spokes and elaborate carvings.
•Seven horses carry the temple.
•Two lions guard the entrance. A flight of steps leads to the main entrance.
•The nata mandir in front of the Jagamohana is also intricately carved.
•Around the base of the temple, and up the walls and roof, are carvings in the erotic style.
•There are images of animals, foliage, men, warriors on horses and other interesting patterns.
•There are three images of the Sun God, positioned to catch the rays of the sun at dawn, noon and sunset.
•It is the earliest of this kind, and is still in a well-preserved state.
•It is believed that this temple set the trend for the ratha (chariot) vimana temples in India.
•Temples dedicated to the Sun are not a common feature in the Tamil-speaking region of the Indian subcontinent.
SUN Temple, Konark.
13. HINDU ARCHITECTURE - Temple of Kahjuraho
. The village of Khajuraho is like
a million other villages in India;
what sets it apart is its medieval
legacy of temples that represent
the perfect fusion of
architecture and sculpture
14. HINDU ARCHITECTURE - Temple of Khajuraho
.
The construction of the three thousand year old temples of Khajuraho took over a little two centuries;
in terms of architecture, they form the high point of the north Indian ‘NAGARA’ style.
Of the 85 temples believed to have been built between the 9th and 12th centuries only around 25 have
survived, many in splendid condition, others having given way to the ravages of time and nature.
15. HINDU ARCHITECTURE - Temple of Kahjuraho
.
There is generally held belief that ‘free love’ is abounded here.
For many, the name Khajuraho is synonymous with erotic sculpture. But, erotic figures consist of not even one-tenth
of the total number of sculptures that adorn the walls of the temples at Khajuraho. There are hundreds of images of
divinities, many holding manuscripts and several in yogic postures. Of the twenty-five temples extant today:
• TEN enshrine VISHNU in his various forms, such as VAMANA (the Dwarf), VARAHA (the boar), VAIKUNTHA…
• EIGHT are dedicated to LORD SHIVA
• ONE to SURYA
• ONE to CHAUSATH YOGINIs (sixty-four goddesses), and
• FIVE to JAIN DIGAMABARAS The jain temples were dedicated to Tirthankars Adinatha (Rishabhanatha),
Parshvanatha and Shantinatha.
17. HINDU ARCHITECTURE - Temple of Kahjuraho
.
Main Features of Temple Architecture
• Built in NAGARA style of architecture, the shikhara is CURVILINEAR in form unlike Dravidian style.
• They are unified structures consisting of four or five units: a sanctum (garbha-griha) a vestibule (antarala) a large
hall (mahamandapa) another hall (mandapa) a porch (ardhmandapa/ mukhamandapa) a torana at the entrance
• Most of the Khajuraho temples are erected on the EAST-WEST AXIS, and therefore face the direct rays of the
rising sun
18. HINDU ARCHITECTURE - Temple of Kahjuraho
.
Kandariya Mahadeva Temple 1025 AD
Dedicated to lord Shiva tallest temple at Khajuraho (30.5 m)
Antarala, one can have ‘darshan’ of the marble linga placed exactly in the centre of the sanctum.
The Shikara of the sanctum has a series of graded replicas of itself, which cluster around the central peak
and create the effect of mountain range.
Exactly below the highest point of the spire is positioned the Shiva Linga, the ‘Primordial Pillar of the
Universe’, in the dark womb house.
19. HINDU ARCHITECTURE - Temple of Kahjuraho
.
Evolution and construction
of the Hindu temple from
the 5th through the 15th
century AD, throughout this
history, proportion
dominated as the tool to
give the monument both
validity and form
20. HINDU ARCHITECTURE - Temple of Kahjuraho
.
Evolution and construction
of the Hindu temple from
the 5th through the 15th
century AD, throughout this
history, proportion
dominated as the tool to
give the monument both
validity and form
