Hindu architecture

HINDU
ARCHITECTURE
Presentation By- Ar. Roopa Chikkalgi 1

History Timeline
Presentation By- Ar. Roopa Chikkalgi
2

Harappan
•Drainage system
•Rectangular intersecting roads
•Sanitary system
Mauryan
•Monolithic Pillars
•Stupas start during this period – 4 gateways
•Surface built with bricks
•Viharas and Chaityas
•Rock Cut Architecture
Shunga – Satvahanas
· Early classic architecture
· Carved railings and gateways around Buddhist shrines
Kushan
· Sculpture developed
· The emperor himself was a divine authority
· Buddha was first time given a human form during this time
Gupta period
· Beginning of Hindu temples – temple at Deoghar, Udaigiri caves in Orissa
· Vaishnavite temple in Vidisha Presentation By- Ar. Roopa Chikkalgi
3

ROCK CUT
ARCHITECTURE
– BUDDHISM
100 AD – 160 AD
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BEGINNINGS & PURPOSE
• Hindu architecture evolved over the centuries from simple rock-cut cave
shrines to massive and ornate temples which spread across the Indian
sub-continent and beyond.
• Essential elements of the style are precise and harmonious
geometry when viewed from all four sides and above, the square form
and grid ground plans, soaring towers, and elaborate decorate sculpture
which includes gods, worshippers, animals, and floral and geometric
patterns.
• Indian temples with its imposing towers, intricate carvings and awe
inspiring size were in fact the result of a gradual evolution over time.
• The period of Jainism survived for a short period of time.
Hinduism followed Buddhism and modifications were obvious,
as the needs and requirements of the religion were different.

BEGINNINGS & PURPOSE
• In the Vedic period (1500 to 500 BC) there were actually no temples
as such. They pleased the Gods by performing yagas using sacrificial
altars. These YAGASALAS later got transformed to temples.
• Earliest temples were made of timber and clay, and though they
were later replaced by the more enduring granite, there are still
temples in Kerala and Dakshina Karnataka made with timber and
which has withstood the ravages of time.
• Cave temples which are found in profusion particularly in Central
India, were a later innovation. Though the basic temple patterns are
the same, temple styles fall into two categories.
• There are two style of temple architecture were followed.
• Dravidian style in south
• Indo Aryan in north.

EARLY INFLUENCES• Influenced by early Buddhist structures such as the stupa, the first Hindu
temples were built from rock-cut caves.
• Then, with the arrival of Gupta architecture in the 4th to 5th century CE,
the first free-standing Hindu temples were constructed with features such
as towers and projecting niches.
• The first materials used were wood and terracotta, but architects
gradually moved on to brick and stone, especially sandstone, granite,
zzand marble.
• No mortar was used in the older temples and so precise cutting of
dressed stones was required.
• Outstanding examples of influential cave temples include those at
Udaigiri in Malwa and date to the 5th century CE.

HINDU ARCHITECTURE
GUPTA PERIOD
• After Asoka, collapse of Buddhism and then Maurya Empire led to 500
years of conflict.
• Magadha's Gupta family took over—Chandra Gupta I began rule A.D.
320.
• The Gupta period marks an important phase in the history of ancient India.
• This was under the region of Chandra Gupta I followed by Samudra Gupta
;his son. Their successor Chandra Gupta II called as Vikramaditya played
an important role in developing the art and architecture of Gupta
Kingdom.
• The Gupta Period was usually described as the "golden age of India" as it
was a period of great military power and wealth and there was also great
development in the arts and sciences.
• Consequently, this era was also marked by the emergence of innumerable
images of popular Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Images of Lord Vishnu,
Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, Surya and Durga evolved in this period.

• During the Gupta period a firm foundation of temple architecture was laid when the
basic elements of the Indian temple consisting of a square sanctum and pillared porch
emerged.
• The evolved Gupta temple also had a covered processional path for circumambulation
that formed a part of the worship-ritual.
• Earlier temples of the period had a flat slab-roof, often monolithic.
• Earlier temples of the period had a flat slab-roof, often monolithic, but the later temples
in brick and stone developed a shikhara. The gradual evolution of the Gupta style is
traceable.
Gupta temple

Earlier temples of the period had a monolithic flat slab
roof.
Later temples in brick and stone developed a Shikhara
The gradual evolution of the Gupta style is traceable
through development of the plan and the
ornamentation on the pillars and doorframe.
The later introducing new decorative motifs like
couples, flying angels, door-keepers and a figure relief
in the centre of the lintel emblematic of the deity
consecrated in the temple
Sculptures of deities,directional deities, composite
animals and decorative motifs formed the mass of
images that adorned the walls of the temples and
their interiors.

THE GEOMETRY OF HINDU TEMPLE
Vastupurashamandala is the square which represents the earth and represents
the universe suggesting timelessness and infinity (see Fig. below).
The mandala is actually a square divided into smaller squares arranged in the
form of a grid. Each smaller square depicts the area of the respective Gods. The
most commonly used mandala is the square subdivided into 64 and 81 squares.
Figure-: The image of Vastupurushamandala with 64 blocks for different deities

(LAYOUT & ORIENTATION) OF ANCIENT TEMPLES
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In Hindu temple manuals, design plans are described
with 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81 up to 1024 squares
• 1 pada is considered the simplest plan, as a seat for
a devotee to sit and meditate on, do yoga, or make
offerings with Vedic fire in front.
• The second design of 4 padas has a symbolic
central core at the diagonal intersection, and is also
a meditative layout.
• The 9 pada design has a sacred surrounded center,
and is the template for the smallest temple. Older
Hindu temple vastumandalas may use the 9 through
49 pada series, but 64 is considered the most sacred
geometric grid in Hindu temples.
Figure-: Typical Temple Plan
(a)Shrine alone
(b)Shrine with porch
(c)Shrine with Antarala and porch.
(d) Sarvatobhadra shrine with four entrances
Figure-: Typical Temple plan of
temple(temple of Tanjavur)

HYBRID OR CENTRAL STYLE
SOUTHERN STYLE
NORTHERN STYLE
TYPES OF TEMPLE ARCHITECTUREPresentation By- Ar. Roopa Chikkalgi 13

MAJOR ELEMENTS /COMPONENT OF TEMPLE
Entrance
Mandapas / Halls
Garbhagriha
Shikhara

ENTRANCE- The gateways typical to north Indian temples are
”toranas” or “gopurams”.

Mandapas / Halls- Pillared outdoor
assembly hall or pavilion used for public
rituals, dance and music and audience
to sit.
When a temple has more than one
mandapa each one is allocated for
a different function and given a
name to reflect its use like:
• Sabha mandap- For Meeting
• Nritya mandap- For Dancing
• Kalyana mandap- For Marriage
functions
• Ashtana mandapam- Assembly
hall
• Maha mandapam- Big hall for
conducting religious activities.
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GARBHAGRIHA
• It is the part of temple in which the idol of the god is installed.
• Circumambulation passage (Pradakshina path) is provided
around it.
• only priests are allowed to enter it.
• It is usually on the main horizontal axis of the temple which
generally is an east-west axis.
• Generally it is a windowless dark and small chamber,
intentionally created to focus the devotee's mind on the
tangible form of god.
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SHIKHARA
• Shikhar orVimana means "Mountain peak"
• It refers to the rising tower over the garbha graha where the deity is
situated.
• It is the most prominent and visible part of a hindu temple.

EVOLUTION OF SHIKHARA
• Literal meaning of Shikhar is peak.
• It is the spire or tower over the Temples.
• Shikharas –inspired from snow clad peaks of Himalayas or primitive
megaliths or ratha of Indian tradition –bamboo roof.
EVOLUTION OF
RATHAS

HINDU TEMPLE FEATURES• “Sikhara” refers to the spire or the tower. It is shaped as pyramidal and tapering
representing the mythological “Meru” or the highest mountain peak.
• “Garbhagriha” refers to the womb chamber which is the innermost chamber of any
temple where the deity resides. It is mainly square in layout and is entered
through eastern side.
• “Pradakshina Patha” refers to the ambulatory passageway for circumambulation
and comprises of enclosed corridor outside the garbhagriha. The devotees walk
around the deity in clockwise direction, paying their respect to the deity.
• “Mandapa”, is the pillared hall in front of the garbhagriha, used as assembling
point by devotees for chant; rituals meditate or observe the priests perform the rituals.
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Sometimes, “Natamandira” is also provided in some temples which mean the hall for
dancing.
“Antarala”, refers to the intermediate chamber which joins the main sanctuary and the
pillared hall of the temple premises.
“Ardhamandapa” refers to the front porch in the main entrance of the temple which
leads to the main temple.
“ Gopurams” are the monumental entrance to the temple premises.
“ Pitha”or the plinths of the main temple.
The gateways typical to north Indian temples are,”Toranas”.

ELEMENTS OF HINDU TEMPLE
Typical Component parts of Hindu temples.

SANCTUMMAHAMANDAPAMDWAJASTHAMBARAJAGOPURAM
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1. Garbhagriha
2. Mandapa.
3. Antarala.
4. Mahamandapa.
5. Enclosing wall
6. Pradhikshana path.
Artha Mandapa.

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CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE
•Mass supporting mass
•Repetition
• No mortar- dry order
•facing was hammer dressed
•offsite fabrication was carried out
•assembling at site after preparation of each block at quarry
•To enable this accurate measurements are needed
•Sometimes models are prepared initially
•Main aim was mass rather than line for a templePresentation By- Ar. Roopa Chikkalgi 28

Evolution of Hindu temple
INTRODUCTION
• The idea of God was a form of nature and the Aryan Hindu had rituals
which basically involved in worshiping nature itself.
• The requirement of a temple as such was a simple altar and a roof which
was usually made of timbre.
• Beyond this the emergence of Mahayana stage led to idolizing and
worshipping god as a sculptor. This led to first types of temple forms where
a statue was kept.
• The earlier Brahminical (HINDU TEMPLE) stage had nothing but a cell to
house the image of what they regarded as God, but the rituals were still
carried outside in the open air.
TYPES OF GUPTA ARCHITECTURE:
1.TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
2. ROCK-CUT TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

GUPTA PERIOD TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
The Nagara(Indo-Aryan) style has its origin in the structural
temples of the Gupta period.
In Nagara style temples, the structure consists of two buildings
the main shrine taller and an adjoining shorter mandapa.
The temples mainly are formed of four chambers the
Garbhagriha (shrine), the Jagmohan (mandapa) ,the
Natyamandir (dance pavilion) and the Bhogamandir (offerings
hall).

Udayagiri near ancient Sanchi
• This became the first ever temple form in the Indo-Aryan temple feature.
• A rock cut marvel in front of a mountain, at Udayagiri. It was a simple
rectangular room or the Grabha- griha, (symbolic to womb of a woman)
where the main idol was stationed.
• In front of this was a small portico made of stone, which looks like a
imitated model of timbre roofing.
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Gupta temple at Sanchi
• The first of its kind temple where there was a clear demarcation and
definition of space.
• The structural system was also put to a test and result of which was this
model that emerged.
• It’s a small 12ft wide portico covered by a stone slab but has 4
impounding columns to support the same.
• Spatially it’s a better model of the Udayagiri temple with a small dark
cell which has the idol and a portico in the front with 4 columns. There
are two columns next to the cell entrance merged with the wall and
four in the front which are free standing Asoka columns with bell capital.
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Temple at Tigawa, Jabalpur
• In terms of space and enclosure it mostly adopts what was there at
the Sanchi temple.
• The evident distinction was the columns in the portico, where the
simple columns transferred into a Hindu architectural marvel.
• The columns were of a square base and were boldly ornamented
with robust sculptures of gods and goddesses of the Hindu
mythology.
• The design of the capital, almost like making a huge statement
during the Gupta period. The stereotyped inverted bell capital style
from the Asoka period had to see and end and in that place came
in the highly decorated column capitals from the Gupta period.
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Hindu architecture

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