history of architecture

1. ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
• Also known as Dravidian Style of architecture.
• Temples with pyramid shaped towers
• Elements
– The porches or Mantapas, which always cover and precede
the door leading to the cell.
– Gate-pyramids, Gopuras, which are the principal features in
the quadrangular enclosures that surround the more notable
temples. Gopuras are very common in dravidian temples.
– Pillared halls (Chaultris or Chawadis) are used for many
purposes and are the invariable accompaniments of these
temples.
– Usually has a tank called the Kalyani or Pushkarni – to be
used for sacred purposes or the convenience of the priests –
dwellings for all the grades of the priesthood are attached
to it, and other buildings for state or convenience
• Constructed of sandstone, soapstone or granite

2. • Influences from different periods:
– PALLAVA
• Pallava architecture are the rock- cut of temples at
Mahabalipuram
• Towered sanctuary and mandapa (columned hall preceding
the sanctuary)
– CHOLA
• Rising pyramid towers crowned with dome-like roofs.
• Sculptures and paintings adorn the walls.
• Bronze sculptures of this era are the finest in southern
India
– HOYSALA
• Complicated plans with numerous angled projections
• Columns are lathe-turned or are multi-faceted
– VIJAYNAGARA
• Concentric series of rectangular enclosure walls with
the gopuras (towered gateways) in the middle of each side
• Because of the heavy rainfall, the temples here were
roofed with sloping tiers of metal or Terra cotta tiles

4. • Hoysala Architecture style
• Built on the banks of
the Yagachi River
• Main entrance to the
complex is crowned by
a Rajagopura
(superstructure over
entrance)
• Chennakesava temple is
chloritic schist, more
commonly known as
(soapstone) or potstone
• Temple is
ekakuta vimana design
(single shrine) of 10.5 m by
10.5 m size
• The vimana (shrine) is at

5. • Two
main sthambha (pillar)
exist here.
• The pillar facing the
main temple,
the Garuda (eagle)
• Pillar on the right,
the Deepa
sthambha (pillar with
lamp)
• It has three entrances
and their doorways
have decorated
sculptures
called dvarapalaka (doo

6. • There are some sixty
large sculptures of
deities from
both Vaishnava and Sh
aiva faiths
• Rich diversity about
the pillar styles here.
• Forty eight pillars are
unique and the many
ceiling sections are well
decorated
• Four pillars
bear madanikas (Salabh
anjika–celestial
damsels)

7. CHENNA KESHWA TEMPLE, SOMNATHPUR

8. • Hoysala Architecture style
• The ceiling of
the mantapa (hall) is
supported by lathe turned
pillars
• Three shrines
– One shrine has the image
of the god Keshava
– The other two shrines
house images of
Janardhana and
Venugopala (all three
images are forms of the
Hindu god Vishnu)
• Intricate carvings of
jewellery, such as pendants,
necklaces, waistbands and
rings and of woman sporting
hair styles that were in
vogue

9. • Names of many architects
and sculptors are etched
on stone
• High walled enclosure and
the entrance to the
complex is through a
porch with tall lathe-
turned pillars
• Material used for the
temple
is soapstone (Green
schist)
• Symmetrical architecture
• Built by the famous
architect and
sculptor Ruvari
Malithamma.