Dravidian architecture south

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Hinduism Dravidian (South) Style

Transcript of Dravidian architecture south

Hinduism

Dravidian (South) Style

Hinduism

Polytheistic religion (worship many gods and goddesses)

Goal is to achieve moksa--by praying, worshipping (darsana) and giving offering to gods

Each god has a female companion and rides on vehicle such as bull (Nandi), lion, goose; each holds some attributes (Siva: tridents and Vishnu: conch shell and wheel)

Triad

Brahma-God of Creator Vishnu-God of Preserver (has many

incarnations such as Rama and Krishna)

Shiva-God of Destroyer (also the protector of animals)

Devi-goddess (e.g., Laksmi (“Good Fortune”) and Parvati); symbolizing beauty, benevolent, and wealth as well as power and wrath

Shiva as Nataraja, Lord of the Dance, Chola

Vastu-purusa mandala

A myth explains the symbolic diagram (mandala): the gods in seeking to impose order on chaos, forced the primeval man, Purusa, into a square grid, the vastu-purusa mandala, whose basic unit is the square pada

Hindu temple is the dwelling of the gods. It is based on the grid systems of 64 (8x8) and 81 (9x9) squares.

Square is the prefect shape for the ground plan.

Priests perform ritual of consecrations which connect between sexual rites and fertility in Hindu architecture.

Hindu temples The temple is a holy site (tirtha), where they

practitioners can perform circumambulation (pradaksina). They also perform the pious act of gazing at the deity (darsan) and offering prayers, flowers and food (puja). The temple is never a meeting place for a congregation, but it came to be a focal point of the community.

The heart of the temple is the dark hall called garbha grha (womb hall), where the most important icon is placed. It is the most important area.

Pillared halls (mandapa) and porticos were added to the garbha grha, which was surmounted with a tower (sikhara)--center of the universe (axis mundi).

Vastu-Purusa Mandala

Media and ornaments Many varieties: wood, brick, terracotta, and variety of

stone (e.g., schist, chlorite, marble)

Temples required to be heavily ornamented (things lacking in ornament were considered imperfect or incomplete.

Motifs: narrative reliefs, animal motifs, floral and vegetation motifs.

Dravidian architecture Stone used as medium for funerary monuments

Religion developments, particularly bhakti cult, played an important role

Early phases of architecture consisted of rock-cut monuments

Later phase is dominated by structural buildings; Gopuras became larger than the main building

The emphasis is on horizontality lines; one or more stories, topped with stepped-pyramidal shikhara and a mushroom cap

Mamallapuram

Large remains of Pallava period, 7th century

Most of the monuments are rock-cut, carved out of the boulders and cliffs in the area.

Descent of Ganges River or Arjuna Penance

Rathas

Kailasanatha temple (Ellora 16)

The Descent of Ganges

Mid-7th century, Mamalla I at Mamallapuram

30 meters in length; 50 meters in height

Contains animals and other objects

Approximately life-size scale

Sculptures were done in realistic manner

3.20 The Descent of the Ganges (or the Penence of Arjuna) Mamallapuram. Pallava period, 7th century

Rathas, Mamallapuram

Mid 7th C, Mamalla I period

Consists of five free-standing rock-cut structures: Draupadi (dedicated to Durga), Arjuna, Bhima (to Vishnu), Dharmaraja, and Nakula-Sahadeva ; three free-standing animals: lions, bull, and elephant

Rathas, Mamallapuram. Pallava period, mid-7th century

Rathas, Mamallapuram. Pallava period, mid-7th century

Dharmaraja Ratha

Rajareshvara Temple (Great Temple),Thanjuvar (Tanjore)

Chola period (9th-13th centuries) Centered at Thanjuvar (Tanjore) Rajarajeshvara or Brihadevara temple to

Shiva at Thanjavur (Tanjore), c. 1000 CE Temples made of bricks and stone (for

base) Rectangular enclosure Large gateways (Gopuras) Niches: 30 representations of Siva in his

Tripuramtaka (Destroyer of three Cities)

Rajarajeshvara or Brihadevara temple to Shiva, Thanjavur (Tanjore), c. 1000 CE

3.24 Rajarajeshvara or Brihadevara temple to Shiva at Thanjavur (Tanjore), c. 1000 CE

Minakshi Temple at Madurai

Nayak period (16th-18th centuries) Dual shrines dedicated to Siva (known

locally as Sundaresvara, “Handsome One,” and Minakshi “Fish-Eyed One”

Hall of thousand pillars Gopuras (gate): S was built by a wealthy

landowner (197 feet) is covered with over 1500 plaster figures of gods and demons

Minaksi-Sundareshvara temple, Madurai, 17th century

Minaksi-Sundareshvara temple, Madurai, 17th century

Submitted By :

Laxmi Kant 2012UAR1020 Prateek Mondan 2012UAR1056 Vijay Meena 2012UAR1049