Nagara temple architecture was prevalent in north and central india. The two common characteristics of the dravida style were that the temples of this style had more than four sides in the sanctum and, the tower or vimana of these. Temple architecture in india ncert notes pdf download. An architectural style is characterized by the features that make a building or other structure notable and historically identifiable. Stage 1 mahendra group marked the beginning of rock cut cave architecture word mandap was used instead temple. Jan 21, 2020 member feedback about the four elements of architecture. It is a nagara temple placed on a high platform accessed by stairs. The style is sometimes referred to as nagara, a type of temple mentioned in the shilpashastras traditional canons of architecture, but exact correlation of the.
Around this chamber there are often other structures and buildings, in the. These temples usually have gopurams, which are large towers over the entrances. Among a number of architectural styles and traditions, the contrasting hindu temple architecture and indoislamic architecture are the best known historical styles. Chalukyan architecture is a combination of nagara and dravida and hence. Most of the art and architectural remains that survive from ancient. In the last article, we have seen the broad outline of temple architecture styles in india nagara, dravida and vesara and chola architecture in particular. This classification is based on different architectural styles, employed in the construction of the temples. All the three styles emerged from the earlier style known as the panchayatana style of architecture. A style may include such elements as form, method of construction, building materials, and regional character.
The identification of the temple with a mountain is specific and the superstructure is known as a mountain peak for more information and visuals, see michell 69, fig. It took another couple of centuries for various nagara substyles such as khajuraho, kalinga odisha, osiyan and gujarati to fully develop. Kandariya mahadeo temple at khajuraho is the epitome of temple architecture in central india. The plan is based on a square but the walls are sometimes so. Temple architecture and sculpture hindu, buddhist and jain. Temples styles in north india nagara style iasmania civil. Nov 14, 20 this is the name given to an architectural style that evolved in karnataka during the medieval centuries and combined both the nagara and the dravida styles. Nagara is the style of temple architecture which became popular in northern india. Khajuraho temples are a pinnacle of the north indian nagara architectural style. For example, various substyles of nagara architecture are found vis vis odisha school, solanki school, and khajuraho school etc. Jul 29, 2017 also, when this style was developed, the architectural features of nagara and dravida temples could have naturally mingled as unique features of these two styles were still developing. We have presented in brief about the nagar style architecture. Pdf she identifies fractal like qualilties in north indian temples of the nagara style as well as south indian temples of the dravida style find, read and cite all the research you need on.
Now in this post, we will discuss south indian temple architecture. Indian temple architecture evolution, type, design. Temple architecture in any part of india has always been patronized by the kings and people ruling there as a way to leave an imprint on the pages of history. We call it as the dravidian style of temple architecture. Nagara style, from himalaya in the north, to the east and west coasts of india and as far south as the river tungabhadra.
Classic example of the late gupta period temple architecture. The buildings in the deccan region are hybridized style, which contain both elements from nagara and dravida architectural styles and is known in some ancient texts as the vesara style not all temples of deccan are vesara type. Nagara style of architecture, developed during the 5th century, is an emblem of architectural wonder and is scattered through out various regions of the country. Temple architecture uttarakhand temple architecture of. Also, when this style was developed, the architectural features of nagara and dravida temples could have naturally mingled as unique features of these two styles were still developing. Pdf on jul 1, 2008, shweta vardia and others published building. Temple architecture in south india dravida style iasmania. It is common in this style to build an entire temple on a stone platform with steps leading up to it. Since elfments 19th century, however, japan has incorporated much of western, modern, and postmodern architecture into construction and design, and is today a leader in cuttingedge architectural design and technology. Both nagara and dravidian temples consist of a main shrine vimana which houses the inner sanctum known as grabha griha literally womb chamber, topped by a pyramidal. Hindu temple architecture as the main form of hindu architecture has many varieties of style. Madhyadesa was bounded by the river saraswati in kurukshetra, allahabad, the himalaya and the vindhyas. Sacred space and symbolic form at lakshmana temple, khajuraho.
The nagara style of temples were generally built on upraised platforms. The lakshmana temple is an excellent example of nagara style hindu temple architecture. Nov 26, 2015 nagara is the style of temple architecture which became popular in northern india. Dravidian architecture or the south indian temple style is an architectural idiom in hindu temple architecture that emerged in the southern part of the indian subcontinent or south india and in sri lanka, reaching its final form by the sixteenth century. In this post, let us see the chalukya architecuture in detail. Three main style of temple architecture are the nagara or the northern style, the dravida or the southern style and the vesara or mixed.
Of the different styles of temple architecture in india, the nagara architecture of. It is reflected in the multitude details of figured sculpture as well as in the architectural elements. Nagara, dravida and vesara temple architectural style along. Temple architecture in south india dravida style four stages of temple architecture had been observed in south india mainly during the pallavas rule, around 6th century ad which are as follows. Main shrine is built on a rectangular plinth with four subsidiary shrines that are smaller and at the 4 corners. It literally means wombhouse and is a cave like sanctum. This lesson discusses the structure of the nagara style temples.
What is the difference between dravida and nagar style of. Pdf art and architecture of the regional styles 750 ad to c. The main style of hindu temple architecture in india had its modest beginning precisely from the mauryan rule i. North indian temple architecture architectural style. Indian temple architecture evolution, type, design layout. The nagara style is characterized by a beehive shaped tower called a shikhara made up of layer upon layer of architectural elements such as kapotas and gavaksas, all topped by a large round cushionlike element called an amalaka. Iconography is a branch of art history which studies the images of deities it consists of identification of image based on certain symbols and mythology associated with them. Three main style of temple architecture are the nagara or the northern style, the dravida or the southern style and the vesara or mixed style. What is the difference between dravida and nagara style of architecture.
Under dravidian architecture, we have also seen the comparison between pallava and chola architecture. Vesara style is basically a fusion of nagara and dravida styles and not very defined. You could say nagara and dravida styles merge into a new stylized form and the term vesara is ge. North indian temple architecture, style of architecture produced throughout northern india and as far south as bijapur district in northern karnataka state, characterized by its distinctive shikhara, a superstructure, tower, or spire above the garbhagriha wombroom, a small sanctuary housing the main image or emblem of the temple deity. In this megaarticle, we shall discuss about the indian temple architecture and sculpture in detail. Jun 26, 2015 a nagara style temple would generally stand on a high platform jagati made of stone bricks, with several mouldings. The style of temple architecture that became popular in northern india is known as nagara. The dravidian style of temple architecture is the oldest style of architecture. Nagara style was developed regionally each region manifesting its own particular qualities. Jul 29, 2017 nagara temple architecture was prevalent in north and central india.
Gs art and culture temple architecture upsc preparation. Most architecture can be classified as a chronology of styles which change over time reflecting changing fashions, beliefs and religions, or the. Pdf building science of indian temple architecture researchgate. At times, the vesar style of temples as an independent style created through the selective mixing of the nagara and dravida orders is mentioned by some scholars. Kandariya mahadeva temple at khajuraho in madhya pradesh is one of the best expression of nagara temple architecture. Clipping is a handy way to collect important slides you want to go back to later. But there is a common factor among the whole of hampis architecture that projects out as the vijayanagara school of architecture.
This style reduces the height of the individual tiers without reducing their number resulting in a reduction in the height of the temple towers. Further, unlike in south india it does not usually have elaborate boundary walls or gateways. Member feedback about the four elements of architecture. In north india it is common for an entire temple to be built on a stone platform with steps leading up to it. Vesara style temple architecture hindu temples in india. South india aristocratically boasts the dravida style of architecture amidst the lofty temples and swaying shrines. This shows how similar architectural developments were incorporated in both religions. In the last post we have read nagara temple architecture. Temple architecture of india, cave temples, rock cut temple, structural temple, nagara, dravida, vesara style, pallava, ellora. It is a hybridized style formed by combining features of both dravida and nagara style of temple architecture. While the earlier vijayanagara style was bold, coarse and plane the later ones were ornate, sophisticated and ambitious in scale. From the architecture and imagery, it is known that the temple was built in early 6th century ce. The dravidian style is the typical south indian style temple that is usually made from stone.
It is common here to build an entire temple on a stone platform with steps leading up to it. Nagara in north india dravida in south india at times, the vesara style of temples as an independent style created through the mixing of nagara and dravida orders. The temple shape may be rectangular, square, starshaped, or octagonal. The rulers of yesteryears built some of the intricately carved and exquisite places of worship. Pdf nagara and dravida temples aneesh unnikrishnan. Percy brown has called vijayanagara art as the supremely passionate flowering of the dravidian style. The northern or indoaryan style of architecture covers the.
In this article, you can read all about the indian temple architecture, its types and points to remember for the ias exam with respect to temple architecture. Indian temple architecture can be broadly divided into two schools. Perhaps the most important part of the ancient indian temples is decoration. Temples styles in north india nagara style iasmania. The architecture of india is rooted in its history, culture and religion. However many historian agree that the vesara style originated in the what is today karnataka. North indian temple architecture architectural style britannica. A nagara style temple would generally stand on a high platform jagati made of stone bricks, with several mouldings. In contrast, dravida towers known separately as vimana are in the form of a stepped pyramid that rises up linearly rather than curved. The vesara style is also described in some texts as the central indian temple architecture style or deccan architecture. Hindu temple architecture as the main form of hindu architecture has many varieties of style, though the basic nature of the hindu temple remains the same, with the essential feature an inner sanctum, the garbha griha or wombchamber, where the primary murti or the image of a deity is housed in a simple bare cell.
Now customize the name of a clipboard to store your clips. The nagara style is typically characterised by the architectural wonder, which ideally portrayed the craftsmanship of the artists. The shilpashastras or architectural texts written in the early medieval period refer to three major styles of temple architecture in india. Art and architecture of the regional styles 750 ad to c.
Temple architecture and sculpture hindu, buddhist and. This the first part of the temple architecture sub series. Temples styles in north india nagara style ancient indian temples are classified in three broad types. Accordingly, the vesara style contain elements of both dravida and nagara styles. South india carried on the classical tradition of dravida style as transmitted by the pallava dynasty of rulers to the cholas of gangaikonda cholapuram i. It consists primarily of hindu temples where the dominating feature is the high gopura or. So it is hard to find contrasting features between these styles.
Unlike in south india, it doesnt usually have elaborate boundary walls or gateways. Ancient indian temples are classified in three broad types. The temples in uttaranchal were usually made in nagara style of architecture or the. What are the features of temple architecture contrasted with. Temple architecture is an important part of art and culture syllabus for the civil services exam the shilpashastras or architectural texts written in the early medieval period refer to three major styles of temple architecture in india. Pdf art and architecture of the regional styles 750 ad. The indian silpasastras recognize mainly three categories of the temple style, the nagara, dravida and vesara, but there was also another style very prominent, known as. These style is also called as the deccan style as most of the temples of this temple architecture style are found in deccan region.
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