Temple Architecture & Dravid School of Temple Architecture for Competitive Exams
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Temple Architecture
- Began and reached a climax during Gupta period.
- The gupta period is described as classic degree of perfection.
- Perfect balance and harmony of all elements in style and iconography.
- Earlier developments
- A circular brick and timber shrine of the Mauryan period of 3rd century B. C. was excavated at Bairat District of Jaipur, Rajasthan.
- Temple ′ at Sanchi, has a similar plan, it was a stone temple on an apsidal plan enclosed by an ambulatory, and raised on a high, rectangular scale, approached by two flights of steps from diagonally opposite sides.
- The super structure was possibly built of wood, and has disappeared.
- This is a little structure built of huge almost boulder like blocks of stones.
- The temple consists of a simple square cell the garbhagriha or sanctum sanctorum, in front of which there is a coveredverandah, a portico, which consists of four heavy pillars supporting a stone roof.
- The pillars as well as the entire structure is as simple.
- He didn՚t consider the climate and did not provide gargoyles to allow the rainwater to run off the roof.
- The entire structure is heavy, bulky, and clumsy. Probably, this was constructed near about to A. D.
- The earliest structural temple still standing in its original condition is the one constructed at Aihole in Karnataka.
- There are five stages of temple architectural development
1st Stage
- Square temple
- Flat roof temple
- Shallow pillared approach
- Temple constructed on low platform
- Ex. temple no at Sanchi
- Kankalidevi temple, Tigwa, MP.
2nd Stage
- Square temple
- Flat roof temple
- Higher platform
- Covered embulatory passage around The garbhgriha (santum santorum)
- 2 storeyed temples are found
- Ex. Parbati temple at Nachna kuthara, MP
3rd Stage
- Square temple
- Concept of shikhar introduced
- Low and square shikhar
- Pillar approach
- Higher platform continued
- Introduction of panchayatan style main shrine 4 subsidiary shrines
- Main shrine rectangular shape
- Crucified ground plan
- Precursor to nagara style
- Ex. Dashavatar temple deogarh, UP
- Durga temple Ahihole, Karnataka
4th Stage
- Rectangular temple
- Shikhar
- Higher platform
- Panchayatan style
- Ex. Ter temple Sholapur, maharashtra
5th Stage
- Circular temple with shallow rectangular projections at four cardinal faces
- Ex. Maniar matha Rajgir, Bihar
Dravid School of Temple Architecture
- Functions
- Religious matter
- Administrative centres
- Control of vast areas of land