Temple Architecture: South India | History Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction

Dravida Architecture and the Pallavas

• Dravida or South Indian architecture began under the Pallava rulers from the sixth to the ninth century CE.
• By the seventh century CE, the Pallavas had established a clear architectural style in South India.
• The rock-cut structures at Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu, created by the Pallavas, reflect this early architectural vocabulary.

The Shore Temple

• Considered the first structural temple in South India, the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram was built from granite blocks under the Pallava king Narsimhavarman II Rajasimha(700-728 CE).
• The temple features an unusual plan with three distinct worship areas on the same platform:
• The primary worship area, facing east and dedicated to Shiva, has the tallest pyramidal superstructure.
• A smaller shrine, also dedicated to Shiva, has a smaller superstructure.
• The third shrine, at the western edge, is dedicated to Vishnu as Anantashayin and has no superstructure. The figure of Anantashayin was carved from the existing rock at the site.

Transition to the Chola Dynasty

• After the Pallavas, the Chola dynasty rose to prominence in South India by the ninth century CE.
• The Cholas initially appeared as a ruling family during the Sangam period(first two centuries CE) and re-emerged around 850 AD when Vijayalaya Chola captured Tanjavur and established the Chola dynasty.
• Chola religious and artistic activities centered around Tanjavur, producing distinctive and elegant temples during the reigns of Vijayalaya’s successors,Aditya I(c. 871-907 CE) and Parantaka I(c. 907-955 CE).

Chola Expansion and Architecture

• By the 10th century, the Cholas had become the dominant imperial power in South India, reaching the borders of the Rashtrakuta Kingdom in the north.
• The Cholas replaced brick temples with grander stone structures as they expanded their territory.
• Chola art and architecture reflected the prosperity and efficiency of the empire during its period of greatest territorial expansion.

Features of Dravidian Architecture

The temple is enclosed by a tall boundary wall, setting it apart from the surrounding area.

• The central entrance of the front wall, called a gopuram, is a high doorway.
• The layout of the temple grounds follows the panchayatan style, featuring a main temple and four smaller shrines.
• Vimana: This refers to the design of the main temple tower, which is a geometrically rising stepping pyramid, unlike the curving Nagara style Shikhara.
• In Dravidian architecture, there is only one vimana on top of the main temple, and the subsidiary shrines do not have vimanas, which is different from Nagara architecture.
• The term shikhara in the Dravida style describes the temple's crowning feature, shaped like a stupika or octagonal cupola.
• A vestibular tunnel called antarala connects the assembly hall to the garbhagriha.
• The entrance of the garbhagriha is decorated with sculptures of Dwaarpal,Mithun, and Yakshas.
• One notable aspect of Dravidian architecture is the presence of a water tank within the temple enclosure.
• Subsidiary shrines can be located both inside and outside the main tower.
• The garbhagriha is typically situated in the lowest tower of the temple. Over time, as the temple community expanded, additional boundary walls were constructed, with the tallest gopuram being part of the most recent additions.
• At the Sriranganathar Temple in Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli, there are seven concentric rectangular enclosure walls with gopurams, and the garbhagriha is located in the central tower.
• Notable temple towns in Tamil Nadu include Kanchipuram,Thanjavur (Tanjore),Madurai, and Kumbakonam.
• From the eighth to the twelfth century, temples served not only as religious centers but also as administrative hubs controlling vast areas of land.

Classification of Dravidian Temples

There are five basic shapes:

• Square: Known as kuta or caturasra.
• Rectangular: Known as shala or ayatasra.
• Elliptical: Known as gaja-prishta or elephant-backed.
• Circular: Known as vritta.
• Octagonal: Known as ashtasra.