Temple Architecture: Gujarat and Rajasthan | History Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction

Gujarat Temples: Saurastra Style:

• Gujarat temples are designed in the Nagara style of architecture.
• After the Gupta period, the Maitrakas of Vallabhi introduced new structural elements, leading to the Saurastra style.
• This style features four types of superstructures:
• Kutina: Resembles the Dravida sikhara.
• Valabhi: Wagon-vault or salasikhara.
• Phamsana: Wedge-shaped, stepped pyramidal.
• Latina: Single sikhara with a curvilinear profile.
• The phamsana sikhara is topped with a Dravida type domical finial instead of traditional amalakas.
• Temples typically include a square garbha-grha(sanctum) and sometimes a mukha-mandapa(entrance porch).
• They can be sandhara(with a roofed ambulatory) or nirandhara(without an ambulatory).
• Wall decorations often feature ratha projections.
• Similar to Gupta traditions, these temples are built on a jagati(platform).
• Notable Maitraka temples from the 6th and 7th centuries include:
• Vishnu temple at Gop
• Bilvanatha temple at Bilesvara
• Surya temples at Pasnavada,Srinagar, and Jhamra

Maru Gurjara Architecture

Māru-Gurjara Temple Architecture:

• Origin: Māru-Gurjara temple architecture emerged around the 6th century in the regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
• Craftsmanship: This architecture reflects the advanced understanding of structures and the refined skills of ancient Rajasthani craftsmen.
• Styles:There are two main styles within Māru-Gurjara architecture:
  • Maha-Maru: Developed in regions like Marudesa, Sapadalaksa, Surasena, and parts of Uparamala.
  • Maru-Gurjara: Originated in areas such as Medapata, Gurjaradesa-Arbuda, Gurjaradesa-Anarta, and parts of Gujarat.
• Cultural Significance: The term "Maru Gurjara" reflects the historical similarities in ethnicity, culture, and politics between ancient Rajasthan (Marudesh) and Gujarat (Gurjaratra).
• Meaning:"Maru Gurjara art" translates to "art of Rajasthan," highlighting the region's rich artistic heritage.

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Evolution

• In the tenth century, the Solanki dynasty in Gujarat introduced several new features in architecture.
• The architectural style that developed during this period in regions like Anartta, Saurashtra, Kachha, and Lata is known as the "MARU-GURJARA" style.
• This style had its origins in the eighth century, combining two regional traditions called "Maha-Maru" and "Maha-Gurjara."
• Under the Solankis, the Maru-Gurjara style reached its peak of architectural perfection.

Maru Gurjara temples

Maru-Gurjara Style Temples are characterized by their unique architectural elements and divisions.

Key Components:

• Garbha-griha(inner sanctum),Gudha-mandapa(main hall), and a porch similar to the antrala of Nagara temples.
• Later examples feature a free-standing kirti-torana(decorative arch) and a temple tank.

Temple Elevation Divisions:

• Pitha(base),
• Mandovara(main hall),
• Shikhara(spire).

Mandovara Details:

• Comprises Vedhi-bandha(binding mouldings),Jangha(main wall section), and Varandika(cornice mouldings).
• Varandika topped with Khurachadya(ribbed tile sun-shade).

Shikhara Features:

• Base features Rathika(deity image).
• Curvilinear shape topped with Amalaka(disk),Candrika(capstone), and Kalasha(pot finial).

Gudha-mandapa Roof Styles:

• Phamsana(stepped-pyramidal) or Samvarana(bell roof).

Temples of Gujarat

Structural Temple Activities in Gujarat:

• Initiated by the Maitrakas of Valabhi during the post-Gupta period.

Known as the Saurashtra style, featuring four superstructures:

• Kutina
• Valabhi
• Phamsana
• Latina

Early Maitraka temples had a simple plan and elevation, with a square garbha-griha(sanctum) and sometimes a mukha-mandapa(entrance porch).

By the 8th century, there was a shift from the Saurashtra style to the Nagara style.

Examples include temples of Varaha at Kadvar and Surya near Somnath, featuring a rudimentary shikhara(spire) in triratha form, a garbha-griha with a pradakshina-patha(circumambulatory path), and a closed mandapa with a porch and sloping roof.

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Sun Temple at Modhera , Gujarat

• The Sun Temple at Modhera, a prime example of the Solanki style Maru-Gurjara temples, is renowned for its distinctive features.
• Built on a terrace of solid brick faced with stone, the east-facing temple is constructed of golden-brown sandstone.
• Visitors enter through a decorated archway(kirti-torana) after ascending a broad flight of steps.
• Beyond the kirti-torana, the temple complex includes the sabha-mandapa,gudha-mandapa, and garbha-griha, all aligned on a single axis and featuring the basic components of pitha,mandovara, and shikhara.
• The temple complex is fronted by a temple tank(kunda or stepped well), which includes miniature shrines on its smaller steps.

Osian Temple , Jodhpur , Rajasthan

• Osian, anciently known as Ukesapura, was a significant religious city of the Gurjara–Pratiharas between the eighth and eleventh centuries.
• The temples in Osian were constructed on a broad pishtha, topped with an adhisthana featuring various mouldings like khura,kumbha,kalasha, and kapota.
• These mouldings were arranged to align with the ratha projections of the vimana.
• The kapota is typically carved with kudu arches.
• Above the pitha and adhisthana sits the mandovara.
• All the pagas of the mandovara in these panchratha temples feature devakoshthas, which are topped with miniature shikharas crowned by amalakas.

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The Jain temple complex of Dilwara, Mount Abu

Vimala Vasahi and Luna Vasahi Temples:

• These temples show regional variations and intricate sculptural ornamentation, reflecting strong influences from the Maru-Gurjara and central Indian styles.
• Built mostly of white marble, they feature beautiful toranas (decorative arches), carved ceilings with lotus motifs, female bracket-figures, and open backyards with deva-kulikas (subsidiary shrines).

Vimala Vasahi Temple:

• The east-facing Vimala Vasahi, dedicated to Adinatha, consists of various parts including the mula-prasada(main shrine) made of black stone,gudha-mandapa(covered hall),sabha-mandapa(assembly hall), and deva-kulika.
• The entrance porch features a false dome leading to an octagonal mandapa (hall).
• Pillars in the mandapa support an impressive corbelled dome adorned with 16 celestial nymphs (apsaras).
• The dome's lintels are reinforced with a system of triangulated supports and intricately carved brackets.