A typical Dravidian gate pyramid
called Gopuram-Thiruvannamalai temple-Tamil Nadu
Dravidian architecture was a style of architecture that emerged thousands
of years ago in the Indian subcontinent. They consist primarily of pyramid
shaped temples called Koils which are dependent on intricate carved
stone in order to create a step design consisting of many statues of deities,
warriors, kings, and dancers. The majority of the existing buildings are
located in theSouthern Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra
Pradesh,Kerala, and Karnataka. Various kingdoms and empires such as
the Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyan, Chera,Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara
Empire amongst the many others have made a substantial contribution to the
evolution of Dravidian architecture through the ages. Dravidian styled
architecture can also be found in parts of NortheasternSri
Lanka, Maldives, and various parts of Southeast Asia.
The Annamalaiyar
Temple in Thiruvannaamalai, India
Dravidian
style temples consist almost invariably of the four following parts, arranged
in various manners, as afterwards to be explained, but differing in themselves
only according to the age in which they were executed:
1. The principal part, the actual temple itself, is called
the Vimanam. It is
always square in plan, and surmounted by a pyramidal roof of one or more
stories; and it contains the cell in which the image of the god or his emblem
is placed.
2. The porches or Mantapams,
which always cover and precede the door leading to the cell.
3. Gate-pyramids, Gopurams,
which are the principal features in the quadrangular enclosures that surround
the more notable temples.
4. Pillard halls or Chaultris—properly Chawadis – used for various purposes, and which are the
invariable accompaniments of these temples.
Besides
these, a temple always contains tanks or wells for water—to be used either for
sacred purposes or the convenience of the priests—dwellings for all the various
grades of the priest-hood are attached to it, and numerous other buildings for
state or convenience.
Influence
from different periods
In Southern
India seven kingdoms and empires stamped their influence on architecture
during different times.:
Sangam period
The Subrahmanya Murugan temple of Saluvankuppam, in Saluvankuppam nearMahabalipuram in Tamil
Nadu. The brick shrine dates to the Sangam period and is one of the
oldest Hindu temples to be unearthed
From
1000BCE-300CE, the greatest accomplishments of the kingdoms of the
early Chola, Chera and the Pandyan kingdomsincluded brick
shrines to
deities Murugan, Shiva, Amman andThirumal (Vishnu) of
the Tamil pantheon. Some were built Several of these have been unearthed
near Adichanallur,Kaveripoompuharpattinam and Mahabalipuram, and
the construction plans of these sites of worship were shared to some detail in
various poems of Sangam literature. One such temple,
the Saluvannkuppan Murukan temple, unearthed in 2005, consists of three
layers. The lowest layer, consisting of a brick shrine, is one of the oldest of
its kind in South India, and is the oldest shrine found dedicated to Murukan.
It is one of only two brick shrine pre Pallava Hindu temples to be found in the
state, the other being the Veetrirundha Perumal Temple at
Veppathurdedicated to Vishnu. The dynasties of early
medieval Tamilakkam expanded and erected structural additions to many
of these brick shrines. Sculptures of erotic art, nature and deities from
the MaduraiMeenakshi Amman Temple, Chidambaram Thillai Nataraja
Temple and the SrirangamRanganathaswamy Temple date from the
Sangam period.
Pallavas
The Rathas in Mahabalipuram-Tamilnadu
The Pallavas ruled
from AD (600-900) and their greatest constructed accomplishments are the
single rock temples in Mahabalipuram and their capitalKanchipuram,
now located in Tamilnadu.
Pallavas
were pioneers of south Indian architecture. The earliest examples of temples in
the Dravidian style belong to the Pallava period. The earliest examples of
Pallava constructions are rock-cut temples dating from 610 – 690 CE and structural
temples between 690 – 900 CE. The greatest accomplishments of the Pallava
architecture are the rock-cut temples at Mahabalipuram. There
are excavated pillared halls and monolithic shrines known as rathas in
Mahabalipuram. Early temples were mostly dedicated to Shiva. The
Kailasanatha temple also called Rajasimha Pallaveswaram
in Kanchipuram built by Narasimhavarman II also known as
Rajasimha is a fine example of the Pallava style temple. Mention must be made
here of the Shore Temple constructed by Narasimhavarman II
near Mahabalipuram which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Contrary
to popular impression about the succeeding empire of the Cholas pioneering in
building large temple complexes, it was the Pallavas who actually pioneered not
only in making large temples after starting construction of rock cut temples
without using mortar, bricks etc.(**) The shining examples of such temples are
the Thiruppadagam and Thiruooragam temples that have 28 and 35 feet (11 m)
high images of Lord Vishnu in his manifestation as Pandavadhoothar and
Trivikraman forms of himself. In comparison the Siva Lingams in the Royal
Temples of the Cholas at Thanjavur and Gangaikonda Cholapurams are 17 and 18
feet (5.5 m) high. Considering that the Kanchi Kailasanatha Temple built
by Rajasimha Pallava was the inspiration for Raja Raja Chola’s Brihadeeswara at
Thanjavur, it can be safely concluded that the Pallavas were among the first
emperors in India to build both large temple complexes and very large deities
and idols(**) Many Siva and Vishnu temples at Kanchi built by the great Pallava
emperors and indeed their incomparable Rathas and the Arjuna’s penance Bas
Relief (also called descent of the Ganga) are proposed UNESCO World Heritage
Sites. The continuous Chola, Pallava and Pandiyan belt temples (along with
those of the Adigaimans near Karur and Namakkal), as well as the Sethupathy
temple group between Pudukottai and Rameswaram uniformly represent the pinnacle
of the South Indian Style of Architecture that surpasses any other form of
architecture prevalent between the Deccan Plateau and Kanniyakumari(**).
Needless to add that in the Telugu country the style was more or less uniformly
conforming to the South Indian or Dravidian idiom of architecture.(**)
Pandya
Srivilliputtur Andal Temple is the official symbol of
the Government of Tamilnadu. It is said to have been built by
Periyaazhvar, the father-in-law of the Lord, with a purse of gold that he won
in debates held in the palace of PandyaKing Vallabhadeva.
The
primary landmark of Srivilliputtur is 12-tiered tower structure
dedicated to the Lord of Srivilliputtur, known as Vatapatrasayee. The tower of
this temple rises 192 feet (59 m) high and is the official symbol of the
Government of Tamil Nadu. It is said to have been built by Periyaazhvar, the
father-in-law of the Lord, with a purse of gold that he won in debates held in
the palace ofPandya King Vallabhadeva. The Government of Tamil Nadu uses
this temple tower as part of its symbol.
Cholas
Detail of the main vimanam (tower) of the Thanjavur
Temple-Tamilnadu
The Chola kings
ruled from AD (848-1280) and included Rajaraja Chola I and his
sonRajendra Chola who built temples such as the Brihadeshvara
Temple of Thanjavur and Brihadeshvara
Temple of Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the Airavatesvara
Temple of Darasuram and theSarabeswara (Shiva )Temple, also
called the Kampahareswarar Temple at Thirubhuvanam, the last two
temples being located near Kumbakonam. The first three among the above four
temples are titled Great Living Chola Temples among
the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Cholas were
prolific temple builders right from the times of the first king Vijayalaya
Chola after whom the eclectic chain of Vijayalaya Chozhisvaram temple near
Narttamalai exists. These are the earliest specimen of Dravidian temples under
the Cholas. His son Aditya I built several temples around the Kanchi and
Kumbakonam regions.
Temple
building received great impetus from the conquests and the genius
of Aditya I Parantaka I,Sundara Chola, Rajaraja Chola and
his son Rajendra Chola I. The maturity and grandeur to which the Chola
architecture had evolved found expression in the two temples of Tanjavur and
Gangaikondacholapuram. In a small portion of the Kaveri belt between
Tiruchy-Tanjore-Kumbakonam, at the height of their power, the Cholas have left
over 2300 temples, with the Tiruchy-Thanjavur belt itself boasting of more than
1500 temples. The magnificent Siva temple of Thanjavur built by Raja
Raja I in1009 as well as the Brihadisvara
Temple of Gangaikonda Cholapuram, completed around 1030, are
both fitting memorials to the material and military achievements of the time of
the two Chola emperors. The largest and tallest of all Indian temples of its
time, the Tanjore Brihadisvara is at the apex of South Indian architecture. In
fact, two succeeding Chola kings Raja Raja II and Kulothunga III built
the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram and the
Kampahareswarar Siva Temple at Tribhuvanam respectively, both temples being on
the outskirts of Kumbakonam around AD 1160 and AD 1200. All the four temples
were built over a period of nearly 200 years reflecting the glory, prosperity
and stability under the Chola emperors.
Contrary to popular impression, the Chola emperors patronized
and promoted construction of a large number of temples that were spread over
most parts of the Chola empire. These include 40 of the 108
Vaishnava Divya Desams out of which 77 are found spread most of South
India and others in Andhra and North India(**). In fact, the
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, which is the biggest
temple in India (**) and the Chidambaram Natarajar Temple (though originally
built by the Pallavas but possibly seized from the Cholas of the pre-Christian
era when they ruled from Kanchi) (**) were two of the most important temples
patronized and expanded by the Cholas and from the times of the second Chola
King Aditya I, these two temples have been hailed in inscriptions as the
tutelary deities of the Chola Kings (**). Of course, the two Brihadisvara
Temples at Thanjavur and Gangaikonda Cholapuram as well as the
other two Siva temples, namely the Airavatesvara
Temple of Darasuram and the Sarabeswara (Shiva )Temple
which is also popular as the Kampahareswarar Temple at Thirubhuvanam, both
on the outskirts of Kumbakonam were the royal temples of the Cholas
to commemorate their innumerable conquests and subjugation of their rivals from
other parts of South India, Deccan Ilangai or Sri Lanka and the
Narmada-Mahanadi-Gangetic belts(**). But the Chola emperors underlined their
non-partisan approach to religious iconography and faith by treating the
presiding deities of their other two peerless creations, namely
theRanganathaswamy Temple dedicated to
Lord Vishnu at Srirangam and the Nataraja Temple atChidambaram which
actually is home to the twin deities of Siva and Vishnu (as
the reclining Govindarajar) to be their ‘Kuladheivams’ or tutelary (or family)
deities(**). The Cholas also preferred to call only these two temples which
home their tutelary or family deities as Koil or the ‘Temple’, which denotes the most
important places of worship for them, underlining their eq. The above-named
temples are being proposed to be included among the UNESCO World
Heritage Sites, which will elevate them to the exacting and exalting standards
of the Great Living Chola Temples(**).
The temple
of Gangaikondacholapuram, the creation of Rajendra Chola I, was
intended to exceed its predecessor in every way. Completed around 1030,
only two decades after the temple at Thanjavur and in much the same
style, the greater elaboration in its appearance attests the more affluent
state of the Chola Empire under Rajendra. This temple has a larger Siva linga
than the one at Thanjavur but the Vimana of this temple is smaller in
height than the Thanjavur vimana.
The Chola period is also remarkable for its sculptures
and bronzes all over the world. Among the existing specimens in museums around
the world and in the temples of South India may be seen many fine figures of
Siva in various forms, such as Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi,
and the Siva saints. Though conforming generally to the iconographic
conventions established by long tradition, the sculptors worked with great
freedom in the 11th and the 12th centuries
to achieve a classic grace and grandeur. The best example of this can be seen
in the form of Nataraja the Divine Dancer.
Badami Chalukyas
Virupaksha temple, Pattadakal, Karnataka built in 740
The
Badami Chalukyas also called the Early Chalukyas, ruled
from Badami, Karnataka in the period AD 543 -753 and
spawned the Vesara style called Badami Chalukya Architecture.
The finest examples of their art are seen
in Pattadakal, Aihole and Badami in northern
Karnataka. Over 150 temples remain in the Malaprabhabasin.
The most
enduring legacy of the Chalukya dynasty is the architecture and art that they
left behind. More than one hundred and fifty monuments attributed to the Badami
Chalukya, and built between 450 and 700, remain in
the Malaprabha basin in Karnataka.
The rock-cut temples of Pattadakal,
a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, Badami and Aihole are their most celebrated
monuments. Two of the famous paintings atAjanta cave no. 1, “The
Temptation of the Buddha” and “The Persian Embassy” are attributed to them.
This is the beginning of Chalukya style
of architecture and a consolidation of South Indian style.
Rashtrakutas
The view of the Kailash Temple from the top. The photo
is taken at the cave temples clusters of Ellora, Maharastra, India.
The Rashtrakutas who
ruled the deccan fromManyakheta, Gulbarga district, Karnataka in
the periodAD 753 - 973 built some of the finest Dravidian
monuments at Ellora (the Kailasanatha temple), in the rock cut
architecture idiom. Some other fine monuments are the Jaina Narayana temple
at Pattadakal and the Navalinga temples at Kuknur in Karnataka.
The
Rashtrakutas contributed much to the culture of theDeccan. The Rashtrakuta
contributions to art and architecture are reflected in the splendid rock-cut
shrines at Ellora and Elephanta, situated in present dayMaharashtra. It is said
that they altogether constructed 34 rock-cut shrines, but most extensive and
sumptuous of them all is the Kailasanatha temple at Ellora. The temple is
a splendid achievement of Dravidian art. The walls of the temple have marvellous
sculptures from Hindy mythology
including Ravana, Shiva andParvathi while the ceilings have
paintings.
The project was commissioned by King Krishna I after the
Rashtrakuta rule had spread into South India from the Deccan. The
architectural style used was dravidian. It does not contain any of the Shikharascommon to the Nagara style and was built on
the same lines as the Virupaksha temple at Pattadakal inKarnataka.
Western Chalukyas
Dodda Basappa temple, Dambal, Gadag district,Karnataka
The Western
Chalukyas also called the Kalyani Chalukyas or Later Chalukyas ruled the
deccan from AD973 - 1180 from their
capital Kalyani in modern Karnataka and further refined the Chalukyan
style, called the Western Chalukya architecture. Over 50 temples exist in
the Krishna River-Tungabhadra doab in central Karnataka. The
Kasi Vishveshvara at Lakkundi, Mallikarjuna at Kuruvatii, Kalleshwara temple at
Bagali and Mahadeva at Itagi are the finest examples produced by the Later Chalukya
architects.
The reign of Western Chalukya dynasty was an important period in
the development of architecture in the deccan. Their architectural developments
acted as a conceptual link between the Badami Chalukya
Architecture of the 8th century and the Hoysala
architecture popularised in the 13th century. The art of Western Chalukyas
is sometimes called the “Gadag style” after the number of ornate temples
they built in the Tungabhadra - Krishna River doab region
of present day Gadag district in Karnataka. Their temple building
reached its maturity and culmination in the 12th century, with over a hundred
temples built across the deccan, more than half of them in present day
Karnataka. Apart from temples they are also well known for ornate stepped wells
(Pushkarni) which
served as ritual bathing places, many of which are well preserved in Lakkundi.
Their stepped well designs were later incorporated by the Hoysalas and the
Vijayanagara empire in the coming centuries.
Hoysalas
Symmetrical architecture on Jagati, Somanathapura,
Karnataka
Main article: Hoysala architecture
The Hoysala kings
ruled southern India during the period AD (1100-1343) from their
capital Belur and laterHalebidu in Karnataka and developed a
unique idiom of architecture called the Hoysala
architecture inKarnataka state. The finest examples of their
architecture are the Chennakesava Temple in Belur,Hoysaleswara
temple in Halebidu, and the Kesava
Temple in Somanathapura.
The modern interest in the Hoysalas is due to their patronage of
art and architecture rather than their military conquests. The brisk temple
building throughout the kingdom was accomplished despite constant threats from
the Pandyas to the south and the Seunas Yadavas to the north. Their
architectural style, an offshoot of the Western Chalukya style, shows
distinct Dravidian influences. The Hoysala architecture style is described
as Karnata Dravida as
distinguished from the traditional Dravida, and is considered an independent
architectural tradition with many unique features.
Vijayanagar
Virupaksha Temple at Hampi, Karnataka
The whole of South India was ruled by Vijayanagar
Empire from AD(1343-1565), who built a number of temples and
monuments in their hybrid style in their capital Vijayanagar in
Karnataka. Their style was a combination of the styles developed in South India
in the previous centuries. In addition, the Yali columns (pillar with charging horse),
balustrades (parapets) and ornate pillared manatapa are their unique contribution.
King Krishna Deva Raya and others built many famous temples all
over South India in Vijayanagar Architecture style.
Vijayanagara architecture is a vibrant combination of
the Chalukya,Hoysala, Pandya and Chola styles, idioms
that prospered in previous centuries. Its legacy of sculpture, architecture and
painting influenced the development of the arts long after the empire came to
an end. Its stylistic hallmark is the ornate pillaredKalyanamantapa (marriage
hall), Vasanthamantapa (open
pillared halls) and the Rayagopura (tower).
Artisans used the locally available hard granite because of its durability
since the kingdom was under constant threat of invasion. While the empire’s
monuments are spread over the whole of Southern India, nothing surpasses the
vast open air theatre of monuments at its capital at Vijayanagara,
a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the 14th century the kings continued to
build Vesara or Deccan style monuments but later incorporated
dravida-style gopurams to meet their ritualistic needs. The Prasanna
Virupaksha temple (underground temple) of Bukka Raya I and the Hazare
Rama temple of Deva Raya I are examples of Deccan architecture. The varied and
intricate ornamentation of the pillars is a mark of their work. At Hampi, though
the Vitthala temple
is the best example of their pillared Kalyanamantapa style,
theHazara Ramaswamy temple
is a modest but perfectly finished example. A visible aspect of their style is
their return to the simplistic and serene art developed by the Chalukya dynasty. A
grand specimen of Vijayanagara art, the Vitthala temple,
took several decades to complete during the reign of the Tuluva kings.
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