South Indian Temple Architecture
"Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn from timelessness"
- Evolution of South Indian Temples
- Stages of Evolution
- 1st Stage - Mahendravarman Stage
- 2nd Stage - Narshmhavarman Stage
- 3rd Stage - Rajsinhaverman Stage
- 4th Stage - Nandiverman Stage
- Dravida Style of Temple Architecture
- Regional Variation of Dravida
- Vijayanagar Style of temple architecture
- Nayaka Style of temple architecture
Evolution of South Indian temples - Temple architecture in South India began under Pallava rulers but it reached its climax under the Chola rulers (Mainline Cholas).
Initially rock cut cave architecture was created but later real structural temples were created.
Stages of evolution
1st Stage (Mahendravarman Stage) - In this stage ruck cut cave architecture was created inside which deity was placed. This structure was known as Mandap.
2nd Stage (Narsimhavarman Stage) - In this stage the rock cut cave architecture was refined and chiseled out from outside to give it a proper shape. Now the structure came to be known as Ratha temple.
Example - Pandava Rath (Dharmaraj Rath, Arjuna Rath, Bhima Rath, ...), Parvati Rath, etc.
They all are in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu.
3rd Stage (Rajsinhavarman Stage) - At this stage real structural temples were created. A new type of tower was created in this stage known as Vimana. It is said that this stage gave rise to Dravida Style of Temple Architecture.
Example - Shore temple (Mahabalipuram), Kailashnath temple (Kanchipuram), etc.
4th Stage (Nandiverman Stage) - In this stage no big temples were created but it led to the popularisation of Dravida Style of temples.
Dravida Style of Temple Architecture
Features of Dravida Temple Architecture -
- Presence of boundary wall and gateway known as Gopuram.
- The specialty of Dravida temples is the presence of an inclining tower known as Vimana. Vimanas are not only created on the garbhgriha but also on the Gopuram.
- Garbhgriha is connected through a narrow passage known as Antral.
- At the entrance of Garbhgriha, Sculptures of dwarpal are created, while in many Nagara temples images of Mithun and River Goddess Ganga and Yamuna is created.
- Nritya Mandap inside the premise is meant for classical performance (Dance & Music).
- Gopuram is the gateway of temple which can be one or more than two.
- Presence of water tank is a necessary feature of Dravida temples.
- In many of the dravida temples, Panchayatan style is followed.
- They also followed crucial ground plan.
For example - Brihadeshwara Temple, Thanjavur (built by Chola Ruler, Raj Raja I in 1011 AD.
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| Brihadeshwara Temple |
Regional Variation of Dravida
1. Vijayanagar Temple Architecture
- Region - Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Some parts of Kerala.
Features of Vijayanagar temple architecture -
- There were very high enclosure walls.
- Large Gopurams.
- Sculptures of supernatural horses were created on enclosed walls.
- Vijayanagar came up with the concept of Amman Shrine which was dedicated to the chief wife of the main deity.
- The sacrificial rectangular flat structure was created which was known as Dibba and the most famous is the Mahanavmi dibba of Hampi.
- They also created Kalyan Mantapam (Marriage Hall) inside the premise of the temple.
For example -
- Virupaksha temple, Pattadakal
- Veerbhadra temple, Leepakshi, Andhra Pradesh
- Vitthal Swamy temple, Hampi
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| Vitthal Swamy temple, Hampi |
2. Nayaka temple architecture
- Area - Madhurai
Features of Nayaka style of temple architecture -
- They also followed the concept of Amman Shrine.
- It is noted for the presence of large number of Gopurams.
- Another important feature of the Nayaka temple is the presence of huge corridors known as Parakram.
- Some of the temples also have 1000 pillar hall and musical column (where 7 pillars represents 7 musical tones).
For example -
- Meenakshi temple, Madhurai
- Shri Rangnath Swamy temple, Sri Rangam (it has largest religious premise in India)
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| Meenakshi temple, Madhurai |
Note - Iskon temple, Mayapur, West Bengal is going to have the world's largest religious premise.
Other temple architecture
Vesara style of temple architecture (Karnataka)
- This temple architecture began under Chalukya rule of Karnataka.
- Vesara is derived from a Sanskrit word Vishra which means taking a long bath.
- Vesara temples were created for from habitation.
- It is also considered as mixture of Nagara, Dravida and Buddhist Chaityas.
- Covered ambulatory passage way and raised platform were inspired from Nagara Style of temple architecture.
- Vimana structure was inspired from Dravida style of temple architecture.
- Semi circular halls at the rear end of the temple was inspired from the Buddhist chaityas.
For example -
- Durga temple, Aihole
- Ladkhan temple, Aihole
- Papanath temple, Pottadakal
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| Papnath temple, Pottadakal |
Hoysala temple architecture (Karnataka)
- It was created by Hoysala ruler of Karnataka.
- The speciality of Hoysala temple is the Steallate downed plan (or star shaped ground plan).
- It is also noted for intricated carving on the exterior and interior walls.
- Another specialty of Hoysala temple is depiction of Hindu mythology like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, etc. on the walls of the temple.
For example -
- Channakesava temple, Belur
- Hoysaleswar temple, Halebid
Note - Ravan Phadi Cave is the only Brahmanical cave temple at Aihole, Karnataka.
Famous Jain Caves - Udaygiri, Khandagiri, Badami, Ellora
Temples during Pallavas - Mandagapattu rock cut temple, Kailash Nath temple (kanchi), Shore temple, etc.
- Kailashnath temple, Maharashtra was built by Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna I.
Previous Article - Nagara Style of temple architecture
Next Article - Medieval India Architecture
Notes on other subjects
Optional Notes
Note - This is my Vision IAS Notes (Vision IAS Class Notes) and Ashutosh Pandey Sir's Public Administration Class notes. I've also added some of the information on my own.
Hope! It will help you to achieve your dream of getting selected in Civil Services Examination 👍
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