Architectural style
- 1. ARCHITECTURAL STYLE • Also known as Dravidian Style of architecture. • Temples with pyramid shaped towers • Elements – The porches or Mantapas, which always cover and precede the door leading to the cell. – Gate-pyramids, Gopuras, which are the principal features in the quadrangular enclosures that surround the more notable temples. Gopuras are very common in dravidian temples. – Pillared halls (Chaultris or Chawadis) are used for many purposes and are the invariable accompaniments of these temples. – Usually has a tank called the Kalyani or Pushkarni – to be used for sacred purposes or the convenience of the priests – dwellings for all the grades of the priesthood are attached to it, and other buildings for state or convenience • Constructed of sandstone, soapstone or granite
- 2. • Influences from different periods: – PALLAVA • Pallava architecture are the rock- cut of temples at Mahabalipuram • Towered sanctuary and mandapa (columned hall preceding the sanctuary) – CHOLA • Rising pyramid towers crowned with dome-like roofs. • Sculptures and paintings adorn the walls. • Bronze sculptures of this era are the finest in southern India – HOYSALA • Complicated plans with numerous angled projections • Columns are lathe-turned or are multi-faceted – VIJAYNAGARA • Concentric series of rectangular enclosure walls with the gopuras (towered gateways) in the middle of each side • Because of the heavy rainfall, the temples here were roofed with sloping tiers of metal or Terra cotta tiles
- 4. • Hoysala Architecture style • Built on the banks of the Yagachi River • Main entrance to the complex is crowned by a Rajagopura (superstructure over entrance) • Chennakesava temple is chloritic schist, more commonly known as (soapstone) or potstone • Temple is ekakuta vimana design (single shrine) of 10.5 m by 10.5 m size • The vimana (shrine) is at
- 5. • Two main sthambha (pillar) exist here. • The pillar facing the main temple, the Garuda (eagle) • Pillar on the right, the Deepa sthambha (pillar with lamp) • It has three entrances and their doorways have decorated sculptures called dvarapalaka (doo
- 6. • There are some sixty large sculptures of deities from both Vaishnava and Sh aiva faiths • Rich diversity about the pillar styles here. • Forty eight pillars are unique and the many ceiling sections are well decorated • Four pillars bear madanikas (Salabh anjika–celestial damsels)
- 7. CHENNA KESHWA TEMPLE, SOMNATHPUR
- 8. • Hoysala Architecture style • The ceiling of the mantapa (hall) is supported by lathe turned pillars • Three shrines – One shrine has the image of the god Keshava – The other two shrines house images of Janardhana and Venugopala (all three images are forms of the Hindu god Vishnu) • Intricate carvings of jewellery, such as pendants, necklaces, waistbands and rings and of woman sporting hair styles that were in vogue
- 9. • Names of many architects and sculptors are etched on stone • High walled enclosure and the entrance to the complex is through a porch with tall lathe- turned pillars • Material used for the temple is soapstone (Green schist) • Symmetrical architecture • Built by the famous architect and sculptor Ruvari Malithamma.