My Complete Notes for UPSC Civil Service Examination

Hi, My name is Sayooj P.R, I got Rank #1 in UPSC civil service examination 2020. This blog contain my entire notes, hope it helps you.



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Temple Architecture

Temple building first started in world by Parsi in present day Iran.

concept of temple is not simple they are scientific and complicated.

North => Nagara => Types of sikhara 
  • Odisha
  • Chandela/ Khajuraho
  • Solanki
South => Dravida
  • Vijayanagar 
  • Nayaka
Other
  • Vesara
  • Hoysala
Nagara => Types of sikhara 
  • Rekha prasad (Latina)
  • Phamsana
  • Valabhi.
The temples of north usually are constructed and in south in early are carved out of rocks. this is mainly due to plain area of north and rugged area of south.

  • Temple architecture Began and also reached climax during guptha age
  • Manuels were written regarding how to form temples.
  • Development happened in 5 stages
1st stage
  • flat roof square temples were made
  • with shallow pillared approach and grounded structure
  • Eg: Temple no.17 @ Sanchi(MP), Kankalidevi temple(Tigawa, MP)
2nd Stage
  • It continued flat roof square temple approach but not shallow pillared approach
  • Temples were made on High Upraised platform
  • Concept of COVERED AMBULATORY PASSAGEWAY emerged during this period
  • even the examples of 2 story temples are also found.
  • Eg: Parvathi Temple (Nachnakuthara, MP.)
3rd Stage
  • The square temple, pillared approach, high platform and covered ambulatory continued
  • the unique achievement of this stage is addition of curvilinear tower ie, SHIKHARA.
  • Nagara style started during this stage.
  • Eg: Dashavatar Temple(Devgarh near Jhansi), Brick Temple (Bitargaon, Kanpur)
4th stage
  • In this stage all the features of earlier stage continued except the base which was now in circular shape
  • Eg: Thair Temple (Solapur, MH), Kapoteshwara Temple (Tezarla, Telengana.)
5th Stage
  • They continued Circular base temple with addition of Rectangular projections.
  • Eg: Maniyar Math (Rajgir)

Nagara Temple => common term given to north indian temple

  • Features
    • Presence of curvilinear tower. i.e, Shikara
    • covered ambulatory passageway
    • square temple with CRUCIFIED ground plan.

    • PANCHAYATAN style. => 1+4 arrangement.
    • Pillared approach and upraised platform
    • ABSENCE OF WATERTANK inside the presence of Temple. 
    • Rath: Vertical division of Garbha Griha Wall behind the deity + odd number of division only=> 3 thriratha, 5 pancharatha, 7 saptharatha, 9 navaratha etc.
      • purpose: to make main deity idol => in centre => in a perticular position and perticular place
  • Types of Sikhara
    • Rekhaprasad or Latina

      • most simple sikhara; hence most common. which is square at base and slowly curves inside till it reaches a point on the top.
    • Phamsana

      • Phasana building tends to be broader and shorter than latina.
      • unlike the latina once which look like sharply rising tall towers, Phamsana building do not curve inwords instead they slope outword
      • Phamsan building are part of primise which include sikhara building. Phamsans are basically used for MANDAP or Prayerhall 
    • Valabhi=> Wagon Vault shap

      • basically found in hill areas; 
      • Eg: Nandadevi Temple(Jogeshwar,UK )
 Substyles of Nagara
  1. Odisha style
    • Exterior walls are lavishly decorated through intricate carvings but interior walls were kept plain.
    • Shikara is called as DEUL and it is almost vertical till the top, where it suddenly curves sharply inwards.
    • No use of pillar instead they used Iron grids to support the roof.(Nagara style used pillar)
    • The mandaps are called JAGMOHAN. 
    • rest same as Nagara style
    • eg: Konark Temple (black pagoda), Jagannath Temple(Puri), Lingaraj Temple (Bhubneswar)
  2. Khajuraho/Chandela
    • Patronized by Chandela rulers
    • Both interior and exterior wall is lavishly decorated with intricate carvings.
    • This sculptures were based on erotic theme taken from Kamasutra by Vatsyayan.
    • premise do not boundary wall
    • These temples are made on relatively very high platform.=> 150 stairs.
    • Shikara's are also present in the subsidiary Shrines which gives the impression of the mountain range.
    • Jaina temples were also made in chandela style
    • Eg: Kandariya Mahadev temple
  3. Solanki Style(Gujarat)
    • patronized by solanki rulers of Gujarat who were clans of Chalukya.(wife of king Bhimdev Solanki made Rani ki Vavv.)
    • Both interior and exterior walls are kept plain
    • The entrance gate of temple is made in east direction on most of the side. => to get sun light ; on equinox directly falls sanctum.
    • Presence of water tanks inside the premise.(Sun's temple => water tank is must)
    • on the steps of water tank small shrines are made.
    • eg: Modhera Sun Temple
      • Dilwara Jain Temple in Mount abu. => made by Vimal Tejpal.
South Indian Temple Architecture
  • The temple architecture in south India begin mainly during PALLAVAs rule around 6 century CE
  • Development happened in 4 stage
  • Note: Structural temple => made from parts and cemented together i.e, not rockcut temple.
Stage 1 aka. Mahendra stage (started by Mahendra varman)
  • Rock cut caves made this stage
  • used word MANDAP to signify temple

Stage 2 : Narsimha Stage (started by Narasimha varman)
  • Now the caves were more refined (rock cut architecture) and polished and decoration was also done.
  • Mandapas now called RATHAS.
  • The biggest ratha made during that period was called as DHARMARAJ RATH and smallest one called DRAUPATHI RATH.

Stage 3: Rajasimha Group (started by Rajasimha varman)
  • At this stage the real structural development of temple started and it moved outside of cave => big temple
  • eg: Kailashnath Temple (Kanchipuram)
Stage 4: Nandivarman Group
  • They continued all the features of dravidian style
  • rather than focusing on grandness number of small temples are constructed.
Dravida Style of Temple => umbrella term for most south temple
  • => above vimana there is kalash
  • =>vimana (coconut is also placed above Kalash.) => not curved but straight line  
  • =>the horizontal disc below kalash is called amlak.
  • though the pallava rulers started the dravidian style but grand temples were made during the period of Chola
Features
  • Dravidian style of temple enclosed by a compound wall and there is one huge entrance which is known as gopuram.
  • Presence of Water tank is a necessary feature
  • the tower of this style is ka. VIMANA which looks like pyramidal in shape aka. KUTTINA. 
  • entrance of Garbhgrih has sculptures of DWARAPALS.(in Nagara -> images of Mithun and river godess Ganga and Yamuna are seen at entrance of Garbhgrih.)
  • they also followed PANCHAYATAN style of temple making and CRUCIFIED ground pattern.
  • eg: Brihadeshwara Temple in Tanjore.
    • made by Chola King Raja Raja I in 1011 AD
    • son of Raja Raja I, Rajendra I , constructed temple of Gangaikond Cholapuram.
    • on banks of cauvery river
    • one of the finest sculpture of that time, NATARAJ, was first made by Chola Ruler => Raja Raja I, (Nataraj means lord of dance, it shows of Thandava Posture.)
      • In this sculpture Shiva shown as suppressing demon of Ignorance ka. Apasmara
      • in one hand he is holding a DAMRU and 2 hands symbolize ABHAYHASTH mudra (suggest followers not to be afraid by anything and shiva is there to protect them)
      • The outer structure of Sculpture is FLAME
      • in some of the NATARAJ sculpture River ganga was shown emerging from the flock of hairs.
Vijayanagar(Karnataka)
  • continued all the features of dravidian style and introduced few new prominent features
  • first such introduction was concept of very high inclusive walls and grand and High gopurams.
  • sculptures or motifs of supernatural horses were depicted on the entrance of the temple.
  • they introduced the concept of new shrine ka. AMMAN SHRINE, it was dedicated to chief wife of main deity.
  • another prominent feature of the temple premise was KALYANMANDAPAM for marriage purpose.
  • eg: Virupaksha Temple, Temple @ Lapakshi, => vaishnavites.
  • eg: other than temple: lotus mahal and HAMPI architectural features.
  • Note:
    • Tuluva and Sulva dynasti ruled there
    • Amarnayaka and Nayaka => powerful military and administrative officials of vijayanagar => during dissolution of vijayanagara they spread to TN madurai and ruled there thus established Nayaka dynasti
Nayaka Style=> offshoot of Vijayanagara school.
  • patronised by Nayaka dynasti
  • they also continued all the features of Dravida Style with some new introduction.
  • the first such introduction was construction of Huge corridors known as Parakrams. which serves to connect various parts of temple

  • this huge corridors were meant for various shops and it was centre of the marketing activity eg: Minakshi Temple. aka. Sundareswar temple
Vessara Architecture
  • from sanskrit word VISHRA => taking long walk. which suggest grandness of temple
  • vessara is considered as mixture of Nagara and Dravida.
  • The concept of Viman taken from dravida and concept of covered ambulatory passageway is taken from Nagara.
  • Eg: Ladkhan Temple, Temple at Badami (vatapi), temple at patadakal, durga temple at aihole => Karnataka
Hoysala style => all in karnataka.

  • Patronized by Hoysala rulers
  • the major difference with all the other indian temple style in hoysala can be seen in their ground plan => STELLATE GROUND PLAN. 
  • eg: Hoysalaswera temple @ Halebid => dedicated to shiva, temples at somanathpura, channakeshwar temple.

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