Temples

Temples - History

India, historically referred to the territory bound by the Hindu Kush and the Himalayas, is a country full of wonderful temples. These unmatched and artistic architectures contribute richly to the Indian cultural heritage. Temples are found everywhere in India, in villages and in towns. The earliest temples are the rock cut and cave temples in India. History They are traced at Barabar Hills in Bihar, Elephanta, Bhaja, Karla, Kanheri, Nasik and Ellora all in Maharashtra, Badami in Karnataka, and Pallavaram and Mahabalipuram in Tamilnadu. They belong to the 3rd and the 2nd century B.C. These are the caves directly cut out from the mountains. First scooped and then carved, they narrate the stories of the unmatched talents of the very first artists from the dawn of time. Since that very time Hindu temple architecture follows a set of fundamental rules. The sanctum containing the statue or symbol of the deity is a square cella. A pyramidal structure rises above that which symbolizes the Meru Mountain, the abode of the Hindu gods. This part of the temple is the holiest of all. In this part the rituals are performed by the Brahmins. In front of this central tower is a hall open from three sides, held on beautiful pillars carved intricately. In this hall the devotees gather in large number to participate in the rituals and the chants. This is where the dances are also performed. Surrounding the hall is a courtyard with or without boundary wall. Architecture This courtyard is reached through a gopuram or gateway. The levels of the main sanctum, mandapa or hall, courtyard and gateway are in descending order. The garbha-griha or the sanctum is the highest as it is believed to be the chamber of the deity. To this basic architecture, little variations can be observed but to see a temple totally different in design is not possible. Because above all else, it is the residence of god, that has to bear a common thread of design in all variations. Exclusive Temples of Ancient India Ancient era was the witness when religious practices flourished the most and temples became the world's storehouse of knowledge and culture. Here is an exclusive list of ancient temples that have been a symbol of faith and religion for ages.

Temples Architecture

Almost all Indian art has been religious, and almost all forms of artistic tradition have been deeply conservative. The Hindu temple developed over two thousand years and its architectural evolution took place within the boundaries of strict models derived solely from religious considerations. Therefore the architect was obliged to keep to the ancient basic proportions and rigid forms which remained unaltered over many centuries.

Even particular architectural elements and decorative details which had originated long before in early timber and thatch buildings persisted for centuries in one form or another throughout the era of stone construction even though the original purpose and context was lost. The horseshoe shaped window is a good example. Its origins lie in the caitya arch doorway first seen in the third century B.C. at the Lomas Rishi cave in the Barbar Hills. Later it was transformed into a dormer window known as a gavaksha; and eventually it became an element in a purely decorative pattern of interlaced forms seen time and time again on the towers of medieval temples. So, in its essence, Indian architecture is extremely conservative. Likewise, the simplicity of building techniques like post and beam and corbelled vaulting were preferred not necessarily because of lack of knowledge or skill, but because of religious necessity and tradition.

On the other hand, the architect and sculptor were allowed a great deal of freedom in the embellishment and decoration of the prescribed underlying principles and formulae. The result was an overwhelming wealth of architectural elements, sculptural forms and decorative exuberance that is so characteristic of Indian temple architecture and which has few parallels in the artistic expression of the entire world.

It is not surprising that the broad geographical, climatic, cultural, racial, historical and linguistic differences between the northern plains and the southern peninsula of India resulted, from early on, in distinct architectural styles. The Shastras, the ancient texts on architecture, classify temples into three different orders; the Nagara or ‘northern’ style, the Dravida or ‘southern ‘ style, and the Vesara or hybrid style which is seen in the Deccan between the other two. There are also dinsinct styles in peripheral areas such as Bengal, Kerala and the Himalayan valleys. But by far the most numerous buildings are in either the Nagara or the Dravida styles and the earliest surviving structural temples can already be seen as falling into the broad classifications of either one or the other.

In the early years the most obvious difference between the two styles is the shape of their superstructures.