ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION

Assignment-1

The Rameswaram temple -

A Great Example of Perfection and Style of Dravidian Architecture

How to Reach:

SUBMITTED BY :-
SIMRAN DEO (16BAR1081)

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1. INTRODUCTION :-
• Our history creates a great impact on shaping our future. The ancient technologies adopted by our
very own ancestors is extremely iconic.
• During the early times, there was an ecological balance maintained amongst the human and natural
environment.
• They believed in amalgamating the nature with the building to create a picturesque scenario so did
not harm the natural beauty of the environment.
• India at present boasts about 3650 approximately renowned ancient heritage structures and sites of
national importance
• India has been recognized worldwide for its variant culture and its contribution to the same. If each
and every heritage structure are taken in account, a common factor that seems to be distinctive is its
construction technique and structural stability which ensures its existence even till date in spite of
witnessing calamities, manmade disasters and negligence.
• This promotes and renders to the rich cultural heritage of our country. Divided into its various
architectural types and styles, each and every structure has its own individuality and speciality.
• Indian Architecture is as old as the history of the civilisation. The earliest remains of recognizable
building activity in the India dates back to Indus valley cities.
• Among India’s Ancient Architectural remains, the most characteristics are the Temples, chaityas,
stupas and other religious structures Indian architecture, belonging to different periods of history,
bears the stamp of respective periods.
• The cities of Indus valley provided substantial evidence of extensive town planning. It was in this
period that a large number of magnificent buildings came up. Some of the highlights are rock cut
caves at Ajanta and Bruhadeshwar temple at Thanjavur.

2. HISTORY OF INDIA :- DIVIDED IN 7 PERIODS

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ORIGINAL INDIANS(1700BC-330BC)
INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION

ARYANS (2500BC-322BC)
INDIA'S ROOT CULTURE

MAURYAN EMPIRE(322BC-188BC)
SPREAD OF BUDHISM

GUPTA PERIOD(320AD-480AD)
GOLDEN AGE OF INDIA

MUSLIM PERIOD(1175AD-1800AD)
TURKS AND MUGHALS

EUROPEAN RULE(1800AD-1947AD)
PORTUGUESE, DUTCH, FRENCH &
ENGLISH

INDIPENDENCE AND DEMOCRATIC fig.1 - map of India

INDIA 3
3. Gupta Period (320 AD – 480 AD)
• After the decline of Mauryans, Gupta rulers rose to power
• The Gupta period in Indian history is known as the Golden Age of India.
• Era of the most advanced civilization, flush with wealth, higher education, trade with foreign
countries, and an overall happy life.
• Religious tolerance and freedom of worship
• Period of Hindu renaissance.
• Emperor Ashoka promoted Buddhism, but Gupta rulers showed a preference for Hindu religion
• Music, architecture, sculptures and painting were at its best
• Various copper statues images of Buddha reflect the craftsmanship of the Gupta period.
• After the death of the last Gupta ruler in 570 AD, the Gupta empire declined and broke off.
• Extensive Trade 4c spices gold & ivory gold & ivory rice & wheathorses cotton goods cotton goods
• Achievements-Medicine, Literature, Mathematics, Astronomy, Printed medicinal guides, 1000
diseases classified, Plastic Surgery, C-sections performed, Inoculations, 500 healing plants identified,
Decimal System, Concept of Zero, PI = 3.1416, Kalidasa Solar Calendar, The earth is round ...etc.

4. TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
Ancient buildings are always impressive. The magnificent structure and details are a masterpiece. These
buildings have an order or pattern to it. It is not only the construction techniques and the materials that
make the Hindu Temple a magnificent structure. It is the Vaastu, the ancient science, and the building
technology that was used to construct it.
Indian temples has its own significance in today’s a well as in early era. The temple defines beauty
through its arts forms and construction techniques. The construction techniques so used and developed
has been mentioned in Hindu mythology as Purna Vastu or a perfect building is that which is properly
oriented and constructed with carefully laid out norms to protect it from the evil forces of the nature,
How to Reach:
which include floods, storms, hurricanes and earthquakes.
The Hindu temples commonly known as Mandir in Hindi and derived from the Sanskrit word Mandira,
are identified by several names in different parts of India.

5. The Beliefs of Hinduism

Any religious art form, the Hindu Temple being no exception, has its foundation on both
faith as well as aesthetic notions of the population. When the religious faith finds its
expression in an aesthetically pleasing manner, a religious art is born.
1. Hindus believe in the divinity of the Vedas, the world's most ancient scripture, and
venerate the Agamas as equally revealed. These primordial hymns are God's word
and the bedrock of Sanatana Dharma, the eternal religion which has neither
beginning nor end.
2. Hindus believe in a one, all-pervasive Supreme Being who is both immanent an_d
transcendent, both creator and Unmanifest Reality.
3. Hindus believe that the universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation
and dissolution
4. Hindus believe in karma, the law of cause and effect by which each individual
creates his own destiny by his thoughts, words and deeds.
5. Hindus believe that the soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all
karmas have been resolved, and moksha, spiritual knowledge and liberation from the
cycle of rebirth, is attained. Not a single soul will be eternally deprived of this
destiny.
6. Hindus believe that divine beings exist In unseen worlds and that the temple
worship, rituals, sacraments as well as personal devotionals create a communion
with these de vas and Gods. 4
7. Hindus believe that a spiritually awakened master, or satguru, is essential to know
the Transcendent Absolute, as are personal discipline, good conduct, purification,
pilgrimage, self-inquiry and meditation.
8. Hindus believe that all life is sacred, to be loved and revered, and therefore practice
ahimsa, non-injury.
9. Hindus believe that no particular religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others, but that
all genuine religious paths are facets of God's Pure Love and Light,
deserving tolerance and understanding.

6. TYPES OF TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

Primarily, the Indian temple architecture has been classified into three broad types, namely;
Nagara or the northern style, Vesara or mixed style, and the Dravida which is the southern style. All
these styles carry their unique regional influences and lineages.

Fig -2
showing
types of
temple
architect
ure

Fig -3 -examples ---->

NAGARA DRAVIDA VESARA

• POPULAR IN NORTHEN • popular in southern india • mixed style of northern
INDIA • pyramidical shape verana and southern style of
• no pillars, boundary wall • eg- brahdeshwar temple temples
& gopurams • presence of pillars but not
• eg- lakshman temple. of gopurams
• eg- chennakesava temple
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7. DRAVIDIAN ARCHITECTURE
Dravidian architecture is an architectural idiom in Hindu temple architecture that emerged in the
southern part of the Indian. It consists primarily of Hindu temples where the dominating feature is the
high gopura or gatehouse. Various kingdoms and empires such as the Cholas, the Chera, the Kakatiyas,
the Pandyas, the Pallavas, the Gangas, the Rashtrakutas, the Chalukyas, the Hoysalas, and Vijayanagara
Empire among others have made substantial contribution to the evolution of Tamizhian architecture.
• Unlike the nagara temple, the dravida temple is enclosed within a compound wall.
• The front wall has an entrance gateway in its centre, which is known as a gopuram.
• The shape of the main temple tower known as vimana in Tamil Nadu, is like a stepped pyramid that
rises up geometrically rather than the curving shikhara of North India.
• It is common to find a large water reservoir, or a temple tank, enclosed within the complex.
• Subsidiary shrines are either incorporated within the main temple tower, or located as distinct,
separate small shrines beside the main temple.
• Kanchipuram, Thanjavur or Tanjore, Madurai and Kumbakonam are the most famous temple towns
of Tamil Nadu, where, during the 8th-12th centuries, the role of the temple was not limited to
religious matters alone.
• Temples became rich administrative centres, controlling vast areas of land.
• there are subdivisions also of dravida temples. These are basically of five different shapes:
1. square, usually called kuta, and also caturasra
2. rectangular or shala or ayatasra
3. elliptical, called gaja-prishta or elephant backed, or also called vrittayata, deriving from wagon
vaulted shapes of apsidal chaityas with a horse-shoe shaped entrance facade usually called a nasi
4. circular or vritta
5. octagonal or ashtasra.
8. SUB DIVISION OF DRAVIDIAN ARCHITECTURE
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fig -4 table showing sub division of dravidian architecture
9. Elements of Hindu Temple
1. The sanctuary as whole is known as the “Vimana” that consists of two parts. The upper part of the
Vimana is called as the “Sikhara”
2. The lower portion inside the Vimana is called as the “Garbhagriha” (cella or inner chamber).
3. Pradakshina patha: meaning the ambulatory passageway for circumambulation.
4. Mandapa: is the pillared hall in front of the garbhagriha.
5. Antarala: meaning the vestibule or the intermediate chamber.
6. Ardhamandapa: meaning the front porch or the main entrance of the temple leading to the
mandapa.
7. Gopurams: meaning the ornate tower at the entrance of the temple complex specially found in
south India.
8. Pitha: the plinth or the platform of the temple.
9. Toranas: the typical gateway of the temple mostly found in north Indian temple.
10. The Amalaka: the fluted disc like stone placed at the apex of the sikhara.

Fig -6 showing elements of a

temple

How to Reach:

Fig -7 showing elements of a

temple

Fig -5 showing elements of a temple

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10. MATERIALS USED IN CONSTRUCTION
• Rubble: In prehistoric and early historic times rubble, naturally fragmented or deliberately
chipped rock of no specific shape, was the most frequent building material.
• Stones: It possesses good resistance against abrasion. It is quite strong and durable building
material.
• Wood: Another building material was wood, from both coniferous and deciduous trees,
especially poplar; for supports and roof construction in the traditional architecture of India.
• Mud: Frequent building material in Indian cultural areas which was available everywhere. It is
used for plastering and even as a cooling material.
• Metal : Iron, brass, and copper were the common types of metal used for the construction.
Metals were mainly used to make bells, pinnacles and other ornamentation to the building
rather than for structural purpose. In some temples, metal sheets are used for roof coverings
and to highlight doorways

11. TECHNIQUES USED

• Operating on Rocks:
The stones were split using wooden wedges and water to create thermal expansion during the day
and then iron tools were used to chip and form the stones into blocks.
• Method of Lifting Stones through the Ramp:
Always top level of Ramp will match with the height of Temple Structure. Stones to be lifted will be
shifted to the plane area near the Ramp by using the Traditional Old technology used by Khalaasi
Team.
• Quarrying Granites:
cut a series of pockets along the surface of the stone, and filling them with wood, watering the
How
woods regularly. As a result, wood swells to Reach:
and makes a crack along the holes.
• Means of transportation:
(Animals) castrated bull, dogs, elephants, horses, donkeys and other cattle along with man power.

Fig -10 quarring granites

Fig -8 operating on stones

Fig -11 methods of lifting stones Fig -12 means of transport 8

wooden logs
12. THE STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS
Trabeated System:
• In the trabeated system, the various arrangements between vertical elements (pillars and
pilasters) and horizontal elements (cross beams and lintels) are used to provide the stability to
the system.
• The roofing was done by laying horizontally the slabs of stone from one supporting beams or
walls to another. .
Corbelling System:
• Each horizontal course is constructed in such a way that stone or bricks in each layer are
projected out to bridge the gap between the two walls.
• It was primarily used to create interiors of the temple and stone shells of super structure
above the sanctuary
13. THE CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY
1. The available information of temple construction was collected from stone slabs, metal plates,
palm leaves and manuscripts.
2. It started with the selection of team headed by chief architect
3. The construction team consisted of four, Sthapati -Main architect Sutragrahin who did the
work assigned by sthapati,Taksaka who did the carving and cutting of stone, Vardhakin is the
mason.
4. The first stage was the planning of the temple, The second stage was the craving of different
parts of the temples.
5. The third and the final stage consisted of assembling of the parts of temple which consisted
of the actual construction of the temple.
6. The tools required such as hammers, chisel was locally made and sharpened regularly.
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14. STRUCTURAL PLAN AND EARTHQUAKE RESISTANCE
• Symmetrical forms are always preferred from earthquake resistance as asymmetrical forms
produces eccentricity between the centre of mass and centre of rigidity which results in the
torsion and tends to stress the concentration.
• The ground story has dual purpose as apart from carrying its own lateral loads it also carries
the shear force of the upper floors which is similar to the downward building of vertical
gravity loads.

Fig -13 Fig -14 distribution of load 9

 Fig -15 rameshwaram temple's gopuram

15. CASE STUDY :- SRI RANGANATHASWAMY TEMPLE

SRI RANGANATHASWAMY TEMPLE Location: Tiruchirapalli, Tamil
• The Ramanathaswamy temple also known as Rameswaram temple
Nadu Year: 1st century CE Present Age: 1018 Built by: Pandya
• Location: Rameswaram Island, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu
dynasty Time
• built during - 12thtaken:
century 5 years Area: 631000 sqm (2nd largest temple)
• current age - around 1500 years old
• Built by: Pandya dynasty

Fig 16 Rameshwaram: inner view of the long temple 10

corridors.
16. Ramanathaswamy Temple
The Ramanathaswamy temple also known as Rameswaram temple - A Great Example of Perfection and
Style of Dravidian Architecture The Rameswaram temple is dedicated to the god, Shiva. The Holy
abode of the Hindu God, Shri Ram (addressed so with all respect & humility) is a virtual paradise for
the devout. This sacred site is located on Rameswaram Island, in the southern Indian state of Tamil
Nadu between mainland India and Sri Lanka. No Hindu’s journey is complete without a pilgrimage to
both Varanasi and Rameswaram for the culmination of his quest for salvation and is hallowed by the
epic ‘Ramayana’. Folklore mentions about God Ram’s presence in this land, after his 14-year exile.
Shri Ram with his brother Lakshman and Hanuman along with his band of thousands of monkeys,
build a bridge with rocks from the sea and shores to cross the ‘Sethu canal’ and reach Lanka. Lord
Rama is also believed to have sanctified this place by worshipping and glorifying Lord Shiva and hence
marks the confluence of Shaivism and Vaishnavism and is thus revered by both Shaivites and
Vaishnavites alike and thus there is a strong belief that bathing in the 22 ‘Theerthams’ or natural
springs is a step forward in enlightenment.
Therefore, Rameswaram has rightly been declared as one of the National Pilgrim Centres in the count.

In the centuries that followed, different parts of the temple were commissioned and built by the
rulers of the island. During the 12 th century, the sanctum around the Ramanathaswamy Temple was
constructed by Parakramabahu I, a king of Polonnaruwa (located in modern day Sri Lanka). The most
important dynasty in the building history of the Ramanathaswamy Temple, however, was the
Sethupathi Dynasty, who ruled over Ramnad and Sivaganga during the 17 th century.

RAMESHWARAM

Fig -17 map of india showing rameshwaram

Fig -18 ram &

sita performing
the rituals at
rameshwaram

Fig -19 Gopuram

of Rameshwaram
temple

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Fig -20 map of rameshwaram temple
• The Ramanathaswamy temple by itself is a delight for every tourist.
• With its magnificent, imposing structure, long corridors, aesthetically carved pillars, the temple is
adorned with a towering 54-metre ‘Gopuram’.
• the temple has three sets of corridors. The outer set of the temple’s corridors has a height of
almost 7 meters and stretches for roughly 120 meters in both the eastern and western directions.
The corridors to the north and to the south, on the other hand, are about 195 meters in length
• It is commonly claimed that this is the longest set of temple corridors in the world.
• In addition to its length, the outer corridor is also remarkable for the number of pillars that
support it, which is over 1200 in number.
• Moreover, many of these pillars are decorated by ornate carvings.
• It is also one of the twelve Jyothirlinga temples, where Shiva is worshipped in the form of a
Jyotirlingam or “pillar of light”.
• Within the area of the outer corridor is a second set of corridors. According to the historical
sources, the construction of this set of corridors was initiated about seven centuries ago, when
the area was under the rule of the Vijayanagara Empire. Unfortunately, the work was never
completed, and the unfinished corridors have been left as such until today. Nevertheless, these
corridors are known for their 108 lingams, as well as its Mahaganapati statue.
• The innermost set of corridors is also the oldest of the three. Although these corridors were
constructed during the 12 th century, they were renovated many times over the centuries. It is
here that the sanctum of the Ramanathaswamy Temple may be found. The sacred lingam, who is
the main deity of the temple, is housed in the sanctum, along with its consort, Parvathavarthini
Amman.

Fig -21 old image of rameshwaram temple

How to Reach:-
• By Air
Madurai is the nearest Airport which is around 175 km distance from Rameswaram. Thoothukudi is
another airport which is around 195 km distance from Rameswaram.
• By Train
Rameswaram has a railway station which is around 1.3 km from the Ramanathaswamy temple.
• By Road
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Rameswaram has a Bus stand which is around 2 km from the Ramanathaswamy temple
Fig -22 Fig -23

• stands within a complex surrounded by a high compound wall or ThiruMathil on all the four sides
of the temple..
• The temple is spread over an area of 15 acres, has lofty gopurams, massive walls and a collossal
Nandi.
• There are two gopurams, one located in the east and one located in the west. The one in the east is
78 feet high with five tiers. The one in the west is 126 feet high and has nine tiers and is known as
rajagopuram.
• Made of limestone, bricks and sea shells, the colossal Nandi Statue or Nandi Mandapam measures
17 feet in height and is 12 feet wide
• What is unique about this corridor is that the rock is not indigenous to the island and it was
brought in from elsewhere in Tamilnadu across the sea.
• This Gopuram has nine levels. The Western Rajagopuram, though impressive, is not as tall as the
Eastern one.
• Another famous feature of Ramanathaswamy Temple are the 22 wells spread throughout the
premises, It is said that water from each well tastes totally different. and have curative features.
• Theertham (Water springs): There are 36 Theerthams in Rameshwaram of which 22 are in the
temple. The waters possess medicinal properties and bathing in these is considered to be of great
significance. The Agni theertham refers to the ocean (the first well) while the Koti theertham is
located within the temple itself.

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Fig -24 aerial view of rameshwaram temple
 Photograph of the temple taken by Nicholas and Company in c.1884.
Fig -25 corridor at rameshwaram temple

• The third corridor, also known as ChokkatanMandapam with 1212 pillars – each pillar
measuring 30 feet. It resembles a gigantic chess board. This is where you will find the deities
called Utsava.
• The total length of the corridors is 3850 feet and there are a total of three corridors.
• there are total 4,000 carved pillars,
• The carved granite pillars are mounted on a raised platform.
• The pillars have been constructed using the Nayak style of architecture.
• There is a platform on which the carved granite walls are built. If one tries to look at the pillars
from one end to the other it converges to one single dot. showing symettry and alignment.
• This feature exemplifies the advanced architectural designs of the Tamil Kings.
• The beams, pillars and ceiling of the second corridor were made using sandstone.

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Fig -26 corridor at rameshwaram temple Fig -27 wall carving at rameshwaram temple
• Material used for reconstruction
The material used for reconstruction of the temple was mainly granite. Granite stones according
to historical records were shipped to this island that date far back to 1414 CE.
• Vimaanams of the temple and fortifications around the temple
• The vimaanams of this temple have a huge resemblance to those found in the Pallava dynasty.
• There are four fortifications that encompass the temple giving it a rectangular shape. There are
four entries to the temple from each doorway or gopura which is pyramidal in shape.
• Smaller shrines and wells in the temple complex :- There are some smaller shrines for other
deities that can be found in the mandaps inside the temple complex.
• There are 22 wells which are said to have healing properties and each well is different in terms
of temperature, salinity and taste.

Fig -28
rameshwaram
temple

Fig -29
rameshwaram
temple

Fig -31
entrance of
rameshwaram
temple

Fig -30 Agnitheertham rameshwaram 15

 How to Reach:

Fig 31 -

30. SHIVA TEERTHAM

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Fig 32 - legends Fig 33 - shiv linga
Fig 32 -
parts of
dravidian
order
Fig 33 -Detail
ornamentaion of pillars at
rameshwaram temple
of dravadian style

Fig 34- ornamentation done at

the gopuram of rameshwaram
temple,
designed in such a way that the
center opening captures every
moment of sunset in the area
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fig 35- showing gana inside the temple
Fig 36-41 showing corridors of rameshwaram temple and its ornamentation

Fig 36 Fig 37

Fig 38 Fig 39

Fig 40 Fig 41

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• flooring.-The floors of were
made of a material that is unique
blend of burnt coconut shells,
quick lime, palm toddy, and
extracts of certain barks of trees
and nuts.
• Natural fibers Cotton, coir, wool,
silk cotton or jute
• Natural polymers Cow Dung,
Jaggaery, Coconut water, Green
Algae, rice husk, burnt coconut
shell
• also in some part of the temple
stones are also used as flooring
• the temple possess several idols
made of gold, silver, panchaloha
and copper metals are made fig 42 - showing flooring inside the
temple
according to the design rules of
the Shilpa Shastras.
• They recommend materials,
measurements, proportion,
decoration and symbolism of the
murti.
• Ramanathaswamy Temple has
twenty two divine wells located
within the temple premises. The
temple has stretched over a vast
area of 15 acres. The each well
has distinct properties. All of
these wells water have different
taste, salinity and curative
properties
• The overall depth of each well
never exceeds 10 to 15 feet
only. However, the holy water
from each well is taken by fig 43 - showing flooring inside the temple
bucket and sprayed over the
people

fig 44 - showing flooring inside the temple

Fig 45
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17. ORNAMENTATION AND
ARTIFACTS AT RAMESHWARAM
TEMPLE

Fig- 46
Artifacts used
at the entrance
mandapa

Fig- 47 showing symmetry

and ornamentation done at
the gopuram of the temple

Fig- 49 Fig- 48
showing showing
ornamentation artifact
done at the Of a deity in a
pillar of dancing
rameshwaram position
temple in the
shape of horse

Fig- 50
Decorated
Dravidian
orders at the
entrance of
mandapa

Fig- 51
Carving
done on
wall
showing
Shiva and
Parvati

Fig- 52
ornamentation
done on the
pillars of
temple
at the
Fig- 53 entrance of
showing view of the corridor leading to Garba gariya decorated mandapa
with artifacts and ornamentation in the ceiling and on the raised 20
platform
CONCLUSION :-

The architecture of India has vast history and is strongly rooted into it.
The culture and religion followed by our ancestors reflects at every stage, Preserving this history
and these greatest structures is our biggest responsibility.
The structural harmony the rhythm and a fine sense of ratio is a great mark of Indian temple and
its architecture. The proportional geometry, and symmetry between the elements gives a sense
of coherence and harmony.
These structures have survived through ages due to its marvelous architecture, whose techniques
are still unknown due to many reasons. But taking it as an inspiration and knowing that our
ancestors created these without any major tools and techniques, we can create wonders and
make our country proud.

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 BIBLOGRAPHY

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• [Link]
temple-and-its-infinite-corridors-009649
• [Link]
rameswaram-temple
• [Link]
temple/
• A STUDY ON HINDU TEMPLE PLANNING, CONSTRUCTION AND THE V
AASTU by SUJATAVANIGUNASAGARAN
• [Link]
[Link]
• [Link]
10_111.pdf
• [Link]
dravidian-and-temple-architecture
• [Link]
• [Link]
• [Link]
• [Link]
technological-evolution/
• [Link]
architecture
• [Link]
• [Link]
and-standard-dimension-of-shikhar
• [Link]
• [Link]
• [Link]

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SUBMITTED BY :- SIMRAN DEO (16BAR1081)

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