MODULE: 5
Hindu architecture at Rajputana&Khajuraho group:
(Temple of Surya, Orisa, Marwar) and Gujarat (Temple of
Surya, Modhera). The Khajuraho group:
KhandariyaMahadev, Jain temples – Chaumukh temple
at Ranpur
Later Dravidian period: the Vijayanagar and– Noted
temples at Hampi (Vitthala temple and Hazara Rama
temple)
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VIJAYANAGAR DYNASTY
(1350 – 1565 A.D.)
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• Vijayanagar Empire dominated for 2 centuries.
• The city of Vijayanagar was made stable and strong on the
banks of Tungabhadra River.
• Unlike the Chola architecture, in this style buildings were not
large unified composition but were devised as groups of
structures of moderate proportions, distinguished by
architectural embellishments.
• Extreme limit of florid magnificence.
• Due to the religious needs of the time in terms of ceremonies,
many separate shrines and pillared halls each with its own
special purpose were placed around the main shrine.
• Various kinds of intricately carved columns and pilasters.
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• Mandapas with groups of columns were the main architectural
scheme.
• Most striking type of pillar is the pillar in which the shaft is merely
a central core with statutory around it, chiselled in the round
mostly of furious horse, rampant hippo or an upraised
supernatural animal.
• Another type shows encircling the central column, a Chester of
miniature pillars.
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• Later Dravidian style has a common type of pillar with a cubical
motif alternating with wide bands and chamfered, so the shaft
becomes 8 or 16 sided.
• Ornamental brackets.
• Presence of Granite and dark green chlorite stone (more easy to
chisel). Structures in both these rocks found side by side.
• Principle Temples – HAZARA RAMA and VITTALA.
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VITTALA TEMPLE
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• Most ornate temple on site.
• Within a rectangular courtyard of 500’0” x 310’0”, surrounded
by cloisters formed of triple row of pillars.
• Entrance from 3 gopurams, east and south more important.
• At least 6 separate structures mostly pillared halls, within this
enclosure.
• Main temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, in the centre. (Long
low structure, 230’0” in length and 25’0” in height).
The main temple has 3 parts –
ardha mandapa (open pillared portico)
mandapa (closed hall)
graba griha
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• The main ‘Maha Mantapa’ is raised on a 5’0” high plinth
approached by elephant guarded flight of steps on 3 sides. 56
pillars in number, placed such that forty of form a colonnade
16 arranged in an oblong manner in the inside. The pillars are
12’0” in height.
• The columns are carved exquisitely as mentioned earlier and
spread on top to join each other to form a united capital and
exquisite statutory with a moulded base of intricate carving.
The flat curling is carved with lotus flowers.
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• The outside walls have the conventional arrangements of
pilaster, niche.
• The cella is within the vimana and is at the far end of the
assembly hall. The cella itself has a processional passage
around it which is approached by 2 flights of descending
steps.
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• The ‘Kalyana Mantapa’ is an open pavilion with a high plinth.
There are 48 piers, 12 are placed around the square throne in the
centre of the pavilion, the remaining as a double arcade on the
sides.
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• Aligned with the main steps axis of the temple is the ‘Ratha’ or
chariot – a reproduction of chariot in masonry.
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HAZARA RAMA TEMPLE
Hazara Rama Temple Hampi was dedicated to Lord Rama
• Highly ornamental temple, but small.
• 24’0” high wall around courtyards.
• Entered through the east with a finely proportioned flat roof
porch.
• The porch leads to assembly hall with 4 massive – black stone
pillars as the main feature.
• The 4 columns are at the four corners of the square hall
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HAZARA RAMA TEMPLE
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Far end is the door way to the sanctuary.
The viman is remarkable with lower storey of stone and pyramidal
brick shikara above.
• The shikara has 3 tries with a [Link] 50’0” high.
• To the side and rear of viman, is the Amman temple dedicated
to Mother goddess – here the shikara has a keel roof instead of
cupola.
• Very intricate stone carving in lower storey and paint in different
colours for the brick shikara.
• The house motif was most popular like the lion of the Pallavas.
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