By: Ar V Sucheta Piloo mody college of Architercture INTRODUCTION z
• DRAVIDIAN ARCHITECTURE WAS AN ARCHITECTURAL IDIOM THAT EMERGED IN THE
SOUTHERN PART OF THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT OR South INDIA. • CONSISTS OF TEMPLES WITH PYRAMID SHAPED TOWERS . • MATERIAL USED :SANDSTONE, SOAPSTONE OR GRANITE. Parts of the temple common in most temples in south sanctum sanctorum is the PRADAKSHINAPATHA, which is a circumambulatory passage for devotees. In front of the Garbha Griha is the MUKHA MANTAPA, also called ARDHA MANTAPA, which is normally used for keeping articles of worship. ANTARALA is the narrow passage, which connects GARBHA GRIHA and MUKA MANTAPA to the hall called MANTAPA This the place where religious discourses or the recitation of mythological verses takes place. • All temples z have a DHVAJASTAMBHA or flag post in front of the MANTAPA. On top of this is the LANCHANA or insignia of the deity. For example in Vishnu temples it is GARUDA. • Near the DHVAJASTAMBHA is the BALIPEEDA, which is a pedestal for sacrificial offering. High walls called PRAKARA are built on the perimeter of the temple complex and in the main entrance is the GOPURAM, which is the main gate with a high tower. DIFFERENT z PHASES IN DRAVIDIAN ARCHITECTURE
The Dravidian style/ Southern style of architecture can be classified into the following periods
Pallavan Style 600AD – 900AD
1.
Chola Style 900AD – 1150AD
2.
Pandya Style 1100AD – 1350AD
3.
Vijayanagara Style 1350AD – 1565AD
4.
Nayak/Madura Style/Late pandya 1600 AD onwards
5.
style z Broadly the classifications would be as follows: • Pallavan - Rock cut and Structural Temples • Chola - Development of the Vimana (Shikhara), Walled enclosures Gopurams • Pandya - Evolution of the Gopuram – number, height, embellishment, High walls for enclosure for security( Muslim invasion) • Vijayanagara - Addition of Mandapas, Secondary halls and Gopurams • Nayaks - Temple cities, addition of Gopurams to existing temples z
THE PANDYAS…. PANDYA zARCHITECTURE – 1100 – 1350 AD The Genesis of the Gopurams of Dravidian Style
• The Pandyan or Pandiyan or Pandian dynasty was an ancient Tamil
dynasty, one of the three Tamil dynasties, the other two being the Chola and the Chera. • The Pandya King, along with Chera King and Chola King, were referred to as the Three Crowned Kings of Tamil. • The dynasty ruled parts of South India from around 600 BCE (Early Pandyan Kingdom) to first half of 17th century CE. • They initially ruled their country Pandya Nadu from Korkai, a seaport on the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, and in later times moved to Madurai. • Fish being their flag, Pandyas were experts in water management, agriculture(mostly near river banks) and fisheries and they were eminent sailors and sea traders too. Pandyan z Dynasty – Art and Culture
• The Pandyan Kings were of Dravidian descent, and were proficient in art, culture, trade and literature. Being located in a coastal area, the Pandyan Rulers wielded control over the fisheries and the related trade activities between Sri Lanka and India. • This period also saw some of the finest pearls ever produced. The Pandyans were also great patrons of architecture, and the famous Meenakshi Temple in Madurai is a testimony to this. • Meenakshi Temple - Built by Pandya Rulers – This Structure has been Constructed in Madurai in Early 17th Century - 1623 AD After the Cholas- z Architecture was at its peak with the concentration being on the Vimana. Pandya architecture includes both rock-cut and structural temples. Plan-usually rectangular but emphasize were on the gateways GOPURAM
ROCK-CUT TEMPLES: • The early Rock-cut temples have monolithic vimana. • Roc-cut temples are found in Thirupparankundram, Anaimalai, Karaikudi, Malaiyadikurichi and Trichy.these temples were constructed for lord shiva and Vishnu. • Cave temples are also found in temples at Kalugumalai and Trichy. Changes during the Pandya period: z
• Vimana ceased to be the centre of concentration.
• The supplementary and outlying portions were developed • Reasons were sentimental- do not touch God • Derivation of the Cow gate- City gate- Temple gate- Gopuram • GOPURAM plan-rectangular in shape • Ground & first floor-vertical built in stone, • Above floors–pyramidal built in bricks (inclination of 25 degrees. • Pinnacles called shikharasare always used in odd numbers. • Considerable z political changes were taking place. The most threatening force was from the north -conquering hordes of Islam • This threat made the Pandya rulers hurriedly throw up makeshift battlements around their cities and the heart of their towns -the temples. This called for modifying the Temple to a Fortress which was unacceptable. • The solution was hence to raise the gates of the fortress to the level of architecture. This was the genesis of the famous gopurams, or entrance gateways of the temple cities of the south. EXAMPLES: Groups of small temples are to be seen at Tiruchirapalli District of Tamil Nadu. The Zenith of Pandya architecture are Meenakshi Temple at Madhurai and Aranganathar temple at Srirangam. z
MEENAKSHI TEMPLE MADURAI
INTRODUCTION: z • MADURAI , popularly known as the Temple city, also called as ATHENS OF THE EAST, City of Junction, City of Jasmine, CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS and City of four junctions. Madurai is third major economic, industrial, commercial, political centre and a major transportation hub for the southern Tamilnadu. • The city is renowned for tourism, festivals and vibrant cultural life in general and is considered to be the states cultural capital.
•The rich and vibrant natural and cultural landscape with different linguistic and cultural groups coexisting together in its UNIQUE CUSTOMS, TRADITIONS, AND ART FORMS make it a classical example of an urban environment wherein diversity becomes the source of strength rather than conflicts. TRADITIONAL PLANNING STRATEGIES z • The old city of Madurai is considered to be designed according to the Rajdhani plan, described in Manasara, one of the Shilpasastra, and has the fivefold concentric rectangular formation with Meenakshi- Sundareshwara Temple at a very centre point. • The city was a well planned one with bazaars and many broad streets with high and luxurious mansions on both sides. • The city was built around the temple complex as a focal point with a combination of a concentric street pattern. SETTLEMENT PATTERN • The settlement z pattern of Madurai is plannedaccording to the ancient system of Town planning which is based on caste andoccupational hierarchies. • Ancient temple towns are designed by placing the temple complex at the centre with concentric rectangle pattern of streets around. • This can be seen in another southern temple town Srirangam also.
Map showing Settlement Pattern of Madurai city with
ancient town planning system. • Meenakshi Amma Temple is a historic Tamil z Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
• It is dedicated to Parvati, known as
Meenakshi, and her consort, Shiva, here named Sundareswarar.
• The temple forms the heart and lifeline of the
2,500-year-old city of Madurai and is a significant symbol for the Tamil people, mentioned since antiquity in Tamil literature. z z z z • Surrounding an area of the temple is about z 45 acres • The temple was 1st constructed somewhere around the time by kulashekara pandyan. • A large part of the temple was destroyed during the muslim invasion during the 14th century and then was restored to its former glory in the early 17th century. • The temple was rebuilt by vishwanatha nayak accordance to shilpa shastra. GOPURAMS • The temple z has huge Gopurams which can be seen from a far distance. • There are 14 Gopurams ranging from 45–50m in height. • The outer 4 towers are the landmarks of Madurai, which are tall when compared to other gopurams. They are: • East tower height 161'3“ & has 1011 sudhai figures. (its the oldest gopuram built by maravarman sundara pandyan during 1216-1238) • South tower height 170'6“(, 51.9 metres) & has 1511 sudhai figures. ( tallest of all) • West tower height 163'3“ & has 1124 sudhai figures. z • North tower height 160'6“ & has lesser figures of sudhai than other outer towers. • These 4 gopuram’s are nine storeys & is ornamented with elaborate sculptures. • And the other towers are inside the twin temples and are smaller compared to the outer gopurams. and also these inner gopuram serves as the entrance to the inner enclosure shrines
• The temple is high walled & enclosure on the
boundaries around the temples, intervening courtyards called prakarams which contain pillared halls, store rooms, other smaller shrines and square water tanks for ritual baths. • The temple is square shaped. z • The tank is surrounded by a pillared cloister and has steps leading down to the water. z VIMANA z • They are two golden sculptured Vimanas, over the Garbhagriha for the main deities. SHRINE z • These temples are separately surrounded by four smaller Gopurams. • MEENAKSHI Main shrine is located to the southwest of Sundareswaran'sshrine and Sundareswaran's shrine is located in the north east • Meenakshi shrine and the sundareswarar shrine are huge temples with their own sets of 2 prakarams maha mandapams and gold plated vimanas. • The shrine has a 3-storied gopuram guarded by two stern dwarapalakas and supported by golden, rectangular columns that bear lotus markings. • The area covered by the shrine of Sundareswaran is exactly one fourth of the area of the temple and that of Meenakshi is one fourth that of sundareswarar • Within the sundareswarar temple complex is a shrine to Nataraja – the rajata sabha or the velliambalam z z z
ARIAL VIEW OF SREE MEENAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE ALONG WITH THE SKYLINE OF MADURAI. z
There are 12 temple towers(Gopurams). The outer 4 towers are the landmarks of Madurai. They are: East Tower (Nine Storeys). Height 161'3" has 1011 sudhai figures. South Tower (Nine Storeys). Height 170'6“ has 1511 sudhai figures. West Tower (Nine Storeys). Height 163'3" has 1124 sudhai figures.North Tower (Nine Storeys). Height 160'6“ has lesser figures of sudhai than other outer towers. z z
