Questions and Answers
What is the main religion in Asia according to the text?
Who were the chief gods in Hinduism as per the text?
Which dynasty was established under King Ashoka in 300 BC?
Who gave up his princely life to search for wisdom?
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Which architectural style is characterized by profuse carved ornamentation combining religious and sensuous elements?
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Who established the 16 separate kingdoms all over India?
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What architectural feature is described as a mound containing sacred relics called 'Dagoba'?
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Which architectural style is described as a 'Combination of the Vedic Cult, Buddhism and Brahmanism'?
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What type of architectural space is described as 'A monastery designed with courts or shrines with a central square space surrounded by priest's chambers'?
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Which dynasty is described as the 'center of classical Indian Art and Literature'?
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Which ancient Indian people are described as uniting northern India and establishing an empire in 320 BC?
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What was the purpose of a Vihara in ancient India?
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Which of the following is a characteristic of Hindu temple architecture?
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What is a Rath in the context of Hindu temple architecture?
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Which of the following is an example of a Rath temple?
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What is a Vimana in the context of Hindu temple architecture?
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Which of the following is the world's largest functioning Hindu temple?
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Study Notes
Indian Architecture
- Characterized by Hindu and Buddhist monuments, with rhythmic stratified motifs and profuse carved ornamentation, often combining the religious and the sensuous.
- Architecture is the outcome of diverse religious beliefs, pattern of worship, prevailing climatic conditions, available building materials, technologies, social structure, topography, climate, culture, historical and linguistic patterns, and symbolism.
History and Influences
- Indian Architecture is the third great civilization to emerge in a fertile river valley, with the Indus River civilization emerging in 2500 BC in present-day Pakistan and Northwest India.
- Major cities of the Indus River civilization were Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, each ruled by priest-kings, with citadels atop the city, lasting around 800 years.
- The Aryans from the north moved to India in 1500 BC, setting up 16 separate kingdoms, and eventually establishing the Mauryan Empire in 300 BC under King Ashoka.
Hinduism
- Hinduism is the main religion in Asia, one of the world's oldest surviving religions, originating from the indigenous Dravidians and Aryan invaders.
- Chief Gods: Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva.
- Belief in Reincarnation, where the soul comes back to life in a different body.
- Caste System: Priests, warriors and nobles, farmers and traders, laborers and servants, untouchables.
Buddhism
- Emerged as a response to the caste system, with Gautama Siddhartha (563-483 BC) renouncing his princely life to search for wisdom.
- After six years of wandering, he found enlightenment through meditation, overcoming human weaknesses including greed and anger.
- Salvation or Nirvana is achieved by releasing attachment to desire and the self.
Architectural Styles
- Buddhist Architecture: Stambha (columns with inscriptions), Stupa (mounds containing sacred relics), Chaitya (assembly halls), Vihara (monasteries).
- Jain Architecture: Temples patterned from Buddhist temples.
- Hindu/Brahman Architecture: Combination of verdict cult, Buddhism, and Brahmanism.
Specific Architectural Examples
- The Site of Sanchi: A group of Buddhist monuments, including monolithic pillars, palaces, temples, and monasteries.
- The Great Stupa, Sanchi: The oldest existing Stupa in India.
- Nalanda: A renowned Buddhist Monastic University in ancient Magadha (Bihar), India.
- Pallava and Dravidian styles: Indian Architecture in the Pallava period.
- Kiva: A large underground or partly underground chamber used for religious ceremonies or councils.
Hindu Temple
- "Mandir" in India: A symbolic house, seat of the body of divinity for Hindus.
- A structure designed to bring human beings and gods together using symbolism to express the ideas and beliefs of Hinduism.
- Examples: Rath (monolithic freestanding Hindu temple), Parasurameswara Temple, Jagannath Temple, Lingaraja Temple, Chaturbhuj Temple, Vimana (a sanctuary of a Hindu temple).
Shiva vs Vishnu Temples
- Shaivite Temples: For Shiva, facing east.
- Vaishnavite Temples: For Vishnu, facing west.
- Examples: Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Shore Temple, Tamil Nadu.
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Description
Explore the architectural character and features of Indian architecture on the Indian subcontinent, characterized by Hindu and Buddhist monuments. This style includes structures that share the same site, have rhythmic stratified motifs, and profuse carved ornamentation, often combining religious and sensuous elements.
