Ancient and Early Medieval Art and Architecture PDF

Art and Architecture Part-I- Ancient and Early Medieval Indus Valley Civilization  Urbanization Town planning Grid pattern Types of structures Dwelling houses Public buildings Public baths Materials used: Burnt Bricks- Urban Settlements Sun-dried Bricks- R...

Art and Architecture Part-I- Ancient and Early Medieval Indus Valley Civilization  Urbanization Town planning Grid pattern Types of structures Dwelling houses Public buildings Public baths Materials used: Burnt Bricks- Urban Settlements Sun-dried Bricks- Rural Settlements Stone and Copper Dockyard and Water Resources Mauryan and Post Mauryan Art and Architecture  Wood Based Structures Secular structures Iron Pillars Mauryan Architecture Stupa- Chaitya and Viharas Religious monuments Cave  Pillars Erection of pillars was common in the Achaemenid Empire. Mauryan pillars are different from the Achaemenid pillars. The Achaemenid pillars were constructed in pieces, the Mauryan pillars were rock-cut- Monolithic. Chunar sandstone Objective: To disseminate the Buddhist ideology and court orders in the entire Mauryan empire. Language: Mainland India - Brahmi script (Pali and Prakrit language) North West - Kharosthi or Greek script (Greek or Aramaic language). Four Components: Shaft: A long shaft formed the base and was made up of a single piece of stone or monolith. Lower capital (Bell): On top of shaft lay the abacus, which was either lotus-shaped or bell-shaped Middle Capital (Abacus): Above the bell, there was a circular or rectangular base known as the abacus Capital Figure: All the capital figures (usually animals like a bull, lion, elephant, etc) are vigorous and carved standing on a square or circular abacus. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillars_of_Ashoka  Stone pillars with inscriptions engraved on them can be seen all over the Mauryan Empire. The top portion of the pillar was carved with capital figures like the bull, the lion, the elephant, etc. These capital figures are carved standing on a square or circular abacus. The abacuses are on the base which could be a stylised inverted lotus. Example of pillars with capital figures: Sarnath, Basarah-Bakhira, Rampurva, Sankisa and Lauriya-Nandangarh. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillars_of_Ashoka  Stupas Burial mound - Relics and Ashes of the dead. Stupas were constructed over the relics of the Buddha at Rajagraha, Vaishali, Kapilavastu, Allakappa, Ramagrama, Vethadipa, Pava, Kushinagar and Pippalvina, which shows the popularity of Buddhism. The textual tradition also mentions construction of such kind of stupas at Avanti and Gandhara which are outside the Gangetic valley.  Stupas consist of a cylindrical drum with a circular Anda and a Harmika and a Chhatra on the top. Anda: Hemispherical mound symbolic of the mound of dirt used to cover Buddha’s remains (in many stupas actual relics were used). Harmika: Square railing on top of the mound. Chhatra: Central pillar supporting a triple umbrella form. Medhi Pradakshina Patha Thorana  Important Stupas Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh Large burnt bricks and mud mortar Ashoka 2nd century BCE - Shungas reconstructed Dhamek Stupa (Sarnath) Initially built by Ashoka - later rebuilt in the Gupta period Relics of Buddha Dharmachakrapravrtana Stupa of solid cylinder of bricks and stone Bharhut Stupa Ashoka in 3rd century BCE Shunga period - gateway and railings Largely destroyed Remains in Kolkata museum - railings and entrance gateways Central stupa surrounded by a stone railing and four Torana gates Stupa railings of the stupa carved - images of the yakshas and yakshinis Pillars at Bharhut - Jataka stories Amaravati Stupa Mahachaitya Built in phases 3rd century BCE - 250 CE Initially encased in bricks and later on covered by carved limestone slabs. Dome, railings and gateways - profusely ornamented with beautiful relief carvings.  Cave Architecture Mauryans were the pioneers of rock-cut cave architecture (300 - 200 BCE) Donative caves - residence of Ajivika sect saints by Ashoka and his grandson Dashratha in the Barabar and Nagarjuni hills (Jehanabad district, Bihar) Sudama Cave Karan Chaupar Visva Zopri Lomas Rishi Cave Features Polished roof and walls Absence of ornamentation (interior and exterior) Exception - Lomas Rishi cave Chaityas A Buddhist shrine or prayer hall with a stupa at one end for congregational worship by the monks Chaityas were commonly part of a monastic complex, the vihara. Most beautiful Chaitya caves - Ajanta, Ellora, Bhaja, Karle, Bagh, Nasik and Kanheri etc Vihara Dwelling place for Buddhist monks (Vasavavas) Carved out of rocks or built of bricks A Chaitya hall attached to it with a stupa - the chief object of worship  Ajanta Buddhist Caves - 29 caves Both Chaitya and Vihara Out of 29 caves, 25 were used as Viharas (monasteries) and remaining 4 as Chaitya (prayer halls) Cave Nos. 10, 9, 12 and 13 belong to the early phase around third century CE, Caves Nos. 11, 15 and 6 upper and lower, and Cave No. 7 belong to the phase earlier than late fifth century CE. Patronized initially by Satavahanas and later by Vakatakas Out of 29 caves, 24 are associated with Mahayana form of Buddhism and remaining 4 are associated with Hinayana form of Buddhism Cave No. 26 is very big and the entire interior hall is carved with a variety of Buddha images like the Mahaparinibbana  Ellora This cave site is located in Aurangabad District. It has 32 Buddhist, Brahmanical and Jain caves. It has monasteries associated with the three religions dating from the fifth century CE onwards to the eleventh century CE. It has confluence of many styles at one place. The caves of Ellora and Aurangabad show the ongoing differences between the two religions— Buddhism and Brahmanical. Cave No. 12 has images of Tara, Avalokiteshwara, Manushi Buddhas and the images of Vairochana, Akshobhya, Ratnasambhava, Amitabha, Amoghsiddhi, Vajrasatva and Vajraraja.  Elephanta Caves Gharapuri, Konkan Island Shaivite Caves Rashtrakutas in 8th century CE Important sculptural art – Maheshmurti, Kalyana Sundara Murti, Ravana – Kailasha, Andhakari Murti and Nataraja Shiva Udaygiri - Khandagiri caves, Orissa Patronised by King Kharvela - 35 caves Cave complex - both artificial and natural caves Jaina Viharas Ranigumpha caves, Hathigumpha caves in Udaygiri hills Plain interior walls Some caves - pillared verandah, ornamented façade Ranigumpha caves - 2 storey Karle Caves (Karli) Both Chaitya and Vihara Most famous cave ‘Cave 8’ - Chaitya - Barrel shaped, West India Caves Pitalkhora caves (Western Ghats) - 14 rock caves - Both Chaitya (Hinayana) and Viharas Junar Caves (Pune) - Largest cave complex in India Both Chaitya and Vihara Most famous Lenyadri cave complex - Buddhist caves + Hindu cave temple Nasik Caves “Pandav Leni”- 22 Caves Only Viharas Hinayana Caves  Badami Cave Temples Badami as capital of Chalukyas 4 cave temples - Hinduism (03 caves) + Jainism (01 cave) Earliest known example of temples in the Deccan region Cave 01 – Nataraja sculpture Cave 02 – Lord Vishnu Cave temple, the largest relief inside this cave is of Lord Vishnu as Trivikrama Cave 03 – Largest cave in the complex; reliefs - Trivikrama, Anantasayana, Vasudeva, Varaha, Harihara and Narasimha Cave 04 – Jaina cave; sculptures of Bahubali, Parsavnatha and Mahavira. Temple Architecture The age of the Guptas is often described as a classical age in the sphere of cultural developments. The period c. 300–600 CE represents an important stage in the history of Indian temple architecture. The Early Stone temples Vishnu temple at Tigawa, MP Shiva temples at Bhumara and Khoh, MP Parvati temple at Nachna-Kuthara, MP Buddhist shrines at Sanchi. Early Brick Temples Bhitargaon (Kanpur district, UP), Paharpur (Rajshahi district, Bangladesh), and Sirpur (Raipur district, Chhattisgarh). Components of a Temple The basic form of Hindu Temple comprises the following: Sanctum Sanctorum- Also known as Garbhagriha, it is a small room which houses the principle diety of the temple. Mandapa- It is the entrance to the temple. It may be a portico or a hall and is designed to house a large number of worshippers. Shikhara- It is a mountain like structure which varies from pyramidal to curvilinear. Vahana- It is the mount or vehicle of the principle diety and was placed before the sanctum sanctorum.  Stages of Development Stage I Stage II Stage III Temple had flat roof Features of earlier Emergence of shikaras in phase retained. place of flat roofs. Temples were square in Panchayatan style of shape Platforms were high temple making was Portico was developed Instances of two storied introduced-Four subsidiary on shallow pillars temples were also shrines along with the Entire structure was found. temple of main diety build was low platforms E.g.Parvati temple at E.g.Dashavatar temple at Nachna Kuthara in Deogarh,Durge temple at E.g. Temple 17 at Madhya Pradesh Aihole(Karnataka) Sanchi  Stage IV Stage V Temples were Introduction of similar to the circular temples previous one, but with shallow the main shrine rectangular became more projections rectangular. E.g. Maniyar Math E.g. Ter temple at at Rajgir Sholapur First stage Second stage Third stage Fourth stage Fifth stage  Nagara Style The style of temple architecture that became popular in northern India is known as nagara. In North India it is common for an entire temple to be built on a stone platform with steps leading up to it. Further, it does not usually have elaborate boundary walls or gateways. While the earliest temples had just one tower, or shikhara, later temples had several. The garbhagriha is always located directly under the tallest tower.  Outside of Garbha Griha, images of river Goddess, Ganga and Yamuna was placed. Presence of Assembly halls and Mandapas Panchayatan Style- Main Sanctum with subsidiary shrines No Water tanks or reservoir There are many subdivisions of nagara temples depending on the shape of the shikhara. Latina Shikhara which is square at the base and whose walls curve or slope inward to a point on top is called the 'latina' or the rekha-prasada type of shikara. Phamsana Phamsana buildings tend to be broader and shorter than latina ones. Their roofs are composed of several slabs that gently rise to a single point over the centre of the building, unlike the latina ones which look like sharply rising tall towers. Phamsana roofs do not curve inward, instead they slope upwards on a straight incline. Vallabhi The third main sub-type of the nagara building is what is generally called the Valabhi type. These are rectangular buildings with a roof that rises into a vaulted chamber. The form of the temple is influenced by ancient building forms that were already in existence before the fifth century CE. Nagara Odisha Khajuraho Solanki School School School  The Exterior Shikharas in There was no Examples: Sun walls were Odisha schools use of pillars. Temple at were known as lavishly Mandaps were The ground Temples were Konark, Iron girders Rekhadeuls decorated known as plan of the surrounded by Jagannath were used They were with intricate Jagmohanas in main temple a boundary Temple at Puri, instead to Vertical roofs carvings but this region was square wall Lingaraj support the which suddenly interior walls Temple at roof. curved inwards were plain. Bhubaneswar sharply. Odisha School Prevalent in Themes of Temples Central Part Both the Temples were built of India, the interior Example- sculptures had three Temples on higher Panchayat Chandela and Kandariya were erotic Temples chambers- were platform an style of Rulers exterior Mahadevi and drew were made Grabhagri generally and temple developed walls were Temple, inspiration of ha, North and belong to making a distinct lavishly Lakshman school. from Sandstone Mandapa East Hindu as was decorated temple at Features Vatsyayan and Ardha- Facing. well as followed. with Khajuraho were as a’s mandapa Jaina carvings follows Kamasutra religion. Khajuraho school  Presence of Prevalent in the Step Tanks Most of the North-western Garbhagrih called Surya temples are parts of India Kunds was a a was Use of east facing including The Decorated unique feature connected diverse and Gujarat and of this school. Temple arched designed Example: Rajasthan. It with The steps of materials- such that Modhera was developed walls were mandapa gateways tank were full Sandstone, under the of small every year, Sun Temple, devoid of both called Black basal patronage of temples.There during the Gujarat built externally and soft Solanki rulers. carvings Toranas are wooden equinoxs, the by Bhima I The following and marble. carvings suns rays fall were the internally present in these features: temples. directly into the shrine. Solanki school  Pallava Style Stage I Their early buildings were rockcut, while the later ones were structural. The early buildings are generally attributed to the reign of Mahendravarman I, a contemporary of the Chalukyan king, Pulakesin II of Karnataka. Mahendravarman- Rock Cut Temples Temples were known as mandapas, unlike the Nagara style in which mandap meant only the assembly hall. Stage II Narasimhavarman I, also known as Mamalla, who acceded the Pallava throne around 640 CE, is celebrated for the expansion of the empire, and inaugurating most of the building works at Mahabalipuram which is known after him as Mamallapuram. Rock cut temples decorated by intricate sculptures Mandapas divided into separate rathas Pandav Ratha - Dharmaraja Ratha, Arjun Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Nakul - Sahdev Ratha and Draupadi Ratha. Stage III: Rajasimha group (Free standing temples) Ex - Shore temple at Mahabalipuram, Kailashnath temple at Kanchipuram Nandivarman group (Declining structures) Smaller in size; features almost similar to the Dravidian style Ex - Mukteshwar temple, Kanchipuram Matangeshwar temple Parsurameshwar temple, Guddimallam  Dravida Style 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. The North Indian idea of multiple shikharas rising together as a cluster was not popular in South India. At some of the most sacred temples in South India, the main temple in which the garbhagriha is situated has, in fact, one of the smallest towers. This is because it is usually the oldest part of the temple.  Whereas at the entrance to the North Indian temple’s garbhagriha, it would be usual to find images such as mithunas and the river goddesses, Ganga and Yamuna, in the south you will generally find sculptures of fierce dvarapalas or the door-keepers guarding the temple. 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.  Chola Style Climax of Dravida temple building Monumental Vimana Horizontal elaboration - Temple complex Images of Kings and Queens along with deities Temples to commemorate successful military conquests - Gangaikondacholapuram Temple Shaivite Temples  Vesara Style Many different styles of temple architecture influenced by both North and South Indian temples were used in regions like Karnataka. It combined features of both Nagara and Dravidian school and resulted in a hybridized style. Features are as follows Emphasis on Vimana and Mandapa Open passageway The pillars, doorways and ceilings were decorated with intricate carvings Three prominent Dynasties who made Vesara style of temples are- Chalukyas of Badami and Kalyani Rashtrakutas - Kailashnath Temple at Ellora Hoysala Dynasty(1050-1300AD)- Temples at Halebid, Belur etc Influence of Nagara style is in the curvilinear Shikhar and square base of the vesara temple. Influence of Dravida style is seen in intricate carving and sculptures, design of Vimana and steeped shikhar of Vesara Temple. Hoysala Art Multiple shrines built around central pillared hall. The shrines are in the shape of an intricately designed star. This was known as stellate plan. Soft soap stone was the main building material Emphasis was laid on decoration of the temple by sculptures. Both interiror and exterior are beautifully carved Temples were build on upraised platform known as Jagati. Wall and stairs had a Zigzag pattern Eg- Hoyasaleswara temple at Halebid, Vijayanarayan temple at Belur  Vijayanagara Style Combined the features of Chola, Hoysalas, Pandyas, Chalukyas architectural styles Influenced by the Indo- Islamic style of Bijapur Characteristic features - Highly ornamental walls with carvings and geometrical patterns Gopurams on all the sides Monolithic rock pillars Temple pillars had a mythical creature Yali engraved Larger enclosing walls Kalyana mandapa (dedicated to divine marriage)  Pala and Sena Schools In the Bengal region the architecture came to be known as Pala and sena type of Architecture. Pala They were primarily Buddhist rulers following the Mahayana but were very tolerant of both the religions. They built lot of Viharas, Chaityas and stupas. Universities of Nalanda, Jagaddala, Odantapuri and Vikramshila were developed under the Pala rulers. Somapura Mahavihara is a magnificent monastery in Bangladesh developed by them. Sena Rulers The Senas were Hindus and made temples of Hindu Gods and also sustained Buddhist architecture. Hence the architecture influenced both the religions. E.g. Dakeshwari temple in Bangladesh. Common Features of Bengal School Curve or slopping roof as in bamboo huts Burnt bricks of clay or terracotta bricks Tall and curving shikhara For sculptures-Stone and metal was used Highly lustrous finish Summary