Indian Architecture Presentation PDF

INDIAN ARCHITECTURE "Great triangular Peninsula of Southern Asia" Himalayan Mountains – Mountain plains in Asia separating the plains of the Indian Subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. Ganges River – The embodiment of Goddess Ganga, the daughter of the mountain god....

INDIAN ARCHITECTURE "Great triangular Peninsula of Southern Asia" Himalayan Mountains – Mountain plains in Asia separating the plains of the Indian Subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. Ganges River – The embodiment of Goddess Ganga, the daughter of the mountain god. Indus River – Supported agriculture for millennia. Supporting Rivers – Nerbudda River, Kistna River, Jumna River. Cities – Delhi, "The Rome of India," capital of Mogul emperors. Indus Region – Home of the longest river. GEOLOGICAL FACTORS Stone o Rajputana (Pink Marble) o Granite of Deccan (Used for deities) o Volcanic Potstone of Hullabid ARCHITECTURE Chaityas – Carved in horizontal strata of living rock. o Example: Karla Caves ("Chaitya Hall") CLIMATIC FACTORS Northern – High temperature Southern – Hot & dry RELIGION Basis of their social structure, bounded by behavior and conduct of public affairs. VEDISM Oldest religion / First religion – Chief source of information. Veda – Sanskrit word "Vid" meaning "to know." Sacred spiritual knowledge. Four Vedas o Rig Veda – Book of Mantras o Sama Veda – Book of Chants o Yajur Veda – Book of Rituals o Atharva Veda – Book of Spells  Central Concepts o Indra – Thunder and war o Agni – Fire and sacrifices o Varuna – Cosmic order o Surya – Sun BUDDHISM Great bond of union of Indian Races Adopted Hinduism & Doctrine of Karma but rejected the caste system and its gods – "All creatures are equal." Siddhartha Gautama o Born as a prince of Sakya Clan o Father: Suddhodana, Mother: Queen Maya o Age 29 – Began as a monk, practiced asceticism for 6 years o Meditated under a Bodhi tree (facing East) o Age 35 – Became the Supreme Enlightened One JAINISM Established – 6th BCE Core Beliefs o Ahimsa – Non-violence o Satya – Self-discipline o Asteya – Non-stealing o Brahmacharya – Celibacy o Aparigraha – Non-possessiveness Vhardamana – The Victorious One o Royal Kshatriya Family o Age 30 – Renounced royal position o Practiced asceticism for 12 years before attaining Kevala Jnana (Supreme Knowledge). HINDUISM Core Belief – Escaping material life and extinguishing desire (Reincarnation). Brahma – Chief god with four heads, representing: o Brahma (The Creator) o Vishnu (The Preserver) o Shiva (The Destroyer)  Caste System of Hinduism o Brahmins – Priests & teachers o Kshatriyas – Warriors & rulers o Vaishyas – Merchants, farmers & traders o Shudras – Laborers o Dalits – Street sweepers & latrine cleaners BUDDHIST SYMBOLISM Bodhi Tree – Most important of the 4 elements, symbolizes Enlightenment (Bhodicitta – Awakened One). Lotus – Spiritual growth, purity, and enlightenment. o Colors of the Lotus in Buddhism ▪ White – Purity of mind and soul ▪ Pink – Supreme/Buddha ▪ Blue – Knowledge & Wisdom ▪ Red – Love & Compassion Elephant – Mental strength, invokes luminosity, and a clear state of mind. o Parts of the Elephant ▪ Belly – Dhamma ▪ Tusk – Equanimity ▪ Head – Careful consideration ▪ Tail – Solitude Dharma Wheel – The first sermon, symbolizes Buddha’s teachings. Eightfold Path in Buddhism o Right understanding, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. BUDDHIST ARCHITECTURE Rock-cut architecture – Designed for congenial, monumental, and sophisticated structures. Stambhas/Laths – Monumental pillars standing without structural function. o Carved with inscriptions and crowned with emblems (elephant, lion). o Example: Ashoka Pillar. Kinds of Stambhas o Dhvaja Stambha – Aligned with a deity o Kirti Stambha – Glorious tower, commemorates heroic deeds o Yajna Stambha – Victory tower, celebrates war victories  Stupas – Dome-shaped mounds holding holy relics. o Parts of Stupas ▪ Chattra – Topmost part ▪ Harmika – Decorative balcony ▪ Anda – Brick structure ▪ Torana – Gateway ▪ Medhi – Pedestrian path o Example: The Great Stupa (Mahastupa). Rock-cut Temples – Chaitya (place of worship, assembly halls). o Example: Chaitya at Bhaja. JAINA ARCHITECTURE Simplicity & intricacy, symmetry & proportionality Patronage – Cholas, Pallavas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas. Stupas – Used for devotional purposes (Samavasarana – Refuge to all). Example: Mathura Jain Stupa - (Occupied by Kankali). Ayagapatas (devotional reliefs that shows the probable design of Jain stupa). Gwalior Jain Stupas - rock-cut sculptures that are unique in Northern India (Madhya Pradesh) Layana – Cave temples, monastic retreats for meditation and worship and ascetic principles, spiritual structures, detachment for materialism after featuring animal orientation. Ellora Caves (UNESCO World Heritage). Caves of Ellora o Vishwakarma Cave (Cave 10) – Also known as the Carpenter's Cave. o Tinthal (Cave 12) – The storeyed monastery. o Kailasa Temple – Dedicated to Shiva. o Rameshwar Cave – Features carvings of Shiva and Ganga. o Dashavatara Cave – Depicts the Ten Avatars of Vishnu. o Indra Sabha (Cave 32) – Tirthankara shrine of Jainism. o Chhota Kailasa (Cave 30) – Resembles the large Kailasa but is dedicated to Jain Tirthankara. Jain Architecture o Jinalaya – Jain temple that symbolizes nonviolence. o Dilwara Temple – Consists of two temple complexes. o Ranakpur Temple – One of the five major pilgrimage sites, designed by Deepak. o Shravanabelagola – A center of Jainism, famous for the Colossal Statue of Gometeshwara.  o Khajuraho Group of Monuments – Known for their Nagara-style architectural symbolism and erotic sculptures. HINDU / BRAHMA ARCHITECTURE A representation of existing religious perception in tangible form Vastu Shastra – Sacred geometry aligning sculptures with cosmic energies. Center – Station of Brahma. Sons of Aditi – Surrounding Brahma. Akasha – Represents empty squares. Temples Face East – Alignment with the Sun as the Cosmic Being Sacred geometric grid system:  Sakala (1) – The basic single-unit grid.  Pechaka (2) – A two-unit division.  Pitha (9) – A nine-square layout, often used in temple planning.  Mahapitha (16) – A sixteen-square grid, representing a more complex layout.  Upapitha (25) – A twenty-five-square arrangement, increasing structural complexity.  Ugrapitha – A sacred grid, often associated with powerful deities.  Sthandala – A foundation layout for temple construction.  Mandaka – A geometric pattern used in temple mandalas.  Paramasayika – A highly sacred and advanced grid system used in major temple designs. o Mandala – Meeting of Heaven & Earth (Circle – Heaven, Square – Center & 4 Directions). Grama Vinyasa – Town planning, temple at the center of the village. Center should be 1/9 of the proposed area. Follows spiritual organization of the village. Mandir – Place of worship with three styles o Dravidian – South Indian origin, intricate carvings. ▪ Example:  Meenakshi Amma Temple – Known for its Gopura (towered gateway).  Aayiram Kaal Mandapam – Also called the Thousand Pillar Hall.  Pottramarai Kulam – Translates to Golden Lotus Pond, a sacred temple tank.  Brihadeeswara Temple – A significant temple known for its grand architecture. o Nagara – Characterized by a Shikhara (mountain peak). ▪ Example: Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Lingaraj Temple. o Vesara – Combination of bulbous and pyramidal forms. ▪ Example: Choleswara Temple. ELEMENTS OF HINDU TEMPLE  Vimana – Sanctuary as a cult structure, usually shaped as a pyramid, consisting of several stories (tala).  Sikhara – Summit or mountain peak of the temple.  Garbhagriha – The lower part of the temple, also known as the sanctum.  Pradakshina Patha – Ambulatory or passageway for circumambulation.  Mandapa – Pillared Hall in front of the Garbhagriha.  Antarala – Vestibule or intermediate chamber connecting the sanctum and mandapa.  Ardhamandapa – Front porch or main entrance of the temple.  Gopuram – Towered gateways leading to the temple complex.  Amalaka – Flattened, fluted melon-shaped structure, often seen as the crown or hat of a temple tower.