Indian Design Idenity

INDIAN DESIGN IDENITY
TO THE WORLD
A STUDY ON TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE IN EARLY MEDIEVAL
PERIOD AND ARCHITECTURE DURING BRITISH
COLONIALSIM
A research by:
Diptarup Sarbadhikari.
Bachelors of Multimedia.
St.Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata.
Guided by:
Fr. Dejus.J.R. (H.O.D. Multimedia and Animation)
1

CONTENTS
• OBJECTIVE OF THE RESEARCH
• PROBLEM DEFINITION
• SIGNIFICANT ARCHITECTURAL ADVANCES BEFORE THE MEDIEVAL ERA
• TEMPLE ARCHITECTURES DURING THE EARLY MEDIEVAL PERIOD IN
INDIA
• Metaphysical origins of Brahmanical Temples
• Construction plan of an Early Medieval Temple
• Western Indian style of architecture
• Central Indian style of architecture
• Kalinga style of architecture
• Architecture in Kashmir
2

CONTENTS
• SCULPTURES IN EARLY MEDIEVAL PERIOD
• OVERVIEW: ARCHITECTURE DURING THE BRITISH COLONIALISM
• CONCLUSION
3

OBJECTIVE OF THE RESEARCH
 An attempt to bridge the gap between the Indian identity of design (viz
architectural classification)
 To highlight how advanced Indian rulers were when it came to architectural
plannings.
 To highlight the importance of iconographic symbolism embedded in the arts
displayed as sculptures.
 To have a common research book that encompasses details about architecture in
India ranging from the Early Medieval Period up to the British Colonialism.
4

PROBLEM DEFINITION
 Lack of educational resources to refer to, pertaining to the various fields of design in
India.
 As Indians, our way of thinking tells us that for something to qualify the cultural
consciousness as Indian, it has to have a sense of history and a particular identity.
 As India was invaded by various rulers in different eras, the substantive
architectural advances cannot be termed as ‘Indian’ if we consider the current
geographical boundaries of the nation and the origins of the rulers/civilisations. Ex:
Mohenjo-Daro to the current day falls under Pakistan.
5

SIGNIFICANT ARCHITECTURAL ADVANCES
BEFORE THE MEDIEVAL ERA
 ‘The Great Bath’ constructed during the Indus Valley civilisation is a very intricate
design built around 2700 BC. The Great Bath a characteristic architecture of Mohenjo-
Daro is known as the "earliest water tank made for the public in the ancient world". It
measures 12 metres in length and 7 metres in breadth, and has a highest depth of 2.4
metres. Two flights of staircases, one from the norther side and one from the southern
side, served as the way of entry to the great bath. A creak was also found at one end of
the Great Bath which was for the purpose of draining the water in and out of it.
 ‘The Ashokan pillars’ which were a sequence of columns found throughout the Indian
subcontinent, constructed and engraved with the commandments by the Mauryan king
Ashoka during his regime in the 3rd century BC. These pillars had an average height
between 40 to 50 feet, and weighing close to 50 tons each.
6

 The 'Great Stupa' located at Sanchi is presumably one the oldest structure to have
survived the erosion of time. It was originally commissioned by the emperor -
Ashoka in the 3rd century BC. Its centre was a spheroid shaped brick structure
built over the antiques of Lord Buddha. It was crowned by the ‘chatta’, a parasol-like
structure symbolising high rank. Pillars made of finely polished sandstone was also
constructed. The old stupa was later enclosed when it was expanded. The base of the
pillar remains standing to the current date. The pillar features an Ashokan
inscription and inscriptions in the highly ornamental Sankha Lipi belonging from
the Gupta period.
7

8
Ashokan scriptures and Sankha Lipi scriptures on the Sanchi Stupa,
MP.

TEMPLE ARCHITECTURES DURING THE EARLY
MEDIEVAL PERIOD IN INDIA
 A number of ‘vastu’ texts or architectural texts were composed during this period.
From the available architectural texts; the style of architecture that dominated this
period can be divided into three major styles- Nagara, Dravida and Vesara.
 Nagara style of architecture or the North Indian style blossomed from the Himalayas to
Vindhyas.
 Dravida architecture refers to style of architecture that was used to build temples in
south of Krishna River or South India.
 Vesara is the term used to describe temples built in the Deccan Plateau region, it was a
fusion of both the styles of Nagara and Dravida architecture.
9

Metaphysical origins of Brahmanical Temples
 A Brahmanical temple is perceived as a galaxy in a miniature state, it brings to life the
idea of the cosmic man or purusha. The plan of each temple is based on ‘vastu purusha
mandala’.
 The essential structure of a mandala is a square; divided into further smaller squares.
Each square is kept reserved for a planet, a star and a deity. The smaller/minor deities
occupy the squares on the fringes of the plan and the squares in the centre are reserved
for the deity with paramount importance along with his/her forms (avatars). Mostly,
Brahmanical temples are constructed in a way, such that it faces the eastern direction as
that of the rising sun. But there are exceptions like the temples that are dedicated to
Lord Vishnu, these might sometimes face the western direction.
10

The idea of the cosmic man-Vastu Purusha Mandala
11

Construction plan of an Early Medieval Temple
 The essential components of an early medieval temple were- a ‘garbhagriha’ (sanctum
sanctorum ) which is the innermost sanctum of a Hindu Temple, a ‘pradakshinapatha’
(circumambulation path) running along the garbhagriha, a ‘mandapa’ (hallway) or a set of
mandapas and a porch. By the early medieval period, architects and patrons started adding
several mandapas between the porch and the garbhagriha; like the- ‘nittya mandapa’ (the hall
for dancing), ‘sabha mandapa’ (the hall for meetings), ‘maha-mandapa’ (the great hall).
 Like in its plan, even in its elevated height a temple was perceived as a man who’s standing,
the prime shrine consisted of a ‘pada’ or a wall, leading to a ‘shikhar’ (curvilinear
mountainous peak) which stood on top of the garbhagriha. The shikhara was composed of an
amalaka (a semi-circle placed horizontally as a crown on top of Nagara temples), a griva
(Neck of the Shikhar), kalasha (zenith of a shikhar), urushringa (subsidiary shikhars) and a
finial (ornamental carvings on the apex of the canopy). 12

CONSTRUCTION PLAN OF AN EARLY
MEDIEVAL TEMPLE
Construction Plan of an Early Medieval Temple (Ex: Khajuraho Temple, Madhya Pradesh)
13

MEDIEVAL TEMPLE
 Western Indian style of Architecture
 Lofty temples were created in Rajasthan and Gujarat in the early medieval period under
the aegis of various Rajput rulers that emerged in western India from the 17th CE. Both
the Jaina and the Brahmanical temples were constructed under the aegis of the Gurjara
Pratiharas, the Guhilas of Mewad and the Solankis (Chalukyas of Gujarat).
 The western Indian temples can be divided into three-sub categories.
 Maha-Maru.
 Maha-Gurjara.
 Maru-Gurjara.
14

CONSTRUCTION PLAN OF AN EARLY MEDIEVAL
TEMPLE
 Maha-Maru style of Architecture.
 It blossomed in the region of Marwar and is identified by their high and moulded terrace or ‘jagati’ and
many tapering conical and ornamental sculpture (examples can be seen at temples in Chittor, Sikar,
Mandor and Osian).
 Maha-Gurjara style of Architecture.
 It flourished in the state of Gujarat and was marked by pyramid shaped roof and very little sculptural
ornamentation (examples can be seen at Temples in Kutch, Shamalaji and Roda).
 Maru-Gurjara style of Architecture.
 Architecture that evolved by the 11th-12th century CE and combined the architectural styles of both Maha-
Maru and Maha-Gurjara. The ‘rang mandapa’ of the Luna Vashi temple, marks the zenith of the Maru-
Gurjara style of architecture.
15

MEDIEVAL TEMPLE
16
Maru-Gurjara Style: Luna Vashi Temple in Mount Abu,
Rajasthan.

TEMPLE
 Central Indian style of Architecture.
• Constructed mainly under the patronisation of the Chandella dynasty between the 10th-
12th century, the temples of Khajuraho symbolizes the perfect example of Nagara style of
architecture.
• The Chandella temples stood on large terrace like surfaces and the architecture
developed the most remarkable style of Nagara shikhars composed of several smaller
shikhars.
• The 11th century Kandariya Mahadev temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva, that
stands on a high terrace and consists of a covered area projecting in front of the entrance,
a mandapa, a maha-mandapa, a grabhagriha and a pradakshinapath. The shikhar of the
temple symbolizes mount Kailash, home of Lord Shiva and consists of 84 smaller
shikhars.
17

TEMPLE
The Kandariya Mahadev Temple, Khajuraho. 18

TEMPLE
Kalinga style of architecture
• The Kalinga School of architecture developed between the 13th-17th century in Orissa. The
early temples of Kalinga style of architecture had simple curvilinear tower over a square
garbhagriha and a mandapa known as the ‘jagamohan’, one with a nearly flat roof, one of the
best example of early Kalinga style of architecture is the 17th century Parashuram temple in
Bhubanshwar (Orissa). Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple consists of a jagmohan (mandapa)
and a garbhagriha, on top which is the curvilinear shikhar (know as rekha deul), with an
amlaka on top.
• The Mukteshvara temple located in Bhubaneshwar, constructed in the 10th century under
aegis of the Somavamshi dynasty marks the transition between early and late Orissan style of
architecture and the beginning of mature phase of temple architecture in Orissa. The temple
faces the western direction and is fenced within a short wall. The entrance is through a
beautifully carved free standing torana (arched gateway). The temple plan consists of a
jagmohan with a phamsana roof and a garbhagriha with a rekha deul. The best example of
the later Kalinga style of architecture is the 11th century Lingaraja temple located in
Bhubaneshwar and the 13th century Sun temple at Konark.
19

MEDIEVAL TEMPLE
Parashuram Temple,Odisha. Sun Temple/ Konark Temple-Odisha.
20

MEDIEVAL TEMPLE
 Architecture in Kashmir.
 Brahmanical temples established in Kashmir during the early medieval period were
combination of Buddhist architecture and Nagara style of architecture. The best example
of architecture from Kashmir is the 8th century Martand Sun Temple, close to Anantnag,
Jammu and Kashmir. Constructed under the aegis of the Karkota dynasty, today the
temple lies in ruins. The temple stands on a high and heavy base and is surrounded by
series of rectangular columns consisting of beautiful Greco-Roman inspired columns.
21

MEDIEVAL TEMPLE
Martand Sun Temple, Anantnag, Jammu &
Kashmir. 22

SCULPTURES IN EARLY MEDIEVAL PERIOD
 The sculpture in the early medieval period, similar to that of the architecture in
this period, varied in style from region to region. The sculpture was essentially part
of the temple architecture, the outer area of the temple walls were decorated with
sculpture both, sacred and secular subjects appeared on walls.
• The Nagara type of architecture allowed more projections on the exterior walls of the
temples and hence more area was available for sculptural decoration.
• In Dravida style of temples, niches were created on the exterior walls where sculptures
were installed.
23

• Sculptures were largely carved in metal and stone, but few pieces in wood and ivory
also survived. One of the most prominent type of sculpture that developed between
the 8th and the 13th centuries was under the patronisation of the Sena and Pala
rulers in eastern India (Bengal and Bihar). Pala Dynsaty were patrons of Buddhism.
Sculpture of Buddha on a stone
24

• There is iconographic symbolism embedded in the arts displayed in Khajuraho
temples, built by the Chandela Dynasty. Core Hindu values are expressed in
multitude of ways. Even the Kama scenes (erotic sculptures), when seen in
combination of sculptures that precede and follow, depict the spiritual themes such
as moksha.
Erotic Clay Sculptures at Khajuraho Temples.
25

OVERVIEW: ARCHITECTURE DURING THE
BRITISH COLONIALISM
• History of British architecture in India, just like in almost all the spheres of native
everyday existence, had followed a specific norm of administration. They were of the
belief that if the Empire had to rule, it had to be seen to be ruling. And this special
norm was expressed, among other things, in the architectures constructed by the
British. What had begun in the early days as utilitarian architecture like forts and
military buildings, had germinated by the late 19th century into a full-fledged
search for solid form and meaning. Colonial architecture in India closely observed
the maturations in the metropolis, but also assayed inspiration from existing
architecture in India, for greater authenticity. This sometimes bore quite startling
results.
26

BRITISH COLONIALISM
• Edwin Lutyens was the chief architect who conceived the plan of the city of Delhi, on
the Raisina hill. At the top of the hill was the house of the viceroy, towards the right
was residential quarters for top officials, towards the left was the marketing and
utility centre. At the helm was the Rajpath where India gate is standing.
• The Rashtrapati Bhavan, serves as one of the finest examples where there are
influences of Indian design in British architecture. The dome has a unique Indo-
Euro fusion style of architecture. This marked the beginning of indo-euro design.
27

BRITISH COLONIALISM
• Some of the few examples of masterpiece architecture include: Public Works
Secretariat, High Courts, Victoria Terminus: headquarters of the Great Indian
Peninsular Railway, Bombay; General Post Office and Victoria Memorial in
Calcutta; St. John's College in Agra and the mid-18th century Chepauk Palace in
Madras.
Victoria Terminus in Mumbai
28

CONCLUSION
 It all began with the gentlest of steps, starting with the caves and thatched roofed
huts made with wood and leaves. Indian temple architecture then evolved over time,
despite variations in architecture from one region to another yet they arrived at a
common, and standard pattern of construction which involved huge decorated gates
that made way to the inner sanctum-sanctorum and massive walls surrounding the
sacred spaces of the other shrines.
 Indian architecture, stands today as an association of various methods and styles.
This association of architectural brilliance can neither be exemplified by method and
approaches nor by architects and buildings. It has emerged and developed over the
eras, simultaneously affected by numerous invaders who have approached and re-
designed the already existing form of architecture to their own style. But it is an
inevitable fact that some expressions in the form of architecture tend to gain the
limelight while some do not, against the colossal architectural marvels of the world.29

Indian Design Idenity

Recomendados

Recomendados

Mais conteúdo relacionado

Mais procurados

Mais procurados (20)

Semelhante a Indian Design Idenity

Semelhante a Indian Design Idenity (20)

Último

Último (20)

Indian Design Idenity