This PPT is for educational purpose not for commercial and not even for API purpose. This is prepared for the students of art, architecture and archaeology.

1. Understanding Architecture:
Plan, Elevation, Section, Arches,
Vaults, Domes, Pillars & Capitals
Historical Account of Early Indian Architecture
M.A. Ist Semester
Sachin Kr. Tiwary

2. Architecture is the art and science of designing
buildings and other physical structures, material used.
A wider definition often includes the design of the
total built environment from the macro level of town
planning, architecture design, technique and
landscape architecture to the micro level of
construction details etc...
The art and technique of designing and building, as
distinguished from the skills associated with
construction.....
A Dictionary of Hindu Architecture
Vol. 1 by Acharya Prasanna Kumar
https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.31089/page/n21/mode/2up
Mānasāra-śilpaśāstra
https://architexturez.net/doc/az-cf-170630

3. • Stone masonry
• Brick masonry
• Clay material
Structural
Architecture
• Religious
• Secular
Types of
Architecture • Kailash Temple,
MH
• Masroor
Temple, HP
Rock-cut
Architecture

4. Sources:
Literature
Inscriptions
Art
Numismatics
Temple between hill symbols and
elephant coin of the Pandyas Sri Lanka
1st century CE.

5. Early Temple Architecture  Brihat Samhita (6th Cen. CE)- 28 varieties of temples
 Vishwakarma-Prakash- 28 varieties of temples
 Matsya Puran- 28 varieties of temples
 Bhavishya Puran- 28 varieties of temples
 Raibatak Inscription of Kanishka Shiva temple with trident
standard, Audumbara
State, Punjab, 1st century BCE.
Bharahut
Bodhgaya

6. Wood Clay
Metal Stone
Medium:
Mixture
Terracotta

7. Plan

11. Elevation

14. Tigawa Temple

15. Udayagiri Rock Cut Cave
Temples square plans

16. sanctum
Flat roof
stair
Pillars
Manda
p

17. Section

18. Biarat,
Rajasthan
Early Temple Architecture
Elevation -Section

19. Arches

21. Vaults

23. Domes

25. Pillars: Freestanding and Architectural Part
THE SHAFT
THE CROWNING
CAPITAL

27. CONTEXT OF MONOLITHIC PILLARS
INSITU CARVED
MONOLITHIC PILLARS
QUARRIED AND INSTALLED
OTHER PLACE
CARVED IN RELIEF ON THE
RAILINGS AND TORANA
ROCK-CUT CAVES, KARLE,
KAILASHNATH TEMPLE, ELORA
ALL THE
MAURYAN
SUNGA
GUPTA
AND
LATER GUPTA UP TO 12TH
CEN. A.D.
BODHGAYA
BHRAHUT
SANCHI
Coins:
Gupta Coin

28. Capitals
Bell/inverted
lotus
Abacus
Animal figure
THE CROWNING
CAPITAL
Kolhua,
Bihar
Rampurva,
Bihar

29. Single lion/ Quadruple Lions, Bull, Elephant
What does the crowning
animals signify?
• Harry Falk views that
• Lion – Victorious
philosophy of Buddha
• Elephant - Reflects the
legend of Budddha in the
form of white elephant
descending from the
Tusita heaven.
• Bull – ? (Vigorous
nature of Buddha as a
youth, before attaining
Buddhahood.)

30. An Elephant
A Lion
Galloping Horse
A Bull

31. Any Question ?