Tamil Temples Architecture:
India is well-known for its culture and heritage.The temples and worshiping plays a major role in it. Especially,the state Tamilnadu is famous for its temples and its heritage.Tamilnadu is known as 'Land of Temples'.The genius craftsmanship and sculptures and the way of construction plays a good role in the temples architecture.The temple architecture emerged 1000 years ago.The temple architecture belongs mainly to Dravidian architecture. Architectural history of Tamilnadu started in the beginning of 7th century AD. Earliest extant monuments in Tamil are Rock-Cut caves of Pallavas followed by Cholas,Pandyas,Muttaraiyars and Atiyas. The temples found in TamilNadu displays excellent carving and sculptures which shows the best intelligence and creativity with excellent craftsmanship of ancient India. The tall Gopurams(main entrance) of every temple is a major structure of Dravidian architecture style. Rulers like Pallavas,Chola,Pandyas,Vijayanagar rulers and Nayakas have made immense contributions to temple art in TamilNadu. Tamils are the greatest of Temple builders.Pallavas are the beginners in temple architecture. South Indian style of temple architecture is very significant from that of rest of India.
Rock-Cut Architecture (Pallavas):
Rock-cut architecture emerged during Pallava period who ruled over 600-900 AD. The greatest construction of Single rock temples in Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram temples are during Pallavas. They are the pioneers of South Indian architecture.Mahabalipuram is the greatest examples of Pallava period. The excavated pillared halls,monolithic shrines known as Rathas are the best examples of their architecture. The Shore temple by Narasimhavarman II near Mahabalipuram is UNESCO's world heritage site. Many cave temples are definitely attributable to Mahendravarman on authority of his inscriptions in them. Kailasanathar temple at Kanchipuram ( The city of thousand temples) and Mammalapuram are the best examples of structural temples. The temple complex consists of sanctum,preceded by mandapa and incipient entrance gateway. Most temples were dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Chola's Architecture:
Cholas were the rulers next to Pallavas who contributed immense architectural structure.They ruled from 848-1280 AD includes Rajaraja Chola I and Rajendra Cholan who built the famous Brahadeeshwara temple of Tanjore and Gangaikonda Cholapuram. The other temples are Kampahareswarar temple at Thirubuvanam and Airavetesvara temple of Darasuram near Kumbakonam are the best examples of Cholas. They are titled as 'Great Living Chola Temples' among UNESCO world heritage sites. The Cholas were the rulers who brought significant changes in structural style with multiple layers towering 'Gopurams','Parivars' and separate shrine for Goddess. They used fine degree of perfection in temple architecture. The Chola temples were modest in size with huge vimana and gopuram dominating landscape.
Vijayanagar Rulers Architecture:
Vijayanagar rulers added valuable additions to existing temples built many structures in a new style. Gopurams became taller,richer in sculptures and spacious mandapas even larger. Vijayanagar rulers major feature are carved pillars,rearing simhas(lions),yalis(lions with elephant trunks). Finest examples of this period are Srirangam temples,Kanchipuram,Chidambaram and Tiruvannamalai.
Nayak Rulers Architecture:
Dravidian style of architecture assumed its final form under Nayaks. Style developed by these rulers is described as 'Madura style' which is most evident in Meenakshi Amman Temple at Madurai. They belong to the 17th century which is a double temple having two separate sanctum,one dedicated to Meenakshi Amman and one to Sunderashwarar(Lord Shiva). It has the tallest gopuram in the world and also the pillars which exceeds thousands in number. The tallest temple towers at Madurai,Srivilliputhur,Rameswaram and Tirunelveli are the best in Nayak rulers. They were the one who improved the elegance of Madurai.
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