Description
Dravidian Architecture – Subdivisions of Dravida Style
- Kuta or Caturasra: square-shaped
- Shala or Ayatasra: rectangular-shaped
- Gaja-prishta or vrittayata or elephant-backed: elliptical
- Vritta: circular
- Ashtasra: octagonal
Architecture in the Deccan
- A hybridized style mixing elements from both Nagara and Dravida styles emerged as a distinct style during the middle of the 7th century in regions like Karnataka.
- This is referred to as Vesara in some ancient texts.
- Some of the temples are either complete nagara or Dravida. Not all temples in the Deccan are in vesara style.
Example:
Kailashnath Temple, Ellora is a completely Dravidian style of architecture. Vijayanagara Architecture (1350-1565)
- By the 16th century, almost all of southern India was part of the Vijayanagara empire. The characteristic feature of this period is the development of the temple complex: concentric series of rectangular enclosure walls with the gopuras (towered gateways) in the middle of each side.
- Of the numerous Vijayanagara complexes in southern India, the most magnificent are those at Kanchipuram, Thiruvannamalai, and Vellore. During this time, Kerala on the western coast developed a distinct style of architecture.
- Because of the heavy rainfall, the temples here were roofed with sloping tiers of metal or Terra cotta tiles.
- The Vadakkunatha temple at Trichur dates from the 12th century. Later temples are found at Chengannur, Kaviyum and Vaikom.
- City of Vijayanagara (City of victory) founded in 1336.
- Visited by international travelers like Niccolo di Conti, Domingo Paes, Duarte Barbosa, Abd, al-Razzaq, etc. who have given vivid accounts of the place.
- Synthesizes the Dravida style with Islamic styles of the neighboring sultanates.
- The sculpture tries to recreate the Chola tradition but the foreign influence is also seen.
Pallava and Pandya Sculpture from South India (600-900)
Nearly all the sculpture created in southern India during the 7th, 8th, and 9th centuries, is associated with the Pallavas or the Pandyas – the two most important Hindu dynasties of the time. The Pallava dynasty reportedly dates back to the 2nd century CE, although it wasn’t until the eclipse of the Satavahana dynasty in the 3rd century that the family and its history entered the spotlight, and not until the 7th century that they achieved real power. Pallava rule was centered on the eastern coastline and included the city of Mamallapuram, in the Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu, which was famous for being the site of the carved-stone cliff created by Pallava kings in the 7th century. The Pallava era is significant for marking the transition from rock-cut architecture to stone temples. Its best-known achievements include the Kailasanatha temple in Kanchipuram (685-705) noted for its huge pillars ornamented with multi-directional carvings of lions and the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram (7th century), overlooking the Bay of Bengal, was decorated with copious stone statues and reliefs of Vishnu, Shiva, Krishna, and other Hindu deities.