ACHARYA’S NRV SCHOOL
OF
ARCHITECTURE
SUBJECT CODE: 21ARC24
SUBJECT TITLE: HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE-II
SEMESTER: 2
SECTION: A
FACULTY NAME: AR. MANU M
ANRVSA
MODULE-2
ARYAN & DRAVIDIAN
TEMPLES
© Acharya's NRV School of Architecture
ANRVSA
SYLLABUS
MODULE: 2
5. Evolution of Hindu temple: Dravidian Experiments at Aihole (Durga temple and LadKhan temple),
Deogarh, Bhitargaon and Badami.
© Acharya's NRV School of Architecture
ANRVSA
AIHOLE GROUP OF TEMPLES (450 AD to 650 AD)
Aihole was the first Chalukyan capital, but the site was developed over a period of more than 600 years from the
sixth century AD and includes late Chalukyan temples, some dedicated to Jain divinities.
• Majority of Temples at Aihole are Brahmanical, few are
Jain.
• All appear to have been erected in the period between 450
AD and 650 AD.
• Aihole group of temples consist of some seventy buildings,
about thirty of which are contained inside a walled and
Ladh Khan Temple, Aihole bastioned enclosure, while the other are disposed within
vicinity. It is in fact a town of temples.
• Temples at Aihole have flat or slightly sloping roofs but in
some instances are surmounted by a small upper storey or
tower (shikhara), which appears to have been added later.
• Aihole is significant in view of its two main temples, the
Ladh khan Temple and Durga Temple. They illustrate two
distinct variants in the development of dressed stone Hindu
Architecture.
Durga Temple, Aihole
ANRVSA
L A D H K H A N T E M P L E A I H O L E ( 5 th C )
• It is considered to be the oldest chalukya shiva temple
at Aihole.
• The Temple is so called because of a Muslim hermit
Ladh Khan had made it as his residence in 19th
century.
• In shape it is a comparatively low flat roofed building.
• It is inspired or devised from Village “Santhagraha” or
Village Meeting hall which was planned for secular
and civic use.
• It was Timber Construction.
ANRVSA
• The temple stands on square plan of 15m side
with high platform.
• It comprises a double peripheral corridor
surrounding a sculpture of Nandi, the bull
emblem of Shiva.
• It s cella or Garbhagriha stands next to the back Vestibule
wall of the temple.
• Sixteen columns support this structure, which is lit Mandapa
by holes in pierced in the stone slabs.
Garbhagriha Portico
• It is preceded by a vestibule with four central and
eight outer columns, all of which rise from a low
perimeter wall. This form a sort of verandah and
could have served as a mandapa.
• Access is via a staircase flanked by an elegant
banister.
PLAN AND SECTION
ANRVSA
• The square section pillars carry the considerable weight
of the roof.
• The decoration of the Temple includes handsome jali‐
stone slabs whose perforations compose geometrical
motifs on the columns of the vestibule.
• On the summit of the roof , a small cubical shikhara
has reliefs of the three divinities: Vishnu, Surya and
Devi.
• No Mortar is used in construction of the temple.
ANRVSA
DURGA TEMPLE AIHOLE (675 to 725 AD)
• Durga temple is another experimental stage in the
development of the temple structure.
• It is Brahmanical version of Buddhist chaitya hall,
adapted to suit the service of the Brahmanical
creed.
• The Durga Temple was probably erected during 6th
Century.
• It is an apsidal – ended structure measuring 18m x
12m, with a large portico on its front with the entire
length is 25.5m.
• Its peripheral colonnade encloses a structure
containing a hall, in which two rows of four columns
form a nave and the side aisles.
• The apsidal formula is reflected in the cella, which
stands in the centre of the apse, leaving a narrow
corridor.
• The layout adopts some elements of the plan of a
Buddhist chaitya.
ANRVSA
Aisle
Nave
Aisle
ANRVSA
• In front of the sanctuary, an entrance portico slightly
narrower than the temple is reached by two staircases at
right angles to the temple axis.
• In the portico, a series of columns rises from the low
perimeter walls. Graceful deities, treated in a vigorous
style of relief carving, ornament the pillars, which are
capped with bracket capitals.
• Raised on a high particularly high and heavily moulded
plinth, the topmost tier of the flat roof is 9m from the
ground. Over the apse a short pyramidal tower or
shikhara, has been added later.
ANRVSA
DEOGARH
• Built during Gupta Period (320 to c. 600 AD),
Vishnu Temple shows the ornate and beauty
seen in Gupta style architecture. The temple at Portico
Deogarh is dedicated to the Vishnu.
• These temples made in the early part of the 6th Cella Flight of steps
century of the Gupta Period housed images and
symbols of Hindu gods.
• The temple was built out of stone and brick
consisting of a single cubical sanctum that
sheltered the images within.
• Statuary of the Vishnu were both sculpted in
the interior and exterior walls of the temple.
• The temple’s affiliation with the deity Vishnu
can be seen by looking at the statuary of the
deity seated on a coiled serpent seat that
decorates the carved doorway into the temple.
• There are also many sculpted panels showing
the myths and tales connected with Vishnu.
© Acharya's NRV School of Architecture
ANRVSA
• This temple is a very important milestone in the
evolution of the North-Indian or Indo-Aryan Sikhara.
• It is raised on a terrace, which is approached by flight of
steps on all the 4 sides.
• The temple is placed at the center of this terrace.
• The cella is 18ft square with porticos attached to it on
all the 4 sides.
• The most important part of this temple is the tower over
the cella which is curvilinear and made up of different
tiers decreasing in size towards the top.
• Over the tower is a circular stone disc with vertical
grooves called 'Amalaka' and over the amalaka is the
'Kalasha’.
• The four surfaces of the tower are decorated with
'Urusrungas' which are miniatures of the form of the
tower itself.
ANRVSA
ANRVSA
BHITARGAON
• Bhitargaon is known for its ancient Hindu temple, the largest Indian brick temple to survive from the time of
the Gupta Empire. Despite being heavily restored, a number of original features remain.
• The Bhitargaon Temple is a terraced brick building fronted with a terracotta panel. Built in the 5th century
during the Gupta period, it is the oldest remaining brick/terracotta Hindu shrine with a roof and a
high shikhara, though its upper chamber.
• The temple is built on a square plan with double-recessed corners and faces east. There is a tall pyramidal
spire over the garbhagriha.
• The walls are decorated with terracotta panels depicting aquatic monsters, Shiva and Vishnu etc.
© Acharya's NRV School of Architecture
ANRVSA
© Acharya's NRV School of Architecture
ANRVSA
BADAMI GROUP OF TEMPLES (550 AD to 700 AD)
• Badami occupies a dramatic site squeezed in a gorge between
two high red sandstone hills.
• The ancient city has several Hindu and Jain temples and a
Buddhist cave and remains peaceful and charming.
• Badami Cave Temples Badami Cave Temples have rock cut
halls with three basic features.
― Pillared Veranda
― Columned Hall
― A sanctum cut out deep into rock
• Early experiments in rock cut halls were attempted in Aihole
where they built three cave temples, one each in Vedic,
Buddhist and Jain styles.
• Later they refined their style and cut out four marvellous cave
temples at Badami.
• The outside Veranda of the cave temples are rather plain, but
the inner hall contains rich and prolific sculptural symbolism.
ANRVSA
BADAMI GROUP OF TEMPLES (550 AD to 700 AD)
CAVE 1 BADAMI:
• The cave-temples at Badami were excavated
in the late 6th century, and are related to
similar constructions at Ellora.
• The Badami caves open to the north.
• They are numbered 1-4 from west to east,
which is also lowest to highest.
• The numbering also corresponds to their
likely order of construction.
• The landscaping below the temple is modern.
• Cave 1 is dedicated to Shiva. Its facade, just
below the square-cut columns.
• The verandah has five columns sculpted with
reliefs of flower garlands, foliage and jewelry.
ANRVSA
CAVE 2 BADAMI:
• Cave 2 is dedicated to Vishnu.
• Cave 2 is reached by climbing 64 steps
from the first cave.
• The cave entrance is a verandah divided
by four square pillars all carved out of
the monolithic stone face.
• The pillars have decorative carvings with
frieze of ganas (mythical dwarfs) with
various facial expressions.
• On the two sides of the entrance are
standing dvarapalas (guardians) holding
flowers.
• Cave 2 art reflects Hindu theology and
arts.
ANRVSA
CAVE 3 BADAMI:
• Cave 3 is the largest and most elaborate at Badami.
• According to an inscription, the cave was dedicated in
578 AD by Mangalesha, the brother of King Kirtivarman
I (556 - 597).
• The cave facade is divided by six squared-off columns,
beneath which is a frieze of dwarves.
• The dwarves are presented in small groupings.
ANRVSA
CAVE 4 BADAMI:
• Cave 4, the last to be constructed here, is jain.
• Cave 4 features detailed carvings and a diverse
range of motifs.
• The cave has a five-bayed entrance with four
square columns.
