Gupta Age - 300 - 500 AD - Complete Guide

Known as “The Golden Age of Indian Architecture”
The development of caves remained constant with mural paintings as an added feature
The beginning of temple architecture also reached its climax during the Gupta period

Caves

In Aurangabad district of MH
Buddist Theme
Cut, carved and painted at different times from 200 BC to 600 AD
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Paintings depicted Jataka Tales
Dignaga, a Buddhist philosopher lived here – Source Huen Tsang
Two Phases of construction
- Satavahana Rule – 2nd century BCE – Hinayana(symbols)
- Vakataka Rule – 5th to 7th Century BCE – Mahayana(idols)

In islands of elephant, Mumbai
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Island derived its name from giant Elephant carving
Two groups of caves
- 5 large Hindu caves – Shaiva theme – Trimurti sculpture
- 2 smaller Buddhist cave

Temple with squared sanctum and pillared portico emerged during Gupta Period. Temple architecture developed in 5 stages

Continued features
- Square temple
- Pillared Approach
- High platform
- Covered Ambulatory
Flat roof discontinued
Concept of Shikhar Introduced – low & square Shikhar
Introduced Pachayatan Style = main shrine + 4 subsidiary shrines
Main shrine is rectangular
Crucified (+) ground plan
Precursor to nagara style
E.g
- Dashavatar temple-Deogarh, UP,
- Durga temple- Ahihole, Karnataka

The Shilpa-Shastra recognizes 3 styles and its geographical distribution

Sanctum Sanctorum – Garbagriha – houses main diety
Mandapa – entrance; portico; hall to house large no of worshippers
Shikhara – pyramidal to curvilinear spire of Nagara Style
Vimana – the spire of Dravida Style
Amalaka – a stone disc-like structure at the top of the temple shikhara
Kalasha – topmost point of the temple above Amalaka
Antarala – a vestibule or transition area between the Garbhagriha and the temple’s main hall (mandapa)
Jagati – a raised platform for sitting and praying
Vahana – vehicle of the temple’s main deity

Successor of 3rd stage – so had all its features
Crucified ground plan
Square or rectangular temple
Raised Platform
Pillared approach
Presence of garbhagriha & mandapas
Panchayatan Style
Vertical walls divided into 3 vertical planes – Triratha – used to do sculptures
later pancharatha, saptaratha, navaratha came up
Types of Shikhara
- Latina or Rekha Prasad = Square Base; walls curve inward to a point on the top
- Phamasana = broader base; shorter height than Latina; slope upward on a straight line
- Valabhi = rectangular base; roof-raising into a vaulted chamber; also called wagon vaulted roof
Shikhar end with amalak over which kalash is placed
Circumamblatory passage or pradakhshinapath around the sanctum sanctorum
General absence of boundary wall (present in Dravidian style)
Absence of tank(main feature of Dravidian Style)

During 8th to 13th century in different parts of Kalinga empire
All features of nagara style are present
Exterior is lavishly decorated but the interior is plain
Shikhar is called as Deul – almost vertical till top then suddenly curves sharply inwards
Mandap(assembly hall) is called as Jagmohan
Instead of pillars iron girders were used
Temple had boundary walls
Erotic sculptures found on the wall of Konark Temple
Ground plan was square
E.g
- Konark Temple / Sun Temple / Black Pagoda
- Lingaraja Temple, Bhubaneshwar
- Rajarani Temple, Bhubaneshwar
- Jagannath Temple, Puri

Gujarat and Rajasthan by Solanki Rulers
Unique features
- Step tank called Surya Kund
- Small temples in each step
- Ceilings are carved to give an illusion of arch domes
- Sun shines directly into the central shrine during equinoxes
- Walls of central shrine are devoid of carvings
Material used = sandstone, black basaltic stone, marbles
E.g
- Modhera Sun Temple,Gujarat
- Dilwara Temple, Mt.Abu,RJ – Highest Jain Pilgrimage