Temple Architecture of South India

Dravidian School of Architecture

Oldest Style of Architecture
Started by Pallavas and flourished under cholas
Chola style is what came to be known as Dravida Style
Features
- High Boundary Wall
- Gopuram – Decorated Gateway
- Panchayatan Style
- Shikhara in Nagara is called as Vimana in Dravidian School
- On top of Vimana there is Shikhara = equivalent of Kalash & Amalak
- Only one vimana – no vimana or shikhara in subsidiary shrines like Nagara style
- Antarala – Vestibular tunnel between Assembly hall & garbhagriha
- The entrance of garbhagriha has sculptures of Dwarpal – {Mithun & Yakshas}
- Crucified ground plan & upraised platform
E.g
- Brihadeshwara Temple, Tanjore (by Raja Raja 1) >1000 years old
- Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple (Rajendra 1 son of Raja Raja 1 after conquering Gangetic delta)

Began Under Mahendra Varman and studied under 4 groups
Stage 1 – Mahendra Group
- Rock cut caves; no real temples
- Word mandap used instead of temple
- E.g
  - Adivaraha cave
  - Durga Cave
Stage 2 – Narsimhan Varman Group
- Decoration in rock-cut caves
- Mandapas now become rathas
- 6 rathas in 1 cave
- Largest Rath – Darmaraj Rath – Precursor to Dravidian Style
- Smallest Rath – Draupati Rath
Stage 3 – Rajsimha Varman Group
- Real structural Temple
- E.g
  - Shore temple, Mahabalipuram
  - Kailashnath Temple, Kanchipuram
Stage 4 – Nandivarman Group
- Developed small temples
- Had all features of Dravida Style

under Patronage of Cholas
Revived Pallava style and Temple architecture reached its glory
Chola style is what came to be Known as Dravida Style
Vimana dominates the whole structure and rest discussed in 1st para.
E.g
- Brihadeshwara Temple, Tanjore (by Raja Raja 1) >1000 years old
- Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple (Rajendra 1 son of Raja Raja 1 after conquering Gangetic delta)

Under the patronage of Vijayanagara empire with capital Hampi
Variations from Dravidian Style
- Gopuram on all sides and enlarged
- More than 1 mandap and 1 central mandap called Kalyan Mandap
Highly decorated with supernatural horse motifs and geometrical pattern
Religious and secular architecture
- Religious – Vithalsamy Temple & Virbadhra Temple at Lepakshi
- Secular – Lotus Mahal, Hall of dance at Lepakshi

Under patronage of Nayaka Rulers
New features in addition to Dravida style
- Presence of Parakarns or huge corridors in portico, around garbhagriha
- Very High Gopuram – Meenakshi temple has the tallest gopuram in the world
Intricate carvings all over the walls
E.g – Meenakshi Temple, Madurai

Under the patronage of Hoysalas near Mysore
1050-1300 AD
Main Centres – Belur, Halebidu, Sringeri
Multiple Shrines around central pillared hall = equality to all deities unlike Panchayatan Style
Star-shaped ground plan or stellate plan
Built on an upraised platform called Jagati
Use of soft stone – Chlorite schist for intricate carving
e.g
- Chennakesava Temple, Somnathapuram
- Hoyasaleshwar Temple, Halebidu