The history of Indian temples dates back to ancient times and different dynasties that ruled throughout the ages. Each temple in each region has a story attached to it that reflects the cultures of that particular dynasty.
The history of Indian temples is deeply rooted in ancient times and is widely influenced by the influence of religion in various regions. India, historically considered to have served the territory bounded by the Hindu Kush and the Himalayan mountain ranges, is a country full of exquisite temples. These unique and artistic architectures contribute immensely to the cultural heritage of India. Whether grandiose, grand perimeters, towering towers, or modest and dignified in structure, Indian temples are unique and unparalleled in mythology and history. Ancient temples and religious monuments can be found in the rock-cut cave temples of the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats. They have been discovered through Barabar Hills in Bihar, Elephanta Caves, Baja Caves, Karla Caves, Kanheri Caves, Nashik and Ellora Caves – all in Maharashtra, Badami Cave Temples in Karnataka, and Pallavaram and Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu. K. 3rd and 2nd century BC These cave temples are caves cut directly out of the mountains.
Dominating these countless Hindu temples, there are also various religious monuments of Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, Muslims or Christians. Elegance and majesty, almost parallel to each other, Hindu temples bear a rich history spanning countless eras, from simple brick architecture to massive rock architecture.
Architectural History of Indian Temples:
Since ancient times, Hindu temple architecture has followed a set of basic rules. The sanctum sanctorum is a square cell containing the statue or symbol of the deity. Above it rises a pyramidal structure, representing Mount Meru, the abode of the Hindu gods. This part of the temple was considered the most sacred of all. Temples are not known to have existed in the Vedic period. The custom of casting images of deities mentioned in Vedic mantras may have come into practice towards the end of the Vedic age. The Yagasala of the Vedic period gradually transformed into temples.
Historical archives of ancient Indian temples suggest that they were built with perishable materials like wood and clay. Cave temples, stone-cut or brick-built temples came much later. Heavy stone structures with active architecture and sculpture belong to a still later period. Although the basic structure remained the same, variations emerged and resulted in different styles of temple architecture. Broadly speaking, these can be divided into northern and southern forms. The northern style, technically known as Nagara, is characterized by arched towers. The southern style, known as Dravidian, has its towers in the shape of truncated pyramids. A third style, vesara by name, is sometimes added, which unites itself to these two mentioned forms.
History of Indian Temples in Nagara Style:
The oldest temples in North and Central India that have withstood the ravages of time belong to the Gupta period, to be exact. A few unusual temples from B 320 – 650 are Sanchi, Digawa (near Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh), Bhumara. (in Madhya Pradesh), Nachna (Rajasthan) and Deohar (near Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh).
History of Indian Temples in Dravidian Style:
The history of temples in the southern part of the country speaks of the earliest surviving events in Tamil Nadu and northern Karnataka. The cradle of the Dravidian school of architecture, Tamil Nadu is a country that evolved from early Buddhist shrines, both rock-cut and structural. K. B. Later rock temples dating from the period 500 – 800 are mostly Brahmin or Jain, the three great ruling dynasties of the south, Pallavas of Kanchi in the east, c. In the 8th century B were supported by the Chalukyas of Badami and the Rashtrakutas of Malket. The Rashtrakutas rose to power and made an unforgettable contribution to the development of South Indian temple architecture. The Kailasa Nath temple at Ellora belongs to this period.
History of Indian Temples in Vesara Style:
In the west (northern Karnataka) the Aihole and Pattadakal group of temples (5th to 7th centuries) reveal early articles that evolved into an acceptable regional style based on tradition. Among the well-known early architectural temples at Aihole are the Huchimallikudi and Durga temples, as well as the Latgaon temple dating back to 1000 BC. 450 – 650 B are said to have existed, all equally authoritative, the temples at Kasinatha, Babanath, Sangamesvara, Vishwaksa and Pattadakal. Aihole, as well as Swarka Brahma Temple in Alampur (Andhra Pradesh). In some of these temples built by the later Chalukyas, the Vesara style, a mixture of northern and southern forms, can be fully seen. The history of Indian temples can be seen to have metamorphosed on a beautiful systematic basis with the continuous contribution of the ruling dynasties.
Literary History of Indian Temples:
A unique feature about the history of Indian temples is the innumerable ancient texts that have survived to this day indicating the formal architectural styles practiced in various regions. Apart from Tantric literature and the Brihat Samhita, they are repeatedly referred to in the Sutras, Indian Puranas and Agamas, a comprehensive text known as the Vastu Shastra acknowledging its sources. But all agree on only one issue that styles can be divided into three forms namely Nagara, Dravidian and Vesara. They use the square, octagon and Uchama or circle respectively in the temple architectural plan. In its later evolution, the Vesara style adopted the square for the womb, while the circular or star plan for the Vimana was retained. However, these three styles do not strictly associate themselves with three different areas. But only the temple groups represent.
Vesara, which prevailed mostly in the western Deccan and southern Karnataka, was derived from the apsidal churches of the early Buddhist period, which adopted and greatly improved the Brahmanical faith. In its origins, Vesara is a region of North India similar to Western Deccan. Similarly, evidence of the Nagara style can be found in the 6th-7th century temples of Aihole and Pattadakal, in offerings or vimanas (representing various architectural styles). The Dravidian style of Tamil Nadu became widely popular throughout South India from the Vijayanagara period onwards. While the prasada or vimana of the Nagara style rises vertically from its base in an arc, the Dravidian rises in tiers like a step pyramid. The historical evolution of Indian temples from the Northern style prevailed in Rajasthan, Upper India, Odisha, the Vindhya Hills and Gujarat.
History of Indian Temples in Pallavar Rule:
The next thousand years of the historical evolution of Indian temples (from AD 600 to AD 1600) saw an immense growth in both quantity and quality of temple architecture. The first in the Southern or Dravidian line of architecture was initiated by the Pallavas (600 AD to 900 AD) with the rock-cut temples at Mahabalipuram, the Ratha type, and structural temples such as the beach temple at Mahabalipuram and Kailasanathar. and the Vaikunda Perumal Temples at Kanchipuram (700 – 800 AD) are excellent examples of the Pallava style. The Pallavas laid the foundation of the Dravidian school which flourished to its full extent during the Cholas, Pandyas, Vijayanagara Empire and the Nayaks. During this period temples were built of stone and became large, intricate and rich in sculptures.
History of Indian Temples during Chola rule:
Dravidian architecture reached its peak during the Chola period (900 AD to 1200 AD). The most elegant of the Chola temples is the Prahadeeswarar temple at Tanjore, with its 66-metre high vimana, one of the grandest of its kind. The later Pandyas, who succeeded the Cholas, improved on the Cholas by introducing sophisticated and intricate decorations and large sculptures, multi-pillared halls, new additions to the sanctum and gopurams (large towers) at the entrances.
History of Indian Temples in the Vijayanagara Empire:
The mighty temple complexes of Madurai and Srirangam in Tamil Nadu formed a pattern for the Vijaya city builders (ruled 1350 AD to 1565 AD) who followed the Dravidian tradition. The Bambapati and Vittala temples at Hampi are still standing examples of this era.
After the Vijayanagara kings (1600-1750 AD), the Madurai Nayaks made the Dravidian temple complex even more complex and elaborate by making the gopurams much taller and more ornate, and by adding pillared passages within the elaborate temple complex. Indian temple history became grander and grander and the buildings became better than the previous event.
History of Indian Temples during Hoysala rule:
Contemporaries of the Cholas were the Hoysalas who ruled Kannada, and in the process advanced the Chalukya style of temple architecture. The Hoysalas accomplished their mission by building exceptionally elaborate temples in various parts of Karnataka, characterized by wall carvings, vaulted ceilings, lathe-turned pillars and fully carved vimanas. The most famous of these temples are those at Belur, Halebid and Somanathapuram in southern Karnataka, which are always classified under the Vesara style.
History of Indian temples in other regions:
Major developments in Hindu temple architecture took place in the northern part of the country, Odisha (750 – 1250 AD) and central India (950 – 1050 AD). History of Indian Temples and its gradual evolution is seen most rapidly in Rajasthan (10th and 11th centuries AD) and Gujarat (11th-13th centuries AD). Lingaraja Temple (Bhubaneshwar), Jagannath Temple (Puri) and Surya (Konark) represent the best Odison style. The temple at Khajuraho built by the Chandelas, the Suryan temple, Modera (Gujarat) and another at Mount Abu built by the Solankis have their distinctive features under Central Indian architecture. Its temples are built of bricks and terracotta tiles in Bengal and its temples in Kerala have a unique roof structure, suitable for heavy rainfall from the regions. Hence, these two maritime states have developed their own localized distinct styles.
History of Indian Temples Abroad:
To add to the prestigious and venerable list of historical evolution of Indian temples, mention can also be made of various Hindu temples outside India, particularly in South East Asian countries. These countries were, in ancient times, actually included under Indian ruling kingdoms. Such early Hindu temples are found in Java; Shiva temples at Tieng and Itang Tsongo. The group of temples of Lara Jongrang at Prambanan is a magnificent example of Hindu temple architecture. Other temples worth mentioning include the rock-cut temple facades at Banatharan (Java), Tampaksing, Bali, the ‘Thai’ temple at Pesak, Bali, the Sen La Temples at Sambor Prei Kuk, Cambodia, and the Temple of Pandey. The famous Angkor Wat complex built by Sri and Surya Varman II in Angkor.
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