Beginning of Dravidian Temple style and Indo Aryan Temple

Dravidian style of architecture is mainly found in Temple architecture of south India namely in states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka,Kerala, andAndhra Pradesh.

Classified under early Guptas and chaulakyas and also by the kings of the Pallava dynasty, the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Vijayanagara Kings and by the Nayaks of Madura.

Architectural Historian sub divide the period of Dravidian Architectural growth into:

1.Pallava Period, 600-900AD2.Chola Period, 700-1150 AD3.Pandava Period, 1100-1350AD4.Vijayanagara Period and 1350-1565AD5.Nayakkar Period. 1565-1600 AD

The temple shape may be rectangular, square, star-shaped, or octagonal. Examples like, Brihadhaeshwara Temple,Shore temples, Mahabalipuram, kanchepuram

Have a separate entry gate called Gopuram, highly decorated and carved.

In elevation: • Plinth• Shikhara,

Vimana• Mandapa

Indo-Aryan style of Architecture are mainly found in Temple Architecture of Northern India namely in Orissa, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Examples like Sun Temple in Konark. Muktesvara Temple in Orrisa.

It can be classified only under early Guptas and chaulakyas.

Indo-Aryan temples Comparatively have less number of columns.

Here God or Goddess are mostly made in white marble.

Usually had square planning

In elevation: • Plinth• Shikhara• Mandapa

Pallavas Rathas at Mamalapuram Five Rathas namely: Draupadi Ratha, Arjuna Ratha,

Nakula Sahadeva Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Dharmaraja Ratha.

All five Rathas have very diverse planning, architecture and ornamentation and each Ratha has got interior room - simple and narrow sanctuary (garbha-griha )

Among the Rathas are three large sculptures:

Lion, Elephant and Nandi bull.

1) Draupadi Ratha

The closest to the entrance gate is Draupadi Ratha - it is also the smallest one. This shrine is devoted to goddess Durga.

This shrine is shaped like a thatched hut, with a square roof. and the nearby Arjuna Ratha are on a single platform which is rised and adorned with figures of lions and elephants.

2) Arjuna Ratha On the same platform is located the next Ratha - Arjuna Ratha, which is devoted to

Shiva.

This small structure is shaped like a small wooden shrine, once characteristic for Southern India. It is facing towards the east and has two storeys, a small portico and carved pillars.

Inside the shrine there are no adornments, but the exterior is very rich with interesting details.

This shrine is devoted to Indra and is associated with elephants. This ratha is the only one which is not placed in a "procession", it stands aside. It is also the only one with entrance facing south.

The roof of this shrine is shaped like a back of elephant. The columns and pillars are adorned with seated lions.

3) Nakula Sahadeva Ratha

Draupadi ratha to the left, Arjuna ratha - to the right

4) Bhima Ratha The third shrine in a row is the longest of

all rathas - it is 12.8 m long, 7.3 m wide, 7.6 m high.

The Bhima ratha is a single-tired structure with a rectangular base.

This ratha was devoted to Anantshayi Vishnu. Pillars of the shrine are adorned with figures of lions.

5) Dharmaraja ratha

The shrine is devoted to Shiva. Columns and pilasters of this ratha are adorned with lions.

The ground (first) floor of Dharmaraja Ratha has pillared entrances on all sides.

The second and the third tier has Garbhagriha and parapet wall with space in between them

Shore Temple

LOCATION: Is at Mahabalipuram, a village south of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It is Called as Shore Temple because it is at edge of

the BAY OF BENGAL.

The temple is a combination of three shrines which are built on the same platform.

The main shrine is dedicated to Shiva as it is smaller than the second shrine. A small third shrine, between the two, is dedicated to a Vishnu.

The two Shiva shrines are orthogonal in shape. The temple has a garbhagriha in which the deity, Siva linga is enshrined, and a small mandapa surrounded by a heavy outer wall

The roofs of the temples have ornamentation similar to the Pancha Rathas and the columns are carved over lion mounted bases.

Built with sculpted granite stones. Its pyramidal structure is 18m high and sits on a 15m square platform.

Kailasanathar Temple The Kailasanathar temple is the oldest structure in Kanchipuram, located in Tamil Nadu, built from 685-705AD by a Rajasimha ruler of the pallava dynasty

It is a Hindu temple  in the Dravidian Architectural style, dedicated to the Lord Shiva.

The structure contains 58 small shrines which are dedicated to various forms of Shiva.

The temple's foundations are made of granite, which could withstand the weight of the temple, while the carvings are all made of sandstone.

The shikara of the temple, above the main shrine is square in plan which rises up in a pyramidal shape. The tower has many levels rising. The pillar animal shapes (lions on the base which features the Pallava style.

Inner court showing the passage with 58 sub-shrines.

Brihdeshwarar temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Thanjavur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Also known as Raja Rajeswara Temple.It is one of the example of Tamil architecture during Chola period.

This temple is the first building fully built by granite and finished within 5yrs.

The complex can be entered either on one axis through a five-story gopuram.

The gopuram of the main entrance is 30 m high, smaller than the vimana and the main temple is in the center.

Has a Nandi, a pillared hall and an assembly hall mandapas, and many sub-shrines.

BRIHDESHWARAR TEMPLE

The vimana is 66m high.

There is a big statue of Nandi (sacred bull), carved out of a single rock, at the entrance measuring about 16 feet long and 13 feet high.

Gangaikondacholapuram Temple

Location: Thanjavur, Tamil NaduBuilt by: Rajendra CholaBuilt in: 11th centuryDedicated to: Lord ShivaSignificance: Biggest Shivalingam in South India

The temple stands next to the famous Brihadisvara temple and is regarded as the reproduction of Brihadisvara Temple that was built by Rajaraja Chola, father of Rajendra Chola.

The temple was made to outshine the temple made by the father.

The temple boasts of a 9 storey vimanam that extends to the height of 185 feet, facing the east direction.

Not less than 54.86m in height, the temple structure follows the style of Brihadisvara Temple

Fig 1) Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple Gopuram and statues

Fig 2) Stone sculpture of saraswathi at the temple

Fig 3) Nandhi

Plan of Gangaikonda Cholapuram