'' on a brick platform at the entrance to the
Murugan Temple, Saluvankuppam, Tamil Nadu, 300 BCE-300 CE In
Southern India seven kingdoms and empires stamped their influence on architecture during different times:
Sangam period From 300 BCE to 300 CE, the greatest accomplishments of the kingdoms of the
early Chola,
Chera and the
Pandyan kingdoms included brick shrines to deities
Vishnu,
Kartikeya,
Shiva, and
Amman . Several of these have been unearthed near
Adichanallur,
Kaveripoompuharpattinam and
Mahabalipuram, and the construction plans of these sites of worship were shared to some detail in various poems of
Sangam literature. There are 3 temples which date around 5 CE to 5 BCE, The
Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple which has inscriptions dating around 100 BCE to 100 CE. Hence, "making it one of the oldest surviving active temple complexes in South India". Another such temple is the
Subrahmanya Temple, Saluvankuppam, unearthed in 2005, consists of three layers. The lowest layer, consisting of a brick shrine, is one of the oldest of its kind in South India, and is the oldest shrine found dedicated to Murukan. It is one of only two brick shrine pre Pallava Hindu temples to be found in the state, the other being the
Veetrirundha Perumal Temple at Veppathur dedicated to
Lord Vishnu. The dynasties of early medieval
Tamilakkam expanded and erected structural additions to many of these brick shrines. Sculptures of erotic art, nature and deities from the
Ranganathaswamy Temple and
Kallazhagar Temple date from the Sangam period.
Pallavas is one of the oldest temples of Pallavas dating early 500 CE of the
temples in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, dated between 700 and 728 CE The
Pallavas ruled from 275 CE to 900 CE, and their greatest constructed accomplishments are the single rock temples in
Mahabalipuram and their capital
Kanchipuram, now located in
Tamil Nadu. The earliest examples of Pallava constructions are rock-cut temples dating from 610 to 690 CE and structural temples between 690 and 900 CE. The greatest accomplishments of the Pallava architecture are the rock-cut
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram at
Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site, including the
Shore Temple. This group includes both excavated pillared halls, with no external roof except the natural rock, and monolithic shrines where the natural rock is entirely cut away and carved to give an external roof. Early temples were mostly dedicated to Shiva. The Kailasanatha temple also called Rajasimha Pallaveswaram in
Kanchipuram built by
Narasimhavarman II also known as Rajasimha is a fine example of the Pallava style temple. Contrary to popular impression about the succeeding empire of the Cholas pioneering in building large temple complexes, it was the Pallavas who actually pioneered not only in making large temples after starting construction of rock cut temples without using mortar, bricks etc. Examples of such temples are the Thiruppadagam and Thiruooragam temples that have 28 and high images of Lord Vishnu in his manifestation as Pandavadhoothar and Trivikraman forms of himself. In comparison, the Siva Lingams in the Royal Temples of the Cholas at Thanjavur and Gangaikonda Cholapurams are 17 and high. Considering that the Kanchi Kailasanatha Temple built by Rajasimha Pallava was the inspiration for Raja Raja Chola's Brihadeeswara at Thanjavur, it can be safely concluded that the Pallavas were among the first emperors in India to build both large temple complexes and very large deities and idols Many of
Vishnu temples at
Kanchi built by the great Pallava emperors and indeed their incomparable Rathas and the Arjuna's penance Bas Relief (also called descent of the Ganga) are proposed UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The continuous Chola, Pallava and Pandiyan belt temples (along with those of the Adigaimans near
Karur and
Namakkal) like the
Narasimhaswamy Temple, Namakkal, as well as the
Sathyamurthi Perumal Temple in Pudukottai uniformly represent the pinnacle of the South Indian Style of Architecture that surpasses any other form of architecture prevalent between the Deccan Plateau and Kanyakumari. In the Telugu country the style was more or less uniformly conforming to the South Indian or Dravidian idiom of architecture.
Rashtrakutas at
Ellora The
Rashtrakutas who ruled the
Deccan from
Manyakheta, Karnataka in the period 753–973 CE built some of the finest Dravidian monuments at
Ellora (the
Kailasanatha temple), in the rock-cut architecture idiom, with a style showing influences from both north and south India. Some other fine monuments are the Jaina Narayana temple at
Pattadakal and the Navalinga temples at Kuknur in Karnataka. The Rashtrakuta contributions to art and architecture are reflected in the splendid rock-cut shrines at Ellora and Elephanta, situated in present-day
Maharashtra. It is said that they altogether constructed 34 rock-cut shrines, but most extensive and sumptuous of them all is the Kailasanatha temple at
Ellora. The temple is a splendid achievement of Dravidian art. The walls of the temple have marvellous sculptures from
Hindu mythology including
Ravana,
Shiva and
Parvathi while the ceilings have paintings. These projects were commissioned by King Krishna I after the Rashtrakuta rule had spread into South India from the
Deccan. The architectural style used was partly Dravidian. They do not contain any of the
shikharas common to the
Nagara style and were built on the same lines as the Virupaksha temple at
Pattadakal in Karnataka.
Chalukyas ,
Pattadakal,
Karnataka built in 740 The Badami
Chalukyas also called the Early Chalukyas, ruled from
Badami, Karnataka in the period 543–753 CE and spawned the
Vesara style called
Badami Chalukya Architecture. The finest examples of their art are seen in
Pattadakal,
Aihole and
Badami in northern Karnataka. Over 150 temples remain in the
Malaprabha basin. The most enduring legacy of the Chalukya dynasty is the architecture and art that they left behind. More than one hundred and fifty monuments attributed to the Badami Chalukya, and built between 450 and 700, remain in the
Malaprabha basin in
Karnataka. The rock-cut temples of
Pattadakal, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site,
Badami,
Aihole and
Mahakuta are their most celebrated monuments. Two of the famous paintings at
Ajanta cave no. 1, "The Temptation of the Buddha" and "The Persian Embassy" are attributed to them. This is the beginning of
Chalukya style of architecture and a consolidation of South Indian style. The
Western Chalukyas also called the Kalyani Chalukyas or Later Chalukyas ruled the deccan from 973 to 1180 CE from their capital
Kalyani in modern Karnataka and further refined the Chalukyan style, called the
Western Chalukya architecture. Over 50 temples exist in the
Krishna River-
Tungabhadra doab in central Karnataka. The Kasi Vishveshvara at Lakkundi, Mallikarjuna at Kuruvatii, Kalleshwara temple at Bagali and Mahadeva at Itagi are the finest examples produced by the Later Chalukya architects. The reign of Western Chalukya dynasty was an important period in the development of architecture in the
Deccan. Their architectural developments acted as a conceptual link between the
Badami Chalukya Architecture of the 8th century and the
Hoysala architecture popularised in the 13th century. The art of Western Chalukyas is sometimes called the "
Gadag style" after the number of ornate temples they built in the
Tungabhadra –
Krishna River doab region of present-day
Gadag district in Karnataka. Their temple building reached its maturity and culmination in the 12th century, with over a hundred temples built across the deccan, more than half of them in present-day Karnataka. Apart from temples they are also well known for ornate stepped wells (
Pushkarni) which served as ritual bathing places, many of which are well preserved in Lakkundi. Their stepped well designs were later incorporated by the Hoysalas and the Vijayanagara empire in the coming centuries.
Kakatiyas Kakatiya architecture was a notable
Vesara temple building architecture developed during the rule of the
Kakatiya dynasty (1163–1323 CE), in the region comprising present-day
Telangana and
Andhra Pradesh states of India. The Kakatiya architecture is more significant in
Hanamakonda — their first capital and
Warangal being their second capital. Most of the Kakatiya architecture is influenced from
Chalukya architecture. It is a fusion of Dravidian architecture and
Nagara Bhumija styles in which
sandbox technology is used to construct
Vimana—horizontal stepped tower. There are hundreds of monuments in the core of
Hanamakonda and
Warangal of which
Thousand Pillar Temple,
Ramappa Temple,
Ramappa Lake,
Warangal Fort and
Kota Gullu are prominent.
Pandya Srivilliputhur Andal temple Rajagopuram is said to have been built by
Periyalvar, the father-in-law of the Lord, with a purse of gold that he won in debates held in the palace of
Pandya King Vallabhadeva. The primary landmark of
Srivilliputtur is a 12-tiered tower structure dedicated to the Lord of Srivilliputtur, known as Vatapatrasayee. The tower of this temple rises high.The
Srivilliputhur Andal Temple's
Gopuram is considered to be the one shown prominently in the
emblem of Tamil Nadu. Other significant temples of the Pandyas include the
Meenakshi Temple in
Madurai.
Cholas of the Thanjavur Temple-Tamil Nadu The Imperial
Chola kings ruled from 848 CE to 1280 CE and included
Rajaraja Chola I and his son
Rajendra Chola who built temples such as the three
Great Living Chola Temples (
UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the
Kampaheswarar Temple at Thirubuvanam. The
Cholas were prolific temple builders right from the times of the first king
Vijayalaya Chola after whom the eclectic chain of Vijayalaya Chozhisvaram temple near Narttamalai exists. These are the earliest specimen of Dravidian temples under the Cholas. His son Aditya I built several temples around the Kanchi and Kumbakonam regions. Temple building received great impetus from the conquests and the genius of
Aditya I Parantaka I,
Sundara Chola,
Rajaraja Chola and his son
Rajendra Chola I. Rajendra Chola 1 built the Rajaraja Temple at Thanjur after his own name. The maturity and grandeur to which the Chola architecture had evolved found expression in the two temples of Tanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram. He also proclaimed himself as Gangaikonda. In a small portion of the Kaveri belt between Tiruchy-Tanjore-Kumbakonam, at the height of their power, the Cholas have left over 2300 temples, with the Tiruchy-Thanjavur belt itself boasting of more than 1500 temples. The magnificent
Siva temple of Thanjavur built by Raja Raja I in 1009 as well as the
Brihadisvara Temple of
Gangaikonda Cholapuram, completed around 1030, are both fitting memorials to the material and military achievements of the time of the two Chola emperors. The largest and tallest of all Indian temples of its time, the Tanjore Brihadisvara is at the apex of South Indian architecture. In fact, two succeeding Chola kings Raja Raja II and Kulothunga III built the
Airavatesvara Temple at
Darasuram and the Kampahareswarar Siva Temple at Tribhuvanam respectively, both temples being on the outskirts of Kumbakonam around 1160 CE and 1200 CE. All the four temples were built over a period of nearly 200 years reflecting the glory, prosperity and stability under the
Chola emperors. Contrary to popular impression, the Chola emperors patronized and promoted construction of a large number of temples that were spread over most parts of the Chola empire. These include 40 of the 108 Vaishnava
Divya Desams out of which 77 are found spread most of South India and others in Andhra and North India. In fact, the Sri
Ranganathaswamy Temple in
Srirangam, which is the biggest temple in India and the
Chidambaram Natarajar Temple (though originally built by the Pallavas but possibly seized from the Cholas of the pre-Christian era when they ruled from Kanchi) were two of the most important temples patronized and expanded by the Cholas and from the times of the second Chola King Aditya I, these two temples have been hailed in inscriptions as the tutelary deities of the Chola Kings. (11th century), Tanjore has a vimana tower that is 216 ft (66 m) high, a classical example of Dravidian architecture. and The
sikhara, a cupolic dome (25 tons), is octagonal and rests on a single block of granite, weighing 80 tons. Temple shrine on the
Koneswaram temple promontory extremity and the
Ketheeswaram temple and
Munneswaram temple compounds contained tall gopuram towers by Chola rule of
Trincomalee,
Mannar,
Puttalam and
Chidambaram's expansion that escalated the building of those syncretic latter styles of Dravidian architecture seen across the continent pictured. Of course, the two
Brihadisvara Temples at Thanjavur and
Gangaikonda Cholapuram as well as the other two Siva temples, namely the
Airavatesvara Temple of
Darasuram and the
Sarabeswara (Shiva )Temple which is also popular as the Kampahareswarar Temple at
Thirubhuvanam, both on the outskirts of
Kumbakonam were the royal temples of the Cholas to commemorate their innumerable conquests and subjugation of their rivals from other parts of South India, Deccan Ilangai or
Sri Lanka and the Narmada-Mahanadi-Gangetic belts. But the Chola emperors underlined their non-partisan approach to religious iconography and faith by treating the presiding deities of their other two peerless creations, namely the
Ranganathaswamy Temple dedicated to Lord
Vishnu at
Srirangam and the
Nataraja Temple at
Chidambaram which actually is home to the twin deities of
Siva and
Vishnu (as the reclining Govindarajar) to be their 'Kuladheivams' or tutelary (or family) deities. The Cholas also preferred to call only these two temples which home their tutelary or family deities as
Koil or the 'Temple', which denotes the most important places of worship for them. The above-named temples are being proposed to be included among the
UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which will elevate them to the exacting and exalting standards of the
Great Living Chola Temples. The temple of
Gangaikondacholapuram, the creation of
Rajendra Chola I, was intended to exceed its predecessor in every way. Completed around 1030, only two decades after the temple at
Thanjavur and in much the same style, the greater elaboration in its appearance attests the more affluent state of the Chola Empire under Rajendra. This temple has a larger Siva linga than the one at
Thanjavur but the Vimana of this temple is smaller in height than the
Thanjavur vimana. The
Chola period is also remarkable for its sculptures and bronzes all over the world. Among the existing specimens in museums around the world and in the temples of South India may be seen many fine figures of Siva in various forms, such as
Vishnu and his consort
Lakshmi, and the Siva saints. Though conforming generally to the iconographic conventions established by long tradition, the sculptors worked with great freedom in the 11th and the 12th centuries to achieve a classic grace and grandeur. The best example of this can be seen in the form of
Nataraja the Divine Dancer.
Hoysalas , Karnataka The
Hoysala kings ruled southern India during the period (1100–1343 CE) from their capital
Belur and later
Halebidu in Karnataka and developed a unique idiom of architecture called the
Hoysala architecture in Karnataka state. The finest examples of their architecture are the
Chennakesava Temple in
Belur,
Hoysaleswara temple in
Halebidu, and the
Kesava Temple in
Somanathapura. The modern interest in the Hoysalas is due to their patronage of art and architecture rather than their military conquests. The brisk temple building throughout the kingdom was accomplished despite constant threats from the Pandyas to the south and the Seunas Yadavas to the north. Their architectural style, an offshoot of the Western Chalukya style, shows distinct Dravidian influences. The Hoysala architecture style is described as
Karnata Dravida as distinguished from the traditional Dravida, and is considered an independent architectural tradition with many unique features.
Vijayanagara , Karnataka The whole of
South India was ruled by
Vijayanagara Empire from (1343–1565 CE), who built a number of temples and monuments in their hybrid style in their capital
Vijayanagara in Karnataka. Their style was a combination of the styles developed in South India in the previous centuries. In addition, the
Yali columns (pillar with charging horse), balustrades (parapets) and ornate pillared
manatapa are their unique contribution. King
Krishna Deva Raya and others built many famous temples all over
South India in Vijayanagara Architecture style. Vijayanagara architecture is a vibrant combination of the
Chalukya,
Hoysala,
Rashtrakuta,
Pallava,
Pandya and
Chola styles, idioms that prospered in previous centuries. Its legacy of sculpture, architecture and painting influenced the development of the arts long after the empire came to an end. Its stylistic hallmark is the ornate
pillared Kalyanamantapa (marriage hall),
Vasanthamantapa (open pillared halls) and the
Rayagopura (tower). Artisans used the locally available hard granite because of its durability since the kingdom was under constant threat of invasion. While the empire's monuments are spread over the whole of Southern India, nothing surpasses the vast open-air theatre of monuments at its capital at
Vijayanagara, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site. In the 14th century the kings continued to build
Vesara or Deccan style monuments but later incorporated dravida-style
gopurams to meet their ritualistic needs. The Prasanna Virupaksha temple (underground temple) of
Bukka Raya I and the Hazare Rama temple of Deva Raya I are examples of Deccan architecture. The varied and intricate ornamentation of the pillars is a mark of their work. At Hampi, though the
Vitthala temple is the best example of their pillared
Kalyanamantapa style, the
Hazara Ramaswamy temple is a modest but perfectly finished example. A visible aspect of their style is their return to the simplistic and serene art developed by the Chalukya dynasty. A grand specimen of Vijayanagara art, the
Vitthala temple, took several decades to complete during the reign of the Tuluva kings.
Kerala The version of Dravidian architecture found in
Kerala in the far south-west is significantly different. Very large temples are rare, and sloping roofs with projecting
eaves dominate the outline, often arranged in a number of tiers. As in
Bengal, this is an adaption to the heavy
monsoon rainfall. There is usually a stone core below a timber superstructure. The
architecture of Kerala goes back to the
Chera dynasty in the 12th century, and a variety of ground plans have been used, including circular ones. The development of multi-building complexes came relatively late. File:Vadakkunnathan Temple west nada - 0204.JPG|
Vadakkunnathan Temple File:Thirunelly_Temple.JPG|
Thirunelli Temple front view File:Kodungallur-RD-11Nov11.jpg|Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple File:Kandiyur_Siva_Temple_Tower.JPG|
Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple Sri Lanka The culture of Sri Lanka is
recognizable in architecture. The city of
Jaffna was close to
South India and the majority of the inhabitants of Jaffna have a Dravidian origin. In former royal city of
Nallur, there are architectural
ruins of Jaffna kingdom. From the 18th century, Dravidian architecture was heavily adopted by Tamil-speaking populations of Sri Lanka for the construction of Hindu religious sites. File:Nalanda Gedige 01.jpg|The
Nalanda Gedige, a Buddhist temple built between the 8th and 10th centuries, in a predominant Pallava style Dravidian architecture. File:Siva kovil.jpg|The second
Shiva Devale (
Shiva temple) of
Polonnaruwa, built under the Chola occupation period in 10th century. File:Lankatillaka Temple, Exterior 0553.jpg|The
Lankatilaka Vihara, a 14th-century building influenced by Dravidian architecture, designed and involving an architect and craftsmen from South India. File:Gadaladeniya Temple 0525.jpg|The
Devale aside
Gadaladeniya Vihara main shrine, built under the
Gampola period, with South Indian architect and craftsmen. File:Yamuna Eri (Nallur).jpg|
Yamuna Eri, a 15th-century pond in
Nallur. File:Mantri Manai.JPG|
Mantri Manai, the remains of the minister's quarters of
Jaffna Kingdom. It is built in a Euro-Dravidian style. File:Ulveethi.jpg|Corridor of
Naguleswaram Temple File:Nallur Kandasamy front entrance.jpg|
Nallur Kandaswamy temple front entrance File:Nainativu Gopuram.jpg|Raja
Gopuram of
Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman Temple. ==See also==