Hindu Art And Architecture In Southern India

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Pallava Dynasty

Back 1

500-750 CE

Ruled from Kanchi

Hindu Art Flourished

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Mamalla I

Back 2

Ruler during Pallava dynasty

Had rock-cut monuments carved at Mamallapuram during his reign

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Rock Cut Monuments at Mamallapuram

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Granite outcrops/ Cliffs

Cover several square miles along Bay of Bengal coast

Converted into series of monuments

Front 4

The Mahabharata

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Great war epic

Arjuna (legendary Pandava brother) underwent penance beside river to enlist aid of Shiva in battle

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The Mahabharata in The Descent of the Ganges/
The Parinirvana of Arjuna

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Episodes from the Mahabharata

Shows Arunja beside shrine to Shiva

Not a Narrative

Represents all space and time (eternal present)

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Water in The Descent of the Ganges/
The Parinirvana of Arjuna

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During rainy season water cascades down center of relief over cobra headed spirits of water

Illustrates the descent of sacred river goddess Ganga to earth as it was filtered through Shivas hair

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Animal/Human Sculptures on The Descent of the Ganges/
The Parinirvana of Arjuna

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Symbolize all of creation converging upon the sacred waters

Room for each created by carving out individual pockets of space along face of cliff

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Elephants vs. Lions in The Descent of the Ganges/
The Parinirvana of Arjuna

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Elephants
Occupy prominent position
Highly naturalistic

Lions
Schematic curly manes
Recall heraldic style of Maurya period

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Ratha

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"Chariot of the gods" shrines

Commissioned by Mamalla I

Translate Wooden/brick/masonry buildings of the time into stone sculpture

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Significance of Ratha

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Provide historical museum of the mid 17th century southern Indian Hindu architectural tupes used during Mamallas reign

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Ratha vs. Chaitya

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Rathas are masses in space not space within a mass

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Pandava Rathas

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named after 5 brothers

made from 2 giant Granite boulders

show 5 kinds of temples

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Draupadi Pandava Ratha

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dedicated to the goddess

wife of the 5 brothers

curved roof, organic details

resembles thatched roof

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Bhima Pandava Ratha

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long temple

roof like karle

barrel vaulted roof

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Dharmaraja Pandava Ratha

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good illustrative example of early southern-style hindu temple

biggest one but same shape as Arjuna (square w/pyramid on top)

not completed

portrait of Mamalla I posed stiff like god

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Appearence had the Dharmaraja Ratha been compleded

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pillared porches bordered by sculptures set in niches on all 4 sides

garhagriha

incompleteness caused by death of Mamalla

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Cosmic idea behind Ratha design

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every temple is exploding in slow motion

manifesting and assuming form

like a linga it manifests gods into the world

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Nakula-Sahadeva Ratha

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like Chaitya halls

elephant next to it because its shaped like one

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King Krishna I

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ruled 756-753

Rashtrakuta Dynasty

32 cave temples @ Ellora begun during his rule

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Kailasanatha Temple dedication

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dedicated to Shiva as the Lord of Kailasa

(great mtn in western tibet where his throne was located)

temple originally whitewashed to depict snowcaps

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Back 21

a) high sculptured wall (entrance gate/gopura)
b) Nandi shrine (named for bull Shiva rides)
c) pair of elephants flanking shrine
d) mandapa (columned assembly hall)
e) subsidiary shrines
f) gharbhagriha

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Kailasanatha inspirations

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plan reflects chaitya hall temples

rich detailing/decorative niches/statuary 4 tiered vimana=elaborations of Rathas @ Mamallapuram

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Niches at Kailasanatha temple

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held statues

added drama to texture of highlights and shadows

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Chola Dynasty

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Rajaraja ruled 985-1014 ("king of kings"

southern india able to continue indigenous artistic traditions post 1000

muslims took over most of northern india

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Rajarajeshvara (Brihadesvara) Temple Appearance

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steps passing columnar shrine to Nandi lead to colonnaded porch

flat roofed mandapa halls

inner ambulatory lit by windows

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lingam

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in garbhagriha

symbol of male sexuality (specifically Shiva)

earlier examples more explicit, later=abstract

appear with yoni

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yoni

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circular symbol of female sexuality

in some temples they are invisible and said to be made of ether

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garbhagrihas

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plain and dark so nothing within distracts worshipper from lingam and yoni

heart of the temple

circumambulation around lingum and yoni

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Stupika of The Rajarajeshvara

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monolithic 8 ribbed capstone topped by gold plated finial

decorated w/ ribbed domes, chaityas, window motifs, statues of dwarfs

looks like Hindu hilltown/densely populated World Mountain

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Shiva as Nataraja, Lord of the Dance appearance

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Idealized, impassive god
Long hair
Smooth features
One raised leg-standing on demon
Tribhanga pose
Ring of fire circling him
Lower right hand makes mudra of blessing
Dancing
Holds a flame and a drum

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Shiva's dance representation

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destroys universe

born again in perpetual death+rebirth cycle

dances to the rhythm of heartbeat of cosmos

fire=destruction of samsara and maya

drum= prime substance from which universe will be rebuilt

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purpose of Shiva as Nataraja, Lord of the Dance

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carried through temple in ritual processions