Hindu temple in India: architecture, photo

The culture and architecture of India have been formed for many thousands of years, taking into account the traditions of many nationalities (more than 200) and a wide variety of styles. The Hindu temple has a history of more than four thousand years, but still its construction is carried out according to certain architectural canons, known since ancient times.

Ancient temples

In Ancient India, architectural structures were built both religious and secular. Most often for the construction used wood and clay, because they did not survive until our time. Of stone begin to build only in the first centuries of our era. During construction, everything was strictly done according to ritual Hindu texts. To answer the question: how did the architectural forms of the Hindu temple evolve over thousands of years and have acquired the kind that has come down to our days, it is necessary to understand the types of temples.

The architecture of the Hindu temple has two varieties:

1. Dravida style (Dravida), belonging to which are high towers of the pyramidal form, decorated with carved columns with images of kings, gods, soldiers (the style of the southern regions of India). Tiers in the pyramid usually decrease in diameter upward, and on the top there is a dome (shikhara). Such temples are lower in height. These include the temple of Katarmal and Bajnath.
2. Style Nagara (common in the northern regions of the country) - with towers in the form of hives (shikkhara), composed of several layers of architectural elements, the completion of which looks like a "drum". The style dates back to the 5th century AD. At the heart of the layout of the temple is a square, but the decorative elements inside break the space and give the impression of roundness. In later buildings, the central part (mandapa) is surrounded by small temples, and the entire building becomes visually similar to a fountain.

There is also the style of Visar, in which some elements of these two styles are combined.

The biggest difference in these types of temples is the size of the gate: in the northern temples they were made very small in size, and in the south were built huge beautifully decorated gates (Gopuram), opening the entrance to the courtyard of the Indian temple. Often, such gates were decorated with sculptures and painted.

How the ancient architects built

The Hindu temple in India was built from material that was selected depending on local building capabilities. For example, temples of the period of Hoysal in the 12-13th centuries - with a large number of sanctuaries and decorative elements - were built of plastic soapstone. Thanks to the plasticity of this stone, ancient sculptors had great opportunities in creating magnificent decorative ornaments of temples.

And vice versa, in the area of Mamalapuram, where the temple was built of granite, it was impossible to make a good detail of the surface of the walls. Temples built of bricks also differ in their stylistic features.

The Hindu temple was conceived and built as a dwelling of the god, all proportions and reliefs were always made according to the canons. Particularly interesting is the way in which the architectural forms of the Hindu temple reproduce the basic principles of Vastu Shastra science, the science of architectural design and construction of temples. The principles of this science were developed by the legendary architect Vishvakarman, who is now called the divine artisan.

Types of ancient temples

The most ancient temples in architecture can be conditionally divided into three groups:

1. One-storey small in the form of a circle or a square without a superstructure.
2. Temples similar to caves, usually single-storey buildings with an apse curvature.
3. High buildings (6-12 floors), built in the form of a world mountain, decorated with a superstructure-shikhara.

The plan of the Hindu temple is often represented in the form of a mandala (a geometric diagram with potential, but secret possibilities). The movement of the believer in the temple should be directed from the outer part to the inner, to the center. And the believer does not go straight, but in a roundabout way, through "certain gates, passages," and in the way must throw away all unnecessary to come to the foundations of existence.

Internal layout of the temple

Hindu temple, dating back to the 6th century AD. E., Has a plan subordinate to the canon, which regulates all the interior decorations and religious rituals.

The central place in the temple belongs to the altar with the shrine (garbha graha), over which the tower (shikkhara) was built. Next to the altar is a meeting room, followed by an anti-hall and an entrance with a portico.

An important part of the temple is the sanctuary of Garbhagriha, representing a square, the entrance to which is represented by a narrow and low single passage, there are no doors and windows in this room (and very dark). The Deity is depicted in the center. Round it there is a circular course, according to which the believers make a parikrama.

The passage connects the sanctuary with a large hall (Mukhamandapa). Also there is a narrow passage Antarala (laz). Mandapa is used for religious rites, because the room was sometimes built quite large enough to accommodate all believers.

Before entering the temple, there is usually an animal (sculpture or flag with the image) to whom this temple is dedicated. It can be an ox (the temple of Shiva), a lion (the temple of the Goddess-Mother), a man with a bird's head (in the temples of Vishnu). The temple, most often, was surrounded by a low wall. Inside the fence there may be shrines of deities.

The Religion of Hinduism

Hinduism is a very ancient national religion that unites the traditions and philosophical schools of India. According to this religion, the world (samsara) is a series of rebirths, consisting of ordinary and everyday, and beyond it is the reality where the Absolute rules.

Any person in Hinduism tries to break out of the world and to unite with the Absolute, the only way to achieve this is self-denial and austerity. Karma are actions in the previous rebirth (both good and bad), and casting is also correlated with a particular karma.

Of the many Indian gods gradually came to the forefront of the three main:

• The god Brahma, who created and rules the world;
• God Vishnu, who helps people in various disasters;
• The formidable god Shiva, the bearer of the creative and destructive cosmic energy.

Temples carved in caves

The Hindu temple, carved entirely from a natural rock, is an example of the highest skill and variety of artistic and architectural techniques. The art of carved architecture arose in connection with the geological features of the terrain. The brightest representative of the monolithic temple is the Kailasanath temple in Ellora, which is dedicated to Shiva. All parts of the temple were carved into the rock in a few years. Presumably, the process of cutting the temple was carried from the top down.

This temple and nearby 34 monasteries are called Ellora Caves, in length these structures occupy 2 km. All the monasteries and the temple are carved in basalt rocks. The temple is a vivid representative of the Dravidian style. The proportions of the building and the carved stone sculptures that adorn the temple are an example of the highest craftsmanship of ancient sculptors and artisans.

Inside the temple there is a courtyard, on the sides of which there are 3-storey arcades with columns. On the arcades carved panels with huge Hindu deities. Previously, there were also bridges of stone, connecting the galleries between the center, but under the influence of gravity they fell.

Inside the temple there are two buildings: the temple of the Nandi Mandap bull and the main temple of Shiva (both 7 m high), the lower part of which is decorated with stone carvings, and at the base there are elephants supporting both structures.

Stone sculptures and bas-reliefs

The role of the sculptural decoration of the Hindu temple (depicting the world of animals and the ordinary life of the common people, scenes of mythological traditions, religious symbols and gods) consists in reminding the viewer and believers of the true purpose of their life and existence.

The external decor of the temple reflects its connection with the outside world, and the inner indicates a connection with the divine world. If you look at the decorative elements from the top down, then this is read as the condescending of the divine to people, and in the direction from the socle to the top - the ascent of the human spirit to the divine height.

All sculptural ornaments are a significant cultural and religious achievement and legacy of Ancient India.

Buddhist Temples

Buddhism in the last millennium has spread throughout the world, but this religious trend originated in India. Buddhist temples are built in such a way as to embody the Three Treasures (the Buddha himself, his teaching and Buddhist community).

The Buddhist temple is a building that is a place of pilgrimage and inhabitation of monks, which is completely protected from any external influences (sounds, smells, circuses, etc.). All of its territory is completely closed behind powerful walls and gates.

The central part of the temple is the "golden hall" (condo), where there is a statue or Buddha image. Also there is a pagoda where the remains of the Buddha's earthly body are kept, usually consisting of 3-5 tiers with the main pillar in the center (for the remains under it or at the top). Monumental structures of Buddhist temples are decorated with a large number of arches, columns, reliefs - all this is dedicated to the Buddha.

The most popular Buddhist temples in India are located in the state of Maharashtra:

• Ajanta (cave complex of monasteries).
• Ellora, where Buddhist, Hindu temples adjoin nearby (from 34 caves: 17 - Hindu, 12 - Buddhist).
• Mahabodhi (where according to legend the reincarnation of Gautam Sidhartha into the Buddha took place), etc.

Great popularity in India is the Buddhist stupa - a structure that is a monument to some cult event of Buddhism, in which the remains of outstanding people are kept. According to legend, the stupas bring harmony and prosperity to the world, influence the field of the Universe.

The largest Hindu temple in India

It is the temple of Akshardham in Delhi, which is a grandiose complex dedicated to Hindu culture and spirituality. This modern temple was built of pink stone in 2005 according to ancient canons. In its construction, 7000 artisans and craftsmen participated.

The temple is crowned by 9 domes (height 42 m), it is decorated with columns (total 234), which depicts figures from Indian mythology, and along the perimeter are arranged 148 elephants of stone, as well as other animals, birds and figures of people. Its huge size allowed to include it in the Guinness Book of Records.