Temples
of India are important examples of the grandeur that Indian sculpture speaks
of. Mapping on a broad scale, there are two styles of Indian temple sculptures
- the Nagara (North India) and the Dravidian (South India). Carving of the
temple shikharas is the basic difference between the two structural types.
Conversely besides this discrepancy the sculpture of Indian temples follow
uniformity. Architectural elements include the vimanas, garbhagrihas, mandapa,
lathe turned pillars, miniature towers and others. They are common to nearly
all Hindu temple sculpture. Another interesting side of temple sculptures of
India is the cave temples. More about Indian temple structure is mentioned in
the following account.
Indian
Temple Sculptures
Main
motifs of Hindu temple sculptures consist of great epics such as Mahabharata,
Ramayana, Puranas along with legends, plant and animal motifs, court scenes,
famous beliefs, deities, eroticism and kirtimukhas. These temple sculptures can
be classified in the following categories.
Central
Indian Temple Sculptures
They
are mainly crafted out of stone. These sculptures are known for their complex
designs and amazing craftsmanship. These temple sculptures are ancient.
Therefore, these shrines have immense historical importance.
Khajuraho
temples are the main highlight of temple sculpture of Central India. Whether
they are sacred or erotic, aestheticism is abundantly embedded in them. The
Deogarh Temple of Gwalior has been built with the Gupta style.
These
temple sculptures can be categorized into temple sculpture of Madhya Pradesh
and temple sculpture of Chhattisgarh.
East
Indian Temple Sculptures
East
Indian temples include the ancient shrines of Orissa, West Bengal, Jharkhand
and Bihar. These temples echo the culture and faith of the indigenous people.
Konark and Puri are amongst the most imperative Hindu pilgrimage places. Konark
is celebrated for Sun god temple and Puri is famous for Lord Jagannatha.
Principally, these temples follow the Nagara style. Temples at Orissa, West Bengal,
Bihar and Jharkhand are examples of East Indian temple sculpture.
West
Indian Temple Sculptures
Columns
and pillars of these temples are worth a visit. They are deliciously designed.
These temples exhibit every detail. The stones here are filled with life. The
Ghatesvara temple at Badoli and the Ambika Mata temple at Jagat are among the
best examples of these temple sculptures. The BadolVCi temple is simple yet
alluring. It includes a sanctum sanctorum having a curved super structure and
an open foyer with six pillars and two pilasters for supporting a pyramidal
spire. The walls of the heart of sanctorum are festooned with niches having
sculpture.
Temple
of Ambika Mata is very stunning. It houses a sanctum, a parapeted porch with
projecting attics and an enclosed antechamber. Fine sculptures festoon the
walls of sanctorum and hall. Super structures are of curvilinear and pyramidal
types. Temples of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa exhibit the western Indian
sculpture.
North
Indian Temple Sculptures
The
North Indian temple sculpture emerged during ancient India. They date back to
the era of Mauryas. These temples are constructed on the lines of Nagara style.
Temple towers are bee-hive shaped. These temples not only mirror the
craftsmanship of Indian sub-continent but also the great spiritual
significance. Indian states like Rajathan, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir
house more than the Hindu temple sculpture. There are Jain temples as well.
This sculpture is categorized by images of gods and goddesses, chunky flora
sculpture and beautifully carved gateways. Places like Haryana and Punjab also
have gurudwaras. Consequently, they give an inclusive glance on Sikh sculptures
of India. Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal
Pradesh, Punjab, Uttaranchal and Haryana comprise the north Indian temple
sculpture.
South
Indian Temple Sculptures
Temples
of South India are huge and etched with dedication, enthusiasm and love on
stone. With their spirit these sculptures can bequeath an entirely unique
identity on temple building in India. The lathe turned pillars, double mandapas
and the kirtimukhas are unique architectural elements of South Indian temples.
Some more shrines apart from the prime shrine are also erected in a specific
temple complex. The types of the vimanas comprehend the number of shrines in a
temple. For example, two shrines will certainly be housed in the dwikuta
whereas trikuta will have three shrines. It was during the sovereignty of the
Chalukyas and Cholas when the temple sculpture of South India received an
impetus. In Hampi, the Vijayanagara Empire commemorated its art and sculpture
on stone, the Cholas and Chalukyas are celebrated for their colossal temples.
Miniature towers are another special facet of south Indian temple sculpture. A
study of temples at Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala bring you
a closer insight to the temple structures of this part of India.
Visiting
these temples is a blissful experience. In the beginning nature worship and
Buddhism dominated temple sculpture. With the emergence of the Magadhan Empire,
a whole new change entered the temple sculpture. It was during the time of
Mauryas and Sungas when the most discriminating sculptures were created. Also,
with Gupta dynasty a number of patrons of art and architecture having rich
taste came to limelight and gifted some really commendable sculptures to India.
Therefore, in a nut shell, it can be said without a doubt that temple
sculptures of India articulate the splendid sculpting and grandeur that was
imbibed in them when they were newly constructed. They are able to cast a spell
upon you so that you get an eye for every detail of splendor, beauty and grace
of their sculpture.
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