मंगलवार, 3 सितंबर 2013

Temple Sculptures Of India

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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