Meenakshi Temple

Architecture
The temple is the geographic and ritual center of the ancient city of Madurai and one of the largest temple complexes in Tamil Nadu. The temple complex is divided into a number of concentric quadrangular enclosures contained by high masonary walls. It is one of the few temples in Tamil Nadu to have four entrances facing four directions. Vishwantha Nayaka allegedly redesigned the city of Madurai in accordance with the principles laid down by Shilpa Shastras (Sanskrit: ilpa stra, also anglicized as silpa sastra meaning rules of architecture) relevant to urban planning. The city was laid out in the shape of square with a series of concentric streets culminating from the temple. These squares continue to retain their traditional names, Aadi, Chittirai, Avani-moola and Masi [8] streets, corresponding to Tamil month names. Ancient Tamil classics mention that the temple was the center of the city and the streets happened to be radiating out like lotus and its petals. The temple prakarams (outer precincts of a temple) and streets accommodate an elobrate festival calendar in which dramatic processions circumabulate the shrines at varying distances from the centre. The vehicles used in processions are progressively more massive the [18] further they travel from the centre. Meenakshi Temple is the most exquisite example of the Dravidian architecture. It is a master piece and was the center of activity for the promotion of art and culture in Madurai. It is the main attraction of the city and pilgrims come to the place in the search of spirituality and peace. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarer. Meenakshi Amman Temple is located centrally in Madurai and the lotus-shaped city surrounds it completely. It claims the distinction of being the largest and the oldest temple in Madurai. Meenakshi temple was originally built by Kulasekarer Pandya. But the credit for the present look of the temple goes to the Nayakas, who ruled Madurai from 16th to 18th century. The temple has huge Gopurams which can be seen from a far off distance. There are total twelve gopurams, but the tallest four stand on the outer walls, each facing one direction. Amongst the four gateways, the south one is the tallest. It is about 50 m high and can be climbed to have a view of the entire city. This gateway contains the twin temples of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarer. These temples are again separately surrounded by four smaller gopurams. Meenakshi Amman Temple can be entered from any of its five entrances. The eastern entrance is usually preferred, as it opens in front of the Meenakshi Sannadhi (shrine), the reigning deity of the twin-temple. This is the only entrance which does not have a towering gopuram. Ashta Shakti Mandapam (mandapam hall) is the first attraction on this side of the temple. It was built by Thirumalai Nayakar's wives. This hall was once used to distribute food to the devotees who came from far off places. The pillars in the hall are carved with Lord Siva's Tiruvilayadals (miracles) and the life story of Meenakshi, as the princess of Madurai. There are a number of other halls and towers in the temple which are worth watching for their sculptures, carvings and designs. Each one is different from the other, in one aspect or the other. The 'Mandapam' of the temple consists of 985 pillars. Each pillar is unique. Some of the pillars are music pillars, which produce music when tapped. The special feature of these pillars is that they are carved out of a single granite stone block. The temple also has an art museum. It contains icons, drawings and photographs which date back to the 1200 - year - old history of Indian temple architecture in the south. A lot of information can be extracted on the Hindu pantheon and related legends from this splendid museum. Various kings renovated the temple, leaving a distinct impression of their artistic taste. A number of complex corridors, magnificent sculptures and a heavenly abode suitable for Goddess Meenakshi, include the additions to the temple that were done by different kings. Her image is said to be carved out of a single emerald. According to mythology, the marriage of Meenakshi and Shiva actually took place in Madurai. It is still celebrated every year with great pomp and show.

GREAT STUPA AT SANCHI ARCHITECTURE

THE "ARCHITECT"
Ashoka Maurya (273 - 236 BCE) was the most famous of the Buddhist rulers of India. A dozen years or so after he began his reign, about 258 BCE, he became a convert to Buddhism. He was a great administrator and a great builder. His empire encompassed the whole of India and Afghanistan. Ashoka's reign of paternal despotism has been compared to that of Constantine or Cromwell. With tireless energy he personally supervised all the affairs of government for 40 years. His doctrine was less concerned with the analytic aspects of Buddhism and dwelled exclusively on ethics. He dispatched missionaries to other parts of India as well as Ceylon, Syria, Egypt, Cyrene, Macedonia, and Epirus. It is due to Ashoka that Buddhism became, and long remained, the predominant religion of India. The foundation of this important center at Sanchi was laid by the Emperor Ashoka when he built a stupa and erected a monolithic pillar here. Ashoka built a total of eight stupas on the hilltop of Sanchi including the Great Stupa. A great number of stupas and other religious structures were added over the succeeding centuries. With the decline of Buddhism, the site decayed and was eventually completely forgotten. But, between 1912 and 1919, the structures were carefully repaired to their present condition and restored.

THE STUPA
The stupa is the most characteristic monument of Buddhist India. Originally stupas were mounds covering the relics of the Buddha or his followers. In its earliest stages Buddhist art didn't represent the Buddha directly. Instead, his presence was alluded to through symbols such as the bo tree, the wheel of law or his footprint. The stupa also became a symbol of the Buddha. More exactly, it became a symbol of his final release from the cycle of birth and rebirth -- the Parinirvana or the "Final Dying." In a larger sense the stupa is also a cosmic symbol. Its hemispherical shape represents the world egg. Stupas commonly rest on a square pedestal and are carefully aligned with the four cardinal points of the compass. This is a recurrence of the symbolism of the dome whereby Earth supports Heaven and Heaven covers Earth. The axis of the world is always represented in the stupa, rising above its summit. The so-called "parasols," set one above the other along the shaft emerging from its uppermost region, represent a heavenly hierarchy. The cosmic symbolism is completed by a ritual circumambulatory path around the monument.

Stupas are large-scale memorials built in particularly holy places. Generally they enshrine relics of some sort. As a building type the stupa is the forerunner of the pagoda. However, the stupa has also come to be known, on a smaller scale, as the reliquary itself and can be made of crystal, gold, silver or other precious metals. The Great Stupa of Sanchi underwent a complete reconstruction after wanton damage inflicted upon it in the middle of the second century BCE. The reconstruction consisted of a stone casing, a terrace with a double flight of steps, balustrades, a paved processional path and an umbrella and railing -- all built of sandstone. Four elaborately carved gaateways were added in the first century BCE. The last addition took place during the rule of the Guptas, sometime before 450 AD. By now effigies of the Buddha were permitted and four stone Buddhas were placed against the walls of the stupa facing the gates. Their haloes are elaborately carved.

ARCHITECTURE OF DILWARA TEMPLE

The Dilwara Temples is one of the popular Jain pilgrimage centre. It is located near Mount Abu in Rajasthan. Dilwara Temple lies at a distance of 2.5 kms from Mount Abu. These temples were built between the 11th and 13th centuries AD by the rulers of Chalukya Dynasty. The mountain has been worshipped by Hindu Shivaites and Jainas since ancient times. The temple has been a popular tourist destination for its magnificent architectural work. In the huge temple complex, there are five shrines that are dedicated to Lord Adinath, Lord Rishabh Dev, Lord Neminath, Lord Mahavira and Lord Parshvanatha respectively.

Architecture of Dilwara Temple Dilwara Temples stand as an example of perfect architecture with intricately carved ceilings, entryways, pillars and panels that reflect the aesthetic appeal of this temple. Regarded as one of the finest specimen of architectural work, the elaborate sculptural work is a treat to the eyes. The temple is built in the Nagara style of architecture and is a storehouse of ancient manuscripts and treatise. However, there is a lack of totality in these temples as each temple was added one after another with an interval of a century. The Dilwara temples consist of four temples of similar size and one small temple. All the temples have symmetrical plan but as a whole there is no axis that runs through group of temples. There is also proper space surrounding the temples. The temple is spread across a vast area and most of the temples are singlestoried structures. The exterior of the temple is not elaborately decorated but the interior of the temple has been exquisitely designed. As the temples are single-storied and not a tall tower hence it is not visible from a distant place. The oldest of Dilwara temples is the Vimal Vasahi temple built in 1031 A.D. it is dedicated to the first Tirthankara, Bhagwan Rishabh Dev. Other important temple in the complex is the Lunvasahi temple is dedicated to Lord Neminatha. The idol is made of stone. The interior of both the temples have been made of white marble. The walls, ceilings and the beans of the temple have been intricately designed with delicate engravings. The temple has a huge image of Bhagwan Rishabh Dev. There are many small temples in the complex dedicated to different Jain Tirthankaras. There are total 48 pillars in the temples. These pillars have been elaborately carved with beautiful images of female figures in different dancing postures. The "Ranga mandapa" or the domical ceiling is also a treat for the eyes. The intricately carved design of the Ranga mandapa i.e. the open-type hall is a major attraction of the temple. The mid part of it is drooping like a chandelier made of stalactite. Sixteen bodies of "Vidyadevi" i.e. goddesses of knowledge made of stone have been engraved on it. The pillars of the temple have been carved with different designs. Even all the parts of the ceiling at "bhamati" (cloisters) which surrounds "Vimana" (main shrine) are adorned with carvings such as lotuses, gods, and abstract patterns. In each external "deva-kulikas" (small shrines) that face the bhamati, a statue of a Tirthankara (Jina) is carved.

Ratha Temples (built 7th century)

The 'Ratha' cave temples, commonly called the Pancha Pandava ratha (the five chariots of the Pandavas), are a stylistic anomaly marking the point of transition between the earlier tradition of rock-carved cave temples and the later tradition of freestanding stone structures, of the type seen at the nearby Shore Temple. Carved in the 7th century by the Pallava kings, the Ratha temples are an attempt to imitate free-standing stone construction in the living rock, with not unsatisfactory results. The structural detailing of the Ratha temples carefully imitates wooden timber supports, pilasters, beams, and brackets, though of course none are necessary in stone. Because each temple is carved from a single piece of living rock, the Rathas are in a suburb state of preservation and many of their carvings are as fresh today as they were 1,300 years ago. The Arjuna and Draupadi rathas, facing west, are dedicated to Shiva and Durga respectively. The one-storey Draupadi has an interesting thatchlike roof with imitation posts and beams. The whole looks as if it could be rendered as effortlessly in timber. The largest of the series is the unfinished three-storey Dharmaraja Ratha.

MEENAKSHI TEMPLE

The great Stupa

The dilwara temple

Ratha

Gupta temple