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EVOLUTION
CHARACTERISTICS AND EVOLUTION
1. The rock-cut art is more similar to sculpture than architecture as
structures were produced by cutting out solid rocks.
2. There are more than 1,500 known rock cut structures in India.
3. The oldest rock-cut architecture is found in the Barabar caves,
Bihar built around the 3rd century BC.
4. Accompanied by wooden structures-deteriorated over time.
5. Western Ghats- flat-topped basalt hills, deep ravines, and sharp
cliffs, - BEST SUITED for BUDDHIST culture.
6. 1st and 2nd centuries B.C.,- caves at Ajanta,
7. Buddhist monasteries- also used by traders as stop over lodgings.
8. With more exposure, cave interiors became more elaborate, with
interior walls decorated in paintings, reliefs, and intricate carvings.
9. Facades added to the exteriors
10. interiors- use specific - monasteries (viharas) and worship halls
(chaityas).
11. Simple caves evolved into free-standing buildings, needing formal
design, skilled artisans and craftsmen.
12. Early timber architecture, features and designs now replicated in
stone.
13. Examples of rock cut architecture are the Buddhist and Jain cave
basadi, temples and monasteries, many with gavakshas
(chandrashalas).
14. Although many temples, monasteries and stupas had been destroyed,
by contrast cave temples are very well preserved as they are both
less visible and therefore less vulnerable to vandalism as well as made
of more durable material than wood and masonry.
15. The earliest rock-cut garbhagriha, similar to free-standing ones later,
had an inner circular chamber with pillars to create a
circumambulatory path (pradakshina) around the stupa and an outer
rectangular hall for the congregation of the devotees.
EXAMPLES
13. The most striking fact about the temple is that it changes its
colour from golden to pale blue after every hour during the day.
14. The Sanctum is surrounded by halls, which are known as either
the sabha mandapa (assembly halls) or ranga mandapa
DILWARA TEMPLE, ABU
1. The Delwara temples consist of four temples of similar size.
2. Although each temple has symmetrical plan, there is no axis that
runs through this
group of temples as a
whole.
3.Space surrounding
the temples seems just
a residuary, and does
not form a public
square.
4.Two temples are
especially stunning. One
is Vimala Vasahi, which
is dedicated to Adinatha, the first Tirthankara . The other is Luna
Vasahi, dedicated to Neminatha, the 22nd one.
5. The interior space of both temples is made of white marble.
6. Everywhere except the floors, from walls to ceilings as well as
columns and beams, are covered with extremely delicate
engravings.
7. This white and pure space is so gorgeous that it makes us feel as
if we are out of this world.
8. Above all a Domical ceiling of "Ranga mandapa" (open-type hall) is
carved concentrically with utmost intricacy. The central part of
it is sagging like a chandelier made of stalactite.
9. VIMALA VASAHI TEMPLE:
1. base measuring 33 x 14 m
2. It stands in the middle of a courtyard, surrounded by a double
arcade of pillars and an ambulatory lined by devakulikas or
subsidiary shrines.
3. The ranga mandapa is open from three sides.
4. Its eight pillars, forming an octagon, are lavishly embellished with
floral, geometrical and figural motifs and they are linked to
one another with elaborately scalloped and intricately carved
arches, so-called toranas
5. 12 decorated pillars
6. From the dome hangs down from the centre is a pendant in
the form of a lotus blossom
ROCKCUT ARCHITECTURE AND ITS EVOLUTION 1
CHARACTERISTICS AND EVOLUTION 1
EXAMPLES 2
1. Examples: Cave temples at Ajanta 2
2. Example: Elephanta rock cut temple 2
3. Example: Ellora: Kailash Temple 2
4. Example: Rathas of Mahmallapuram/Mahabalipuram 2
JAIN ARCHITECTURE 6
INTRODUCTION 6
CHARACTERISTICS OF JAIN ARCHITECTURE 6
EXAMPLES: 7
ADINATH TEMPLE, RANAKPUR 7
DILWARA TEMPLE, ABU 9