Vijayanagara architecture (Kannada: ವಿಜಯನಗರ ವಾಸ್ತುಶಿಲ್ಪ) of 1336–1565CE was a notable building idiom that developed during the rule of the imperial Hindu Vijayanagar Empire. The empire ruled South India, from their regal capital at Vijayanagara, on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in modern Karnataka, India. The empire built temples, monuments, palaces and other structures across South India, with a largest concentration in its capital. The monuments in and around Hampi, in the Vijayanagara principality, are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In addition to building new temples, the empire added new structures and made modifications to hundreds of temples across South India. Some structures at Vijayanagara are from the pre-Vijayanagara period. The Mahakuta hill temples are from the Western Chalukya era. The region around Hampi had been a popular place of worship for centuries before the Vijayanagara period with earliest records dating from 689 CE when it was known as Pampa Tirtha after the local river God Pampa.
There are hundreds of monuments in the core area of the capital city. Of these, 56 are protected by UNESCO, 654 monuments are protected by the government of Karnataka and another 300 await protection.
Beauty / complexity
The beauty and complexity of the temples of this age are in the pillars and their spots. There are different pillars than Hoysala style pillars. There are two main types of pillars that can be found in the pillars. One of the ways in which the smallest pillars are poured into the pillars is to cause beauty.
It appears that the horse or the shroudulas are painted in another pillar and carved around it. The poles are also adorned by small turrets. The pillars of eight or sixteen corners are also found.
Other Dravidian temples have lamps, sparkles, and decoration on them. Generally, the spit is a bend of loose lotus that has gained much of the Vijayanagara architecture.
Changes
During this time some of the major changes were made in the design of temples. These are,
The towers
The architecture of this era is Dravidian style, but we can notice that some changes have been made in business. The idea of building large towers on the front of the temples has become more and more prevalent at this time. In the Hoysala period the peaks were made, but there was no idea of the tower.
These towers helped to enhance the beauty of the temple and identify as far away as ‘there is a temple’. At the end of these towers three, five, seven, nine, and odd numbers were constructed. There was a way to build these stones in stone. As the empire emerged, the practice of sedition was made from gold, silver, bronze and panchaloha instead of stone.
These towers had a large door. These towers, such as cow’s face shaped with solid base, have three, five, seven floors in this odd number. When it goes up, it becomes smaller and ends with the crown’s horn shape.
The two horned structures are cut into pieces. There is also a routine called the royal tower. Today, the towers we see in many temples are largely the construction of the Vijayanagara Nayaks.
Culinary / flagstore
In the early days of Vijayanagara temple, the Annadan-Dasohas fell in the temple. Moreover, various dishes were prepared for God for everlasting food. It does not appear to be the kitchen or culinary arts at the temple premises for cooking. However, in the Vijayanagara period, the practice of building a kitchen in the south-east corner of the temple area began.
The kitchen was ready for the Naidya and Annadanams. Today, many temples can be found in the kitchens of the Vijayanagara period. In the Hoysala period, it was not possible to construct a vehicle in the name of the vehicle even though the vehicle was constructed. However, in the times of Vijayanagara kings, the practice of building high-rise flags came into practice.
The Nandidwaja Pillar was built in the temples of Garudagamba and Shiva in Vishnu temples. These pillars are equal to the height of the temple or the height of the tower, set up between the gut and the tower. At the pillar of the pillar is the small car of the goddess of Garuda, Nandi or the concerned vehicle.
The structure is made up of sticks to build a small cylinder pattern on the edge. According to the Agama Shastras , these pillars can be constructed from stone and permanently installed and built using a bamboo can be set up temporarily. On the
first day of the annual Jubilee celebrations in temples, the Nandhiwaja (bullite image) or Garuda flag is made on the pillars. * This is called a flag hoisting fest . In Mysore Wodeyar’s times, the tradition of building silver, gold and panchaloha flag instead of the fabric flag. The temple is literally a flag hoisting meaning there are a lot of festivities.
Properties / altars
As the towers were constructed at a distant distance from the original house, a large wall, such as a surrounding or stone castle, was constructed. The walls were 15 to 20 feet high. The mandaps were built on the walls, with the base of the walls. Many temples, like Belur , Somnathpur , are still visible in the Vijayanagara period.
God’s festivals were kept in these mansions. The small shrines of the gods were built here. Chalukya . In the Hoysala period, the practice of building separate Amman’s palaces separately came into existence with the temples of Shiva, Vishnu, Lakshmi, Parvati and so on.
Today the temples of Soumayayaki and Ranganayaki Ammanavar in the Chenkakeshava temple of Belur were built during the Vijayanagara Nayaks. The sacrifice of sacrifice in eight directions around the temple and in front of the temple has come into force at this time, after the offering to God.
Even before this time, even in those times, there were no casualties that were to make sacrifices for rice. The larger the strength is placed in front of the flag. Small stones are placed in eight directions around the temple.
On these stones, the sacrificial rice is placed on the idols of Goddess Parvati , including the octagonal . This system has been adopted as a literal form after stopping the animal. Changes that are also being observed in worship practices at this time have also been made. The legal rules of the law were implemented.
Salient features
Vijayanagara architecture can be broadly classified into religious, courtly and civic architecture, as can the associated sculptures and paintings. The Vijayanagara style is a combination of the Chalukya, Hoysala, Pandya and Chola styles which evolved earlier in the centuries when these empires ruled and is characterised by a return to the simplistic and serene art of the past.
For the approximately 400 years during the rule of the Western Chalukya and the Hoysalas empires, the most popular material for temple construction was chloritic schist or soapstone. This was also true for sculpture as soapstone is soft and easily carved. During the Vijayanagar period the local hard granite was preferred in the Badami Chalukya style, although soapstone was used for a few reliefs and sculptures. While the use of granite reduced the density of sculptured works, granite was a more durable material for the temple structure. Because granite is prone to flaking, few pieces of individual sculptures reached the high levels of quality seen in previous centuries. To cover the unevenness of the stone used in sculptures, artists employed plaster to give the rough surface a smooth finish and then painted it with lively colours.
Temple structures
Vijayanagara temples are usually surrounded by a strong enclosure. Small shrines consist simply of a garbhagriha (sanctum) and a porch. Medium-sized temples have a garbhagriha, shukanasi (antechamber), a navaranga (antrala) connecting the sanctum and outer mandapa (hall), and a rangamantapa (enclosed pillared hall). Large temples have tall Rayagopuram built with wood, brick and stucco in Chola style. The term Raya is added to indicate a gopura built by Vijayanagar Rayas. The top of the gopuram has a shalashikhara resembling a barrel made to rest on its side. Large life-size figures of men, woman, Gods and Goddesses adorn the gopuram. This Tamil dravida-influenced style became popular during the rule of king Krishnadevaraya and is seen in South Indian temples constructed over the next 200 years. Examples of Rayagopuram are the Chennakesava Temple in Belur and the temples at Srisailam and Srirangam. In addition to these structures, medium-size temples have a closed circumambulatory (Pradakshinapatha) passage around the sanctum, an open mahamantapa (large hall), a kalyanamantapa (ceremonial hall) and a temple tank to serve the needs of annual celebrations.
Temple pillars often have engravings of charging horses or hippogryphs (Yali) — horses standing on hind legs with their fore legs lifted and riders on their backs. The horses on some pillars stand seven to eight feet tall. On the other side of the pillar are usually carvings from Hindu mythology. Pillars that do not have such hippogryphs are generally rectangular with mythology themed decoration on all sides. Some pillars have a cluster of smaller pillars around a central pillar shaft. The bottom supports of these pillars have engravings of Gods and Goddesses. Carvings of hippogryphs clearly show the adroitness of the artists who created them.
The Mantapas are built on square or polygonal plinths with carved friezes that are four to five feet high and have ornate stepped entrances on all four sides with miniature elephants or with Yali balustrades (parapets). The Mantapas are supported by ornate pillars. The 1,000-pillared style with large halls supported by numerous pillars was popular. The 1,000-pillared Jain basadi at Mudabidri is an example. Larger temples have a separate shrine for the female deity. Some examples of this are the Hazara Rama, Balakrishna and Vitthala temples at Hampi.
Some shrines in the Vitthalapura area inside Vijayanagara were consecrated specifically for Tamil Alwar saints and for the great Vaishnava saint, Ramanujacharya. Architecturally they are different in that each shrine has an image depicting the saint for whose worship the temple was built. Each shrine has its own enclosure and a separate kitchen and pilgrim feeding hall. The water storage tank inside the royal center, the [stepwell stepped tank] called, “Pushkarni”, is a recent archaeological discovery. The stepped tank is fashioned with finished chlorite schist slabs arranged in a symmetrical formation with steps and landings descending to the water on all four sides. This is clearly a Western Chalukya-Hoysala style tank and is seen in many parts of present-day Karnataka. The inscriptions on the slabs indicate the material was brought from outside the Vijayanagara area.
Palaces
Much of what is known today of Vijayanagara palaces is drawn from archaeological excavations at Hampi as no royal palace structures have survived. Most palaces stand in their own compound defined by high tapering walls made of stone or layered earth. Palaces are approached through a sequence of courts with passageways and doorways requiring multiple changes in direction. All palaces face east or north. The larger palaces have side extensions giving the complex a symmetrical shape.
Palaces were built on raised platforms made of granite. The platforms have multiple tiers of mouldings with well-decorated friezes. The decorations can be floral, Kirtimukha shapes (demon faces), geese, elephants and occasionally human figures. Pillars, beams and rafters inside the palace were made of wood as evidenced by ash discovered in excavations. The roof was made of brick or lime concrete, while copper and ivory were used for finials. Palaces commonly consisted of multiple levels with each flight of stairs decorated by balustrades on either side, with either yali (imaginary beast) or elephant sculptures. The entrance steps into palaces and temple mantapas were similarly decorated. Water tanks inside the palace complex have decorative water spouts such as the carved torso of the Nandi with a gaping mouth to allow water flow into the tank. Other structures commonly found inside a palace complex are wells and shrines.
The courtly architecture generally show secular styles with Islamic influences. Examples are the Lotus Mahal palace, Elephant stables, and watch towers. Courtly buildings and domed structures were built with mortar mixed with stone rubble.
The impact of this style of architecture was seen well into the 17th century when the successive Nayaka kingdoms continued to encourage pillars with hippogryphs and granite became the main building material.
Main productions
The architecture of Vijayanagara architecture dates back to today’s Hampi . This is because the town is the capital of the kings. These are the main temples built in Hampi or Vijayanagara
Vijay Vittala Temple
Hazara Ramaswamy Temple
Pampa Virupaksha Temple (renovation)
Sasive Ganapati
Yoga Narasimha
The ruins of the palace, such as the Kamala Mahal, the Queen’s bath house, are also found in the palace buildings. These can be seen in the Indo-Arabic style mix. The stone chariot and musical pillars at Vijaya Vithal Mandir are the architectural features of this period. Most of the temples of this time are made of straw (granite).
The main temple that was built outside Vijayanagara during this time and style is the Shiva Temple of Lepakshi and the Vidyashankar Temple of Sringeri . The design of this temple is unique and draws the onlookers into the needle. The time of Sri Krishnadevaraya is said to be the golden age in Vijayanagar history.
Restoration / Modifications
The temples of Vijayanagara have revived many of the Hoysala period temples. The inscriptions revealed that the tower, prakara and mantapa were constructed by the commander Gundappa Nayaka of this period, which destroyed the Belur Chennakeshava temple. The kings of the era are also credited with having the magnificent temple of Pampa Virupaksha, an ancient and old temple of Vijayanagara. * The construction of the Halebidu temple, the construction of the pavilions at Somanathapura temple, was at this time. Apart from Kannada, these monarchs built towers of magnificent towers like Tirupati, Thadapatri, Kanchi and Srirangam. The inscriptions say that Krishnadevaraya was the 188-foot tower built to the Kamamba Ekambaranath (Kamakshi) temple.
Vasantha mantapa and Pudu mantapa of the Meenakshi temple of Madurai have also been built by Krishnadevarayane. The inscriptions indicate that he had built a large tower for the Nataraja temple in Chidambaram . In Kannada Nadu, the Vijayanagara kings have shown that there are no temples dedicated to art and architecture.
Other famous temples in Karnataka
While the empire is well known for its monuments in the regal capital Vijayanagara (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), it also built temples in other regions of Karnataka including the coastal region (called Karavali) where the Vijayanagara idiom mingled with local styles. A List of these temples and their approximate time of construction is given in the article List of Vijayanagara era temples in Karnataka.
Famous temples in Andhra Pradesh
In Andhra Pradesh the empire built the Mallikarjuna Temple at Srisailam, Upper Narasimha Temple and Lower Narasimha Temple at Ahobilam, Veera Bhadra Temple at Lepakshi and Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati and others. In Tamil Nadu the empire built the Vijayaraghava Permal temple modeled after the famous temples at Tirupati with statues of Krishnadevaraya in Thayar Sanithi pillars facing each other.
Source From Wikipedia