SHAPE AND GEOMETRY OF ORISSAN TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on the study of the Orissan Hindu Temple. There has been done a lot of research in Orissan Hindu Temple Architecture, Still many aspects of this subject are unexplored. This study has attempted to collect all the research that has been taking on in this field, and possibly contribute to the current knowledge through a shape and geometrical analysis of Orissan Hindu Temple architecture. However the Indian temples are not only the abode of God and place of worship, but temples are also the cradle of knowledge, art, architecture and culture. The practices and traditions of temples exist not only in history but also in present time which greatly influence the sociocultural life of its people and gives continuity to traditional Indian values. However, unlike the western architecture, the evolution of Indian temple architecture is marked by a strict adherence to the original ancient models that were derived from religious consideration-and that continued over many centuries with the use of the basic proportion and rigid forms of the early temples. Especially in Orissa, the temple architecture as also known as Kalingan Style or Orissan style of temple architecture. As these Orissan temples are considered as north indian style or the Nagara style but they have some unique features that separate from northern style. There built structures are considered as the devotional typr of architecture throughout the Orissa. Hence this dissertation aims to present a dimensional study of Orissan temples taken from different time periods and their comparison with other Orissan styles of temples respectively for the various assessments of the temples. To fulfill the main aim of this dissertation some objective has been employed as they are 1. To study the various phases of evolution of Orissan Temple Architecture. 2. To study the elements of Orissan Temple Architecture. 3. To conduct field/ visual Surveys to document the temple forms. 4. To analyses the Orissan Temple Architecture forms to identify its evolutionary process by conducting • Dimensional relationship between elements • With relation to vastu purusha mandala • Fractal geometry analysis • Visual analysis The scope and Study of this dissertation is limited to shape and geometrical aspects of Orissan Temple Architecture. For the entire thesis a methodology has been adopted which describe the entire thesis procedure and compilation. Form the very beginning it has been collected the literature from different sources which describe the geometrical aspects of temples and their inter-relationship. Various sources like Mansara, Mayamata & Orissan temple there are many treatise as Bhusan Pradipa, silpa Ratnakar, Vastu Sastra Upanishad, Silpa Sarini, Silpa Prakash, Padma Kesari, Deul Mapagunagara, Bhusana Prakash, Soudhkagama etc. and also some eminent temples books of Percy Brown and Stella Karmisch and many journals like Orissa Review etc. helped a lot for such kind of thesis. A visual and dimensional survey has been conducted and collected some drawing from archaeological survey of India Orissa chapter for the various analysis assessments. Analysis including dimensional analysis, relation with vastu purusha mandala, and some visual analysis has done as a part of methodology. After analysis major findings and scope for further research has included in the final report compilation. Literature Study The main elements of the typical Orissan temple are Rekha Deul, Jagamohana, the Natyamandapa and the Bhogamandapa which further divided into sub-parts that explains its shape and geometry. The transformation of the Orissan Temple can be described through time periods like Formative Phase, Transitional Phase, Mature Phase and the Phase of Decadence. Different phases explained how the elements of Orissan temples have changed with respect to time. The typical shape and geometry of Orissan temple architecture can be explained by temple forms, fractals geometry behind the temple elements, symbolism of basic geometrical forms and the cosmology behind the temple form and its elements. Case Studies All the temples have some geometrical rules and proportion. Since none of the Orissan temple has been analysed on the basis of shape and geometrical parameter hence, following temples has been studied from different styles of temple architecture. In study of Chika Mahakut, it has been found that the elements of this temple are well arranged with the basis fundamental shapes like squares and its derivation of geometry and having inter-relation to each other with a certain proportion in different parts in plan form which inspire to study further on Orissan temple shape and geometry. After study the simple geometry in the Chika Mahakut, the complex geometrical relationship has been studied in the Durga Temple Aihole. In this temple many complex derivation of squares to triangle and circles forms temples in different proportion has been found and its relationship with the different plan forms of the temple When there is no such xxiv measured drawing available for analysis of temple form, then other methods are adopted. In Kandariya Mahadev temple, Khajuraho, Kin Trivedi has tried to explain the geometry through box counting method and temple derivation from fractal geometry. From the case study it has been found that, there are various methods to analyse the shape and geometry of temple architecture. So, author has tried to analyse the shape and geometry of Orissan temples through dimensional analysis, with vastu purusha Mandala and fractal geometry. Research Design After case study a research design forms which includes, the sampling procedure, design of survey schedule, primary and secondary data. The collection of data's through primary and secondary sources has been collected, finalised and the architectural characteristics has been inferred. Selection of temple from a number of temples has been simplified by the arranging them through their date of construction. As from the literature it has been finalised that Orissan temple have distinguished four different phases and according to them elements of temples varies from time to time. There is another process has been conducted as the temples were built from different regions and have some different quality of appearance. When plotted the temples location on the physical map available it has been found that the major temples of Formative phase are found on the central Orissa, the Transition Phase in coastal Orissa region, the Mature Phase in southern and northern Orissa and the phase of decadence temples in eastern costal and western Orissa. That means present Orissa have all parts rich of Orissan temple architecture form and culture. It has been observed that many temple complexes have mixed phases due to time of construction from different kingdom to different. Hence the selection of sample that has been collected in different phases are as three in number in formative phase, three in transition phase, two in mature phase and four from the phase of decadence, the uninformative of the analysis. Shape and Geometrical Analysis This dissertation covers mainly analysis of three kinds as they are 1. Analysis based on dimensional study 2. Analysis with vastu purusha mandala 3. Fractal geometrical analysis 4. Visual analysis In the analysis based on dimensional analysis, it has been analyzed the different elements with respect to time period. They are like plan area ratio of the temples, means the total built-up area vs. Total wall area of the temple, temple height Vs. phases of Orissan xxv temple architecture and slenderness ratio vs. the phases of Orissan temple. All these three analyses explain the structural behavior of the temples which stand for centuries. Different analysis like the relationship between the areas and lengths of different halls explains the mass and proportion of the overall temple forms. Different analysis of elemental heights of different halls explains the proportion of the temples in its own parts with other parts of the halls...........