Hindu architecture
In other regions of India, particularly the South, Hindu architecture continued to thrive through the 16th-century, such as those exemplified by the temples, ruined cities and secular spaces of the Vijayanagara Empire and the Nayakas.
Further, states Harle, it is in the reliefs on temple walls, pillars, toranas and madapams where miniature version of the secular architecture can be found.
They are design manuals covering the art and science of architecture, typically mixing form, function with Hindu symbolism.
[1] They cover the architectural aspects of a wide range of subjects: ornaments, furniture, vehicles (wagons, carts), gateways, water tanks, drains, cities, streets, homes, palaces, temples and others.
[1][12] The best site for human settlement, declares Manasara, seeks the right terrain with thick soil that slopes to open skies eastward so that the residents can appreciate the sunrise.
[14] The soil, states Manasara, should be firm, rich for growing flowers, vegetables and fruit trees, and of agreeable odor.
The text recommends that the town planners dig and check the soil quality for a stable foundation to homes and public buildings.
[14] Once the location is accepted, the text describes forty plans for laying out the streets, the homes, markets, gardens and other infrastructure necessary for the settlement.
[14] The early Hindu texts on medicine and surgery mention dedicated buildings and halls to take care of sick people, and recommend that architects with Vastu Vidya (वास्तुविद्या) expertise should construct these.
It should be furnished with staircases, with pestles and mortars, privies, accommodation for belting, and cook-rooms.– Translated by Avinash Kaviratna[17] [...] – the one expert in architecture should, first of all, arrange for an auspicious house which should be strong, wind-free (isolated from wind), ventilated, having comfortable moving space, not situated in a valley, inaccessible to smoke (or) sun (or) water (or) taste (or) sight (or) smell, and provided with water reservoir, mortar pestle, lavatory, bathroom and kitchen.– Translated by Priya Sharma[18] [...] – Thus, an expert in the science of building should first construct a worthy building.
It should be out of the path of smoke, sunlight, water, or dust, as well as unwanted noise, feelings, tastes, sights and smells.
It should have water supply, pestle and mortar, lavatory, bathing area, and a kitchen.– Translated by Dominik Wujastyk (under subtitle: The Hospital Building)[16] The Narada Shilpasastra is another early Sanskrit treatise on architecture.
The Samarangana Sutradhara of Bhoja, for example, dedicates its chapter 34 to these buildings and adds that the walls of the performance hall should adorned pictures of damsels dancing or playing instruments.
[23] These arts and architectural principles may have evolved out of more ancient Indian traditions for performance arts, states Varadpande, as is implied in the Buddhist text Brahmajāla Sutta where the Buddha forbids his bhikshus (monks) from watching dances, music performances and similar public shows in Majjhima-sila.
Each temple has an inner sanctum or the sacred space, the garbha griha or womb-chamber, where the primary murti or the image of a deity is housed in a simple bare cell for darshana (view, meditative focus).
This sanctum is surrounded by a closed or open path for pradakshina (also called parikrama, circumambulation) that is typically intricately carved with symbolic art depicting Hindu legends, themes of artha, dharma and kama as well as the statues of significant deities of three major Hindu traditions (Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti).
[31] Hindu monasteries such as mathas and hermitages (ashrams) are complexes of buildings include temples, monastic cells or the communal house and ancillary facilities.
[33] Torana is a free-standing archway for ceremonial purposes seen in the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain architecture in front of the temples, monasteries and other objects, sometimes as single building.
