VIJAYNAGAR STYLE OF DRAVIDIAN ARCHITECTURE

ENVIRONMENT
 Vijaynagar or Hampi city was built in the strategic position along the bank of river Tungabhadra, and
became an important political, trade, cultural center in the medieval period.
 Geographical location, harsh rocky terrain made the city to nurture Hindu culture for few centuries in spite
of continuous Islamic invasion from the north
SOCIAL HISTORY
 Under the patronage of king Krishnadeva Raya the city was built with citadel, a number of temples in
Dravidian type, palaces and bath (some of them in Indo-Islamic style).
ARCHITECTURE
City of Vijaynagara
 The palatial city Vijaynagar was built with many religious and secular structures as
o Temples: Virupaksha, Vitthala, Krishna, Hazara Rama
o Palaces: in the citadel, Lotus Mahal
o Citadel: fortifications, Palaces, temple, hall of 100 columns, Throne platform , aqueducts, kund etc.
o Other secular structures: elephants’ stable, queen’s bath, bazaars etc.
 Locally found granite stone was used artistically
 A number of Dravidian type of temples (both Shaivite & Vishnuite) were built in granite stone with finest
carvings in columns, brackets
 A number of secular structures were built in Indo-Islamic style in stone masonry with stucco finish
Vijaynagara style of Dravidian temples:
 Enclosed in ailed cloister with main temple, subsidiary temples, mandapas etc.
 Entrance with massive gopurams
 axially aligned with eastern orientation
 main temple at the center and other subsidiary shrines and mandapas aligned with the main temple
 a number of mandapas were built for different purposes as
o Kalyan mandapa: for the celebration of divine marriage
o Bhajan mandapa: for devotional songs
 Amman shrine: small and richly carved shrine dedicated to the consort (wife) of the god of the main
temple was built at the north of the main temple.
 Construction
o Materials: huge boulders of local granite stone was dressed and used for the temple
construction without mortar upto the roof. Dressed stone and brick masonry with lime mortar
and stucco finish was popular for parapet and gopurams.
o Trabeated construction with monolithic columns, brackets, beams and slabs
 Ornamentation: an integral part of architecture as all structural members were highly ornamental
 Different features are:
 Stone masonry walls without mortar
 monolithic columns of at least four types ( rampant animal, musical, intricately carved
of miniature srines in square shaft, shaft alternated with square and circular bands)
 ornamental bracets of pendant type and lotus bud volute type
 chajjas with carved holders at the corner
 ornamental steps upto the plinth
 trabeated construction
 massive gopuram made of timber and masonry with stucco sculpture
 parapet with masonry and stucco sculpture
 Example: Vitthala temple, Hampi
o An outstanding masterpiece of wonderful craftsmanship and artistic manifestation
o The dance hall or additional mahamandapa with 52 musical columns is an amazing contribution
Compulsory sketch: Vijaynagar coloumn order
1. What are the salient features of Dravidian architecture?. Answer with any particular style of
Dravidian architecture identifying the salient features.