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Temples: history, architecture and distribution - Guest - 01-11-2007

KUMBH MELA-A DROP OF HEAVEN, ON EARTH

Temples: history, architecture and distribution - Bharatvarsh - 01-11-2007

QUOTERestoring The Faith
Author: Amarnath K. Menon
Publication: India Today
Date: January 15, 2007

Introduction: The Archaeological Survey of India is set to give a new lease of life to a marvel of Kakatiya architecture built in the 12th century

Retrieval and restoration of old temples is a daunting task, more so if it is a throwback to nearly 1,000 years. But that has not deterred the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) from taking up the restoration and conservation of the Rudraeswara Swamy Temple, popularly known as the Thousand Pillared Temple, in Warangal, about 140 km from Hyderabad, in Andhra Pradesh.

Though the popular reference to the temple suggests it had a thousand pillars, records do not support a figure beyond 300. The monument is a classic example of the architectural brilliance of the Kakatiya kings who ruled the region between the 12th and 14th centuries. Built in 1163, the star shaped, triple-shrined temple is dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Surya. There are perforated stone screens, richly carved icons, meticulously designed pillars and rock-cut elephants.

In the front is an exquisitely polished Nandi (bull figure). There used to be a kalyana mandapa (bridal podium) beyond the Nandi, which was damaged five years ago due to the sinking of some parts of the temple's foundation. With the help of traditional sculptors from Tamil Nadu, the ASI has dismantled the mandapa and also 119 of the 132 pillars, in order to strengthen the foundation. The entire structure, as also the 13 pillars that have gone missing, will be re-erected. The entire project will cost about Rs 3.5 crore and will be completed only in 2008.

"The temple was built with granite but without any binding material. As such, the stones that were interlocked with one another have displaced with time," says D. Jithendra Das, superintending archaeologist, ASI, on the difficulties of restoration.

The Kakatiya temples reveal in their construction a happy blending of the styles of North and South India. The reign of the Kakatiya dynasty is regarded as one of the brightest periods of Telugu history. "The dynasty expressed itself best through religious art. Their art preserved the balance between architecture and sculpture," says V.V. Krishna Sastry, former director of archaeology and museums, Andhra Pradesh.

What makes this conservation tricky is the fact that the unique edifice is also a live temple to which the faithful flock every day. It is packed for several hours on the night of the Kartika Poornima when it is lit fully with oil lamps. Regular games of footfall within the premises have also contributed to the defacing.

The Kakatiya culture has inspired many present-day artistes like dance guru Nataraja Ramakrishna who recreated the vibrant martial dance form Perini Sivatandavam, originally performed by male dancers during the Kakatiya days. Once the Rudraeswara Swamy Temple regains its lost glory, it should be the turn of other Kakatiyan architectural marvels like the sinking Ramalingeswara temple at Palampet and the ruins of the Warangal Fort.

http://hvk.org/articles/0107/52.html

Temples: history, architecture and distribution - ramana - 01-11-2007

I have been to the Thousand Pillar Temple in Hanmakonda during my college days. It was my first sight of a desecrated Hindu temple and brought a lot of angst. I had read in history books about the Kaktiyas and the fall of Pratapa Rudra and how Warangal was ransacked but didnt quite understand what it ment. I know the statue of the Nandi before the temple. The bad people had smashed the Nandi's vitals as they could not destroy the whole statue.

The next set of desecrated temples that I saw were those of Hampi Vijaynagagram. Especially the temple of Ugra Narasimha.

Temples: history, architecture and distribution - Guest - 01-11-2007

QUOTE(Viren @ Jan 1 2007, 08:00 PM)Aerial attack carried out by the Buddist Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) on the Historic Hindu Temple
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTEerial attacks were carried out by the Buddist Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) on the well known Historic Hindu Sithirivelautha Swami (Murugan) Temple located in Verugal in Eachchilampathu division, south of Trincomalee district. Temple buildings have been completely damaged in the aerial strike on Thursday. [right][snapback]62664[/snapback][/right]
</div>Are the Sri Lankan 'Buddhists' pseudo-buddhists? They are acting like the Taliban. At least the Taliban were following their religion when wiping out the Bamiyan Buddhas and so were the hordes of Islamofascists who brought down the Buddhist temples in India long ago.
But these losers aren't Buddhist at all. Hopefully they weren't hypocrites to complain about the Taliban's actions in Afghanistan.

Were there any devotees in the Muruga temple when it was destroyed? How many were killed or got hurt? Sigh. What is the world coming to.

Temples: history, architecture and distribution - Guest - 01-11-2007

Is a nationalist curent in Sri Lanka something like-if you are not buddhist theravada you do not belong to this nation.

Temples: history, architecture and distribution - Guest - 01-12-2007

QUOTEIs a nationalist curent in Sri Lanka something like-if you are not buddhist theravada you do not belong to this nation.They couldn't all be like that. It's not Buddhist, after all. The monks might not be like that, I'm guessing. But then, I've never been to Sri Lanka. I only have Hindu friends from there (Tamil). My Buddhist friends are from eastern Asian countries.

Ask Bharatvarsha or Mudy, they'd know.

I don't think Sinhalese Buddhists have any trouble with Mahayana Buddhism. Besides, Mahayana Buddhism would be quite scarce in Lanka I'm guessing.

Temples: history, architecture and distribution - Bharatvarsh - 01-12-2007

It's hard to say whether this was wilfull or not, it could have been destroyed during the aerial strikes but previously there have been cases of wilfull destruction of Hindu kovils (especially during the 1983 anti Tamil riots), some of these monks do behave as if only Sinhala Buddhists belong to the nation but I don't know about all the monks but what I do know is that a lot of Sinhalese have anti India feelings.

Temples: history, architecture and distribution - ramana - 01-17-2007

Dated article on The Katasraj temple in Jhelum, Pakistan

Link: http://www.indiafirstfoundation.org/archiv...ptember0405.htm

QUOTERevival of a Heritage
Balbir K. Punj
Â
Restoration of Katasraj in pakistan can be a great begining

Pakistan is no Egypt or Indonesia that cherishes its pre- Islamic legacy. Even to remember its Hindu heritage might threaten its Islamic identity. Pakistan acts iconoclastic to prove its credentials to Arabs amongst whom Islam originated.

Such thoughts passed my mind as I gazed at the dilapidated buildings which, a little more than half a century ago, were thriving temples believed to be of Mahabharata vintage. The legend of Katasraj was the family lore I had grown up with. And here I was, trying to connect its present misery with tales of its grandeur in the pre-Partition past. The haunted structure bore no resemblance to the image I had nurtured all these decades, after hearing colourful accounts of the pilgrimage my grandparents had made.

Until 1947, Katasraj hosted the largest Hindu fair in undivided Punjab. But that bubbling and vibrant temple complex now has no idols, no doors and windows. Temple bells no longer chime and there are no pilgrims. Nestling in the ruins is the haveli of Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa, the residence of the legendary commander- in-chief of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Khalsa army, whose name struck terror in the heart of invading Afghans.

The only redeeming feature is the holy pond, fabled to have originated from the tears of Lord Siva who wept inconsolably at the death of his wife, Sati. This is also where the question- answer session took place between the celestial guard Yaksha and the eldest Pandava, Yudhistira. For the local administration, it is just a perennial source of fresh and healthy water, which is supplied to the urban population.

Religious and cultural freedom gained by the Hindus and Sikhs during Maharaja.Ranjit Singh's regime continued throughout the British period. Katasraj, despite suffering the ravages of iconoclasm, had not ceased to be a pilgrimage. A big fair was held in July-August. But it fell into desolation once Hindus were expelled from West Punjab during Partition. Pilgrims could not go to Katasraj until 1983. Even then, they faced hurdles and discrimination. Then, in 1999, Pakistan withdrew permission for visiting Katasraj. 

Most of the Hindu temples in Pakistan were never opened after Partition. The Jain temple of Lahore is rotting under lock and key while a madrasa operates in its compound. The fair held at Veer Hakikat Rai's memorial is still popular with the small Hindu population of Pakistan, but the condition of the memorial is deplorable. The 'Indian High Commission in Islamabad issues 1,500 visas to Muslims every day but Pakistan issues visa only to 200 Hindu pilgrims, annually.

A youth hostel has materialised near Katasraj temple. While the encroachments that have come up in the past 50 years remain undisturbed, the area was spruced up on the eve of BJP president L.K. Advani's visit. During his visit, Pakistan announced Rs 2 crore for the first phase of the renovation plan. It was in this context that Advani reminded the Pakistanis about MohammedAli Jinnah's speech in Pakistan's Constituent Assembly on August II, 1947, in which he had said that the new state would treat Hindus and Muslims as equals.

After a gap of 57 years, Pakistan was taking its first step towards that direction. I am sure the Jinnah controversy, in the wake of Advani's visit, will not merit even a footnote in the history of Indo-Pak relations. But if the Katasraj temple project reaches its logical end and the trend is repeat ed in other historical temples, the visit will indeed be a path-breaking one on the subcontinent.

Opinion is divided in Pakistan on the restoration of Katasraj temple. There is a section that believes pre- Islamic heritage is an integral part of Pakistan. Another realises the tourist potential of Katasraj. A silent majority is, however, completely indifferent to these 'cosmetic changes'. To them, no matter what you do, the relations between Pakistan and India will remain tense.

There is a fourth section that is against the renovation of Katasraj, for it would mean unraveling the vision of Pakistan. Their fear is that Pakistan was created as a land of puritan Islam and once Katasraj is renovated, there could be demands for renovating other temples. Hindus would visit Pakistan in hordes and contaminate the mind of Muslims. 

Katasraj is a part of a universal heritage. Whatever might be the motive behind Pakistan's latest move, we need to welcome it. There is no it can be renovated except under the aegis of the Pakistan government. I hope Pakistan is honest about its intentions. But it surely doesn't have the necessary wherewithal or expertise to execute the project. The temple complex will need much more than financial allocation, to rediscover and rejuvenate itself while retaining its soul.

This is where India can play a positive role. India extended technical expertise in restoration of Cambodia's 1,OOO-year-old Angkor Vat temple complex. Why not do it for Katasraj as well?

Legend of Katasraj

Katasraj features in the third chapter of Mahabharata. It is where the five Pandava brothers came to quench their thirst. But each was smitten dead (actually senseless) by Yaksha, the celestial guard of the pond, because they failed to, or did not care, to reply to his questions. Only Yudhistira agreed to reply to 35 of his questions, of which four are legendary: Who is a Brahmin? What is the greatest wonder in the world? Which is the best path? Who is truly happy in the world?

Yudhistira replied that virtuous conduct alone make one a Brahmin while departing from it would degrade him; thousands of people are dying every day, yet every individual thinks he will never die - this is the greatest wonder; the best path is the one set by sages and savants; and a person who is neither an emigrant nor a debtor, although he eats humble food at the end of the day, is happy.

Yaksha was very happy with Yudhistira and granted him a boon. Yudhistira asked that his brother Nakula be revived. "why Nakula?" asked Yaksha. Yudhistira replied that his father Pandu, had two wives kunti and Madri. Since he was Kunti's son it would only be fair that one of Madri's son be alive. Yaksha, who was Lord of Dharma in disguise, was pleased with Yudhistira and revived all four brothers.

The writer is a BJP member of the Rajya Sabha

Courtesy: The Week, September 4, 2005

Temples: history, architecture and distribution - ramana - 01-17-2007

Interesting blog

http://varnam.org/history/archives/archaeology/

Temples: history, architecture and distribution - Guest - 01-18-2007

Bagan Bauddha temple is one of the oldest and tallest temples of Myanmar. Constructed in 11th century, now in ruins.

<img src='http://russia.shaps.hawaii.edu/cseas/seapics/14/img0076.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

Temples: history, architecture and distribution - ramana - 02-14-2007

DNA India reports

QUOTEFirst ever Hindu temple in Austin 
IANS
Wednesday, February 14, 2007Â 00:00 IST

NEW YORK: Texasâ Austin city has got its first Hindu temple and community centre. The 76-acre temple and community centre cost $15 million, funded mostly by the Hindu community and some from corporations such as Dell Inc.

âThe centre is available to everyone. There are only a few restrictions, which include no meat, no alcohol and no shoes,â said Harish Kotecha, treasurer of the centre. Earlier, the Hindu community here had to move from facility to facility for daily ceremonies and cultural activities. Hundreds of people attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sunday by Senator John Cornyn. He said the Indian-American community in TexasÂ would enrich the culture and the quality of life in Austin.

The centre will offer educational classes that will include teachings on discipline in life and Hinduism. âThe classes will teach about why we practise Hinduism,â said Jagannath Vedula, a religious coordinator. 

Austin Mayor Will Wynn, who also spoke at the event, said the temple would help people be more aware of the diversity of Austin and its importance economically, academically and spiritually. âIt is a great way to bring us all together,â said Sujata Ghosh, a medical student.

Temples: history, architecture and distribution - Guest - 02-17-2007

This video shows the 12 Jyotirlingas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY2OVLlXskY...related&search=

I did not know Goa has that many Shiva temples of importance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECMRDvguD1U...related&search=

Temples: history, architecture and distribution - Guest - 02-27-2007

<img src='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pillars_of_heaven.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

Kiradu Temples in Rajasthan....the above is a Vishnu Temple.

<img src='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bheeshma.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

Bheeshma Pitahmah from the Mahabharat lying on a bed of arrows.

This is from wikipedia but there is some confusion in the text. At one place it says that temple architecture at Kiradu was influenced by Solankis and at another place they say that influence came from Chalukyas of Gujarat?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiradu_temples

Temples: history, architecture and distribution - Guest - 03-09-2007

<img src='http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/890/2938534240099936546S600x600Q85.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

Beautiful Shikhara of Dharma Vihara Jain temple, Ranakpur, near Mount Abu, Rajasthan. Dedicated to teerthankar Adinatha whose Chaturmukhi murti is here. Constructed in 1439 AD.

Entrance and the wall:
<img src='http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/1282/2159469200099936546S600x600Q85.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

5 elements:
<img src='http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/2805/2371700970099936546S600x600Q85.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

Temples: history, architecture and distribution - Guest - 03-10-2007

Some more images from the important Jain temples in Western India.

The detailed designs on the toraN dwaars on the inner walls of Luna Vasahi Jain Temple:
<img src='http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/898/2366990510099936546S600x600Q85.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

...and on the ranga-manDapa or dome of the same temple:

<img src='http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/3346/2053234020099936546S600x600Q85.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

Inner perspective of the ceiling of Vimala Vasahi Jain Mandir:

<img src='http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/1385/2836470860099936546S600x600Q85.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

Temples: history, architecture and distribution - Guest - 03-10-2007

...more Jain Temple photos:

Mount Shatrunjaya, India's largest Jain temple site, near Palitana Gujarat, situated around 215 km south-west from Ahmedabad.

<img src='http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/1648/2753840330099936546S600x600Q85.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

pyramidical roof - phamsana - over the western meghanada-mandapa:

<img src='http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/1710/2341805790099936546S600x600Q85.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

Jain Temples Of Mount Abu And Ranakpur. This album contains 60 awesome images of Jain temples in Western India.

Temples: history, architecture and distribution - Guest - 03-10-2007

to continue with Jain temples later...

QUOTE(ramana @ Jan 4 2007, 05:21 PM)bodhi, Thanks for the sketches and pics of the stupa and the temples. Is the stupa a hollow dome or is it solid?[right][snapback]62753[/snapback][/right]


Ramana, apologize, I had somehow missed your post. You are right, in original purpose and construct, stupas are solid domes - in the sense that there are no entrances to the inside of stupas, but not solid in another sense that inside is soft earth instead of concrete. The hemispherical shape originally was meant to cover the mounds containing the ashes/remains/funeral pyres of Bhagwan Gautam Buddha or other Bodhisattvas afterwards.

In Mahaparinirvana Sutra of Dirgha Nikaya is related this interesting story. Ananda asks Bhagwan Buddha how his pupils should respect the body of Buddha after he is gone. He replied not to bother about his body, but rather live what he taught. Upon insisting, he said Sannyasis need not bother, as the grihasthas would take care of his dead body. When Ananda further insisted, he said, there were enough wise Brahmins, noble Kshatriyas, and wealthy householders who would come and properly respect Tathagat's body like the body of a chakravartee Samrat was treated. Ananda asked how was a chakravartee Samrat's body treated. In response, as the Mahayana story goes, Bhagwan Buddha replied by indicating the shape of a stupa. Ananda then asked why did he want stupas constructed to decorate the remains of the dead body. Buddha said, it was not for decorating his dead body, but for the good of the people after long time gone, who after generations would be reminded of the great teachers who had lived, might be inspired into their teachings, and might be encouraged to live the great Dharma, when they visited or looked at those stupas. (Does this not strikingly tally with the thought of Adi Shankar about the faith of the general masses?)

So, the original Stupas were indeed the coverings of the funeral mounds of Tathagat and also later of other Bodhisattvas.

However, later on, Stupas were even constructed to house the monks, upasakas and parivrajaks of the sangha. These were more popularly known as Chaityas. There were/are several chaityas also known as stupas. These are obviousely hollow hemispherical/cylindrical hall in shape.

For example below picture shows the inside of Karli Chaitya, which looks more like a stupa inside a stupa:

<img src='http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/bevans/Art101/Art101B-0-India/WebPage-ImageF.00034.jpeg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

And below is the chaitya of Ajanta:

<img src='http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/bevans/Art101/Art101B-0-India/WebPage-ImageF.00045.jpeg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

Both of the above were constructed between 1st century BC to 4th century AD by AndhrAs, and can be seen as a small stupa inside a big stupa.

QUOTE(ramana @ Jan 4 2007, 05:21 PM)looks interesting that mosques have similar elements as the stupas!
[right][snapback]62753[/snapback][/right]

wow! Really? How?

Temples: history, architecture and distribution - Guest - 03-10-2007

Bodhi, thanks for posting the awesome images of Jain temples and for those of the Stupas.

EDITED:
QUOTElooks interesting that mosques have similar elements as the stupas!Ramana, are you referring to the fact that many mosques were 'built' with Stupa pieces from those that the islamics demolished? (See for instance, http://voi.org/books/htemples2/ch7.htm )This is true even in former Buddhist nations and regions of Central and West Asia.
Islam never made anything original. In Iran, several 'mosques' have Zoroastrian motifs on the outsides: this is banned in islam, but these mosques were Zoroastrian temples before whilst some were constructed from demolished Zoroastrian fire temples. I am trying to find the link where I read about this, but this one briefly mentions it:
link
QUOTEIran's Islamic leaders "have tried for centuries to sweep away all trace of Zoroastrianism," says Sohrab Yazdi, a community leader in Yazd, where most of Iran's 30,000 Zoroastrians live. Pointing to the brilliantly domed Jame mosque in the city's center, Yazdi says it was built over a destroyed Zoroastrian fire temple. link
QUOTEThe Zoroastrians suffered sporadic persecution, as their fire-temples and priests were destroyed, as for example, at Kariyan, Kumm and at Idhaj. In a deliberate act of provocation the caliph al Mutawakkil had a tree putatively planted by Zoroaster himself cut down. Sometimes the fire temples were converted into mosques.
link
And this site is the 'Embassy of the Islamic republic of Iran, Ottawa, Canada', which states:
QUOTEZoroastrians have always been populous in Yazd. Even now roughly twelve thousand of the townâs population adhere to this ancient religion, and though their fire temple was turned into a mosque when the Arabs invaded Iran, a dignified new fire temple was inaugurated thirteen hundred years later.
And in the case of the mosque in Isfahan, it was built on the *site* of a Zoroastrian fire temple. Whereas others were basically Zoroastrian temples turned into mosques:
link
QUOTENovember 01, 2006
Isfahan's 'Perfect Dome'
Tradition has it that Isfahan's Friday mosque sits on what was once a Zoroastrian Fire Temple. Now, I have been inside mosques that used to be Fire Temples, most notably the Maggak-i-Attari in Bukhara (it was also a Buddhist shrine at one point) but never had I been in a Friday Mosque built over a Fire Temple. The Attari mosque in Bukhara still vaguely resembled a Fire Temple, as all fire temples are large, almost perfect squares. But here, there was no hint, that this sprawling, added on to and architecturally heterogeneous mosque was once a Fire Temple.
(That's because the temple was mostly destroyed and built over.)

Or maybe this is what Ramana was intimating?
link
QUOTEThe inter-locking dome of the Stupa
was to be the prototype for
the domes (over Mosques and churches) that were built
later by Romans and Arabs

The Dome of the Mosques in Islamic Architecture is derived from the Stupa

The hemispherical construction of the stupas also seems to have influenced Byzantine architecture perhaps through Pre-Islamic, Sassanian Persia. The famous Sophia mosque at Istanbul overlooking the Bosphorous Straits has domes which closely resemble the Buddhist Stupa. In fact the minarets in the mosque were erected late when the Ottoman Turks captured Istanbul (then called Constantinople) from the Byzantine Empire in the 15th century.

The dome over this Mosque at Istanbul
has borrowed the technique
from the Indian Stupa
The mosque, incidentally
was built as a Church but
was later converted into a mosque
by the conquering Ottoman Turks

Temples: history, architecture and distribution - ramana - 03-10-2007

We were always told that the dome structure was brought to India by the Islamic hordes and that it was the basis of the Indo-Saracen style of architecture. However looking at the shape I felt that Islamic tombs were inspired by stupas' shape.hence my curiousity about it being solid or hollow.

Now that Husky found the reference the hunch was correct. Recall that most areas where the Muslims prevailed were Buddhist areas eg. Western Afghanistan etc.