The Dravidian or The South Indian Temple Style

• A compound wall encloses a temple in a Dravidian Style Temple
• A gopuram, or entrance gateway, is located in the centre of the front wall
• The shape of the main temple tower is known as vimana in Tamil Nadu
• It is like the shikhara of North India, a stepped pyramid that elevates up geometrically instead of curving
• Usually shaped like a small stupika or an octagonal cupola, the word ‘shikhara’ is used only for the crowning element at the top of the temple
• This is the equivalent of the amlak and kalasha in the North Indian temples
• Sculptures of fierce dwarapala for the doorkeepers guarding the temple are found
• Within the temple complex often a large reservoir of water or a temple tank is commonly found
• Small shrines located beside the main temple are called Subsidiary Shrines
• They are at times incorporated within the main temple tower or distinctly located
• At some places, the main temple in which the garbhagriha is situated has, in fact, one of the smallest towers, unlike the north Indian temples which have multiple shikharas
• The Srirangam temple in Tiruchirapalli, for example, has seven ‘concentric’ rectangular enclosure walls, each with a gopuram
• The focus of urban architecture shifted to the temples
• Some of the most famous temple towns of Tamil Nadu are Kanchipuram, Thanjavur or Tanjore, Madurai and Kumbakonam
• Temples became the centre of administration, became rich and started controlling vast tracts of land
• Sub-divisions of Dravidian style: Based on different shapes, it is of five types

1. Square: Usually called kuta and chaturasra
2. Rectangular or shala or ayatasra
3. Elliptical: called gaja-prishta or elephant-backed, or vrittayata – deriving from waggon vaulted shapes of apsidal chaityas with a horse-shoe shaped entrance facade usually called a nasi
4. Circular or vritta
5. Octagonal or ashtasra

• Based on the deity the temple was dedicated to, the temple plan and the shape of the vimana were chosen and hence specific temples were built for specific deities
• The Pallavas were active in the Andhra region from the second century CE and settled in Tamil Nadu
• Their kingdom spread to various parts of the subcontinent
• Although they were Shaivite, several Vaishnava shrines were also found, and they were also influenced by the long Buddhist history of the Deccan
• The later ones were structural; however, the early temples were rock-cut These early buildings were built during the reign of the following:

• Mahendravarman I, a contemporary of the Chalukyan king, Pulakesin II of Karnataka
• Accepting the throne of the Pallava Kingdom, Narasimhavarman I, also known as Mamalla in the year 640 CE

• He is celebrated for the expansion of the empire, avenging the defeat his father had suffered at the hands of Pulakesin II
• He inaugurated most of the building works at Mahabalipuram, which is known after him as Mamallapuram

Narasimhavarman II, also known as Rajasimha

• • He reigned from 700 to 728 CE
  • He built the Shore temple at Mahabalipuram

• Shrines: It unusually houses three shrines – Two to Shiva and One to Vishnu who is shown as Anantashayana
• Sculptures: Bull, Nandi, Shiva’s mount

Rajarajeswara or Brahadeeshwarar temple, Thanjavur

It was completed around 1009 by Rajaraja Chola. The Cholas built temples which were bigger in scale than any of their predecessors.

• Among all Indian Temples, it is the largest and the tallest

• Structure: On top is a monolithic Shikhara comprising an octagonal dome-shaped stupika

• First, two large gopuras (gateway towers) are found with an elaborate sculptural programme which was conceived along with the temple

• The Shikhara is dotted by Nandi figurines on its corners

• The Kalasha is of about 3m and 8cm in height

• Hundreds of stucco figures decorate the vimana

• Few of these figures have been added during the reign of the Marathas

• Shiva is the principal deity of the temple depicted in a huge lingam in a two-storeyed Garbhagriha

• Various mythological stories are depicted through sculptures and painted murals on the walls surrounding the Garbhagriha

Conclusion 

The Pallavas, who ruled in parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and northern Tamil Nadu until the ninth century, pioneered the Dravidian style of temple architecture in South India. Despite the fact that they were mostly Shaivite, several Vaishnava shrines survived their reign.

The earliest structures are generally attributed to the reign of Mahendravarman I, a contemporary of Chalukyan king Pulakesin II of Karnataka. Narasimhavarman I, also known as Mamalla, who ascended to the Pallava throne around the year 640 CE, is remembered for his architectural achievements.