Consider the following statements about the Dravidan style of temple architecture: 1. They are enclosed within a compound wall. 2. At the entrance of South India’s temples Garbhagriha, it would be usual to find images, such as mithunas and the river goddesses, Ganga and Yamuna. 3. Multiple shikharas rising together is common. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements about the Dravidan style of temple architecture:
1. They are enclosed within a compound wall.
2. At the entrance of South India’s temples Garbhagriha, it would be usual to find images, such as mithunas and the river goddesses, Ganga and Yamuna.
3. Multiple shikharas rising together is common.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Options
- a.Correct answer
1 only
- b.
2 only
- c.
2 and 3 only
- d.
1, 2 and 3
Explanation
- Unlike the Nagara temple, the Dravida temple is enclosed within a compound wall. The front wall has an entrance gateway in its centre, which is known as gopuram. The shape of the main temple tower, known as vimana in Tamil Nadu, is like a stepped pyramid that rises up geometrically rather than the curving shikhara of North India.
- In the South Indian temple, the word Shikhara is used only for the crowning element at the top of the temple, which is usually shaped like a small stupika or an octagonal cupola – this is equivalent to the amlak and kalasha of North Indian temple.
- Where at the entrance of the North Indian temple’s garbhagriha, it would be usual to find images such as mithunas and river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna, in the south sculptures of fierce dvarapalas or the door keepers guarding the temple.
- It is common to find a large water reservoir, or a temple tank, enclosed within the complex.
- Subsidiary shrines are either incorporated within the main temple tower or located as distinct, separate small shrines beside the main temple. The North Indian idea of multiple shikharas rising together as a cluster was not popular in South India.
- At some of the most sacred temples in South India, the main temple, in which the garbhagriha is situated, has, in fact, one of the smallest towers. This is because it is usually the oldest part of the temple. With the passage of time, the population and size of the town associated with that temple would have increased, and it would have become necessary to make a new boundary wall around the temple. This would have been taller that the last one and its gopurams would have been even loftier. So, for instance, the Srirangam temple in Tiruchirapally has as many as seven ‘concentric’ rectangular enclosure walls, each with gopurams. The outermost is the newest, while the tower right in the centre housing the garbhagriha is the oldest
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