NandisvaraDvipa
- Square plan (32 ft X 32 ft) - 5 ft wide verandah on each side - Floor divided by 12 piers into 9 smaller squares - Domes of roofs are supported by arches between the piers - Five squares form a cross are occupied by pyramidal shikhara resting on top - Largest spire rest on the central square - Secondary size spire rest on the four squares of the cross pairing with corners
Nandisvara-dvipa
Nandisvara-dvipa
Nandisvara-dvipa
VimalaVasahitemple (1230)
- temple stands in an open courtyard surrounded by a corridor - corridor has numerous cells containing smaller idols of the Tirthankaras - richly carved corridors, pillars, arches and mandaps - The ceilings feature engraved designs of lotus-buds, petals, flowers and scenes from Jain and Hindu mythology - Entrance through a domed portico/mandapa - facing this portico is a square building supported by six pillars - The Rang mandapis a grand hall supported by 12 decorated pillars and nicely carved out arches with a central dome.
VimalaVasahitemple (1230)
-On the pillars are carved female figurines playing musical instruments and 16 Vidhyadevis, or the goddesses of knowledge, each one holding her own symbol
Interiors of VimalaVasahi
Interiors of VimalaVasahi
Dome of VimalaVasahi
Luna Vasahi(1230)
- The entrance dome of the portico is slightly less in diameter than in the Vimalatemple but more elaborate in nature - 12 pillars at the central portion of the temple - Octagon is formed by massive architraves across heads of pillars - on this octagon rests the central dome - The main hall or Rang mandap features a central dome - from the central dome hangs a big ornamental pendent featuring elaborate carving. - arranged in a circular band are 72 figures of Tirthankars in sitting posture and just below this band are 360 small figures of Jain monks in another circular band.
Luna Vasahi
SthHathi Singh
Stepwells of Gujarat
(Bawdi or Vaav)
an architectural characteristic prevalent in arid regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan
Purpose:
1. to preserve and store water in the hottest months of the year 2. Narrow stairs that lead to the final catchment area expose only a small surface-area to sun 3. Composition of various storeys and galleries provide large shaded areas (important: as the trees grow only near river banks and irrigated areas)
The term
- constitutes of staircase well or stepped well - long stepped corridor leading down to five or six storeys
Distribution of stepwells:
A. Southern and south-eastern parts of gujarat - no. of stepwells relatively low (-more rainfall and less arid) - not monumental/ elaborate architecture B. Kutch (less in no. inspite of extreme climate) - small and without elaborate carving like those in Northern Gujarat C. Rajasthan (8th and 11th century) - different from those found in Gujarat - pond like well-monuments with stepped passages for reaching water level - Stepwell pond or Kunda- vapi this architectural style is a combination of kund i.e. pond and vapi i.e. stepwell
Distribution of stepwells:
D. Karnataka - Most are Kunda- vapi style of stepwells E. Delhi eg: UgrasenBaoli (near Connaught place), Gandhalkibaoli
Characteristics of stepwells:
A. The various types of well-monuments B. The main architectural elements
Kupa
Kuta
Ammao, Rajasthan
Characteristics of stepwells:
B. The various types of well-monuments -stepwells are architecturally intricate and complicated
I
- kupais basic form made of a simple vertical well - kupa in sanskrit is kua (pit or well) - only marked architectural feature of kupa which is above ground level is parapet wall with arragement of hauling up water
II
Kunda(pond) -artificially built pond; usually square, octagonal or oblong - can be of various sizes - water well reached through spirals of steps or staggered lateral staircases - descending passages are mostly embellished with platforms, small shrines, niches and pavilion complex - often kunda is connected with a temple or situated within temple complex - Kupa or vertical well with a spring in the middle or one side of kunda to ensure constant flow of fresh water eg: Suryakund at Modhera
III
Tadaga or Tadaka or talav(tank or lake) - lake blocked with artificially built dam - often beginning of the staircase is marked by flanking entrance halls placed on a raised platforms > embellished with structures eg: Kankariatalav (Ahmedabad) - some examples date back to Mauryan times (320 B.C.) with embankments, sluices, drains etc
BaiHarisVaav
Type II with straight stepped corridor and three entrances Type III - with L-shaped corridor (ground plan is L-shaped) Type IV - with circumambulatory passage
Type V - with cross shaped ground plan
Adalaj
Helical staircase