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Indian architecture
Indian architecture encompasses a wide variety of geographically and historically
spread structures, and was transformed by the history of the Indian subcontinent. The
diversity of Indian culture is represented in its architecture. Indian architecture comprises
of a blend of ancient and varied native traditions, with building types, forms and
technologies from West, Central Asia, and Europe.
Studies of Indian architecture normally begin with the Indus Valley Civilisation, moving
through the late Vedic period, the Maurya-Gupta age of Buddhist monuments,
monasteries and Indian rock-cut architecture, followed by the great temple-building of
the medieval era. The rise of the Mughal Empire in the 16th century established a
sophisticated synthesis of Indian regional elements with ideas from Persia and West Asia,
which is recognised today as Mughal architecture.
Hindu architecture
The reference to Hindu temples goes back to 5th century BC in the texts by Panini. The
two most important and dominant temple architectural styles are the southern Dravida
and the northern Nagara styles, differing mainly in the shape of the roofing structure, the
former being a stepped pyramid while the latter has a curved profile, epitomised in
productions such as the magnificent Brihadeeswara Temple, Thanjavur, and the Sun
Temple, Konark.
Buddhist and Islamic elements have influenced Hindu temple architecture to a
considerable extent. Along with these arose a number of varied regional styles of temples
in places like Bengal, Kashmir and Kerala. Some Hindu temples during the early
medieval era were rock-cut - The Kailasanatha temple at Ellora was excavated from top
to bottom out of a massive rock face.
STRUCTURE:
The structural system of temples was essentially post and beam and with massive blocks
of stone being the basic raw material for the Indian craftsman without any use of mortar.
Decoration and sculpture was fundamental to Indian architecture.
The garbhagriha or the sanctum sanctorum forms the central focus housing the deity of
the temple and is provided with a circulation passage around which is small in scale when
compared to the whole temple complex. It is articulated externally by the vimanam (or
sikhara), the towering roof-structure. Mandapas (multiple pillared halls) are found
preceding the garbhagriha. In many temples such as the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at
Srirangam, prakaras (concentric enclosures) along with the series of entrance gateways
2. Rajput architecture
Rajput architecture was inspired partly by the existing Indic styles of architecture, and
partly by interaction with the Persian and Islamic world, with a greater emphasis on
arches, domes, and other Saracenic features. This includes Palaces and forts in Rajasthan
of Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Jaipur.
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Islamic architecture
Islamic architecture has encompassed a wide range of both secular and things to do with
alah like architecture styles from the foundation of Islam to the present day, influencing
the design and construction of buildings and structures within the sphere of Islamic
culture.
A specifically recognisable Islamic architectural style developed soon after the time of
the Prophet Muhammad, developing from Roman, Egyptian, Byzantine, and
Persian/Sassanid. Some of the examples are:
History- In 630C.E. Muhammad's army reconquered the city of Mecca from the
Banu Quraish tribe. The holy sanctuary of Ka'ba was rebuilt and re-dedicated to
Islam, the reconstruction being carried out before Muhammad's death in
632C.E. by a shipwrecked Abyssinian carpenter in his native style. This
sanctuary was amongst the first major works of Islamic architecture. The walls
were decorated with paintings of Jesus, Mary, Abraham, prophets, angels and
trees.
In the 7th century, Muslim armies invaded and conquered a huge expanse of land after
which their first need was for somewhere to worship - a mosque. Islamic art thus,
developed from many sources.
Tombs:
A tomb can be a simple one (Aurangazebs grave) or an awesome structure (Taj
Mahal). The tomb consists of solitary compartment or tomb chamber known as the
huzrah in whose centre is the cenotaph. This entire structure is covered with an
elaborate dome. In the underground chamber lies the maqbara, in which the corpse
is buried. The whole tomb complex or rauza is surrounded by an enclosure. The tomb
of a Muslim saint is called a dargah. It includes minute details~verses from the Holy
Koran.
Mihrab These are a type of basilicas which were long, triple-arched buildings with
pitched roofs and with the altar at the eastern end. The new worshipers placed the mihrab
on the southern wall and made new entrances in the northern wall. Thus, the congregation
prayed across the aisles.
Pointed Arch - The pointed arch, probably of Syrian origin is a major characteristic of
Abbasid mosques.
Interpretation
Islamic architecture includes the concept of Allah's infinite power evoked by designs
suggesting infinity. Human and animal forms are rarely depicted. Foliage is a frequent
motif. Arabic Calligraphy is used to enhance the interior of a building by providing
quotations from the Qur'an. Islamic architecture has been called the "architecture of the
veil" because the beauty lies in the inner spaces which are not visible from the outside.
Minarets or towers
A four-iwan plan, with three subordinate halls and one principal one that faces
toward Mecca
The use of decorative Islamic calligraphy instead of pictures which were haram
forbidden.
Indian architecture took new shape with the advent of Islamic rule in India towards the
end of the 12th century AD. Islamic architecture soon lost its original purity and borrowed
such elements from Indian architecture as courtyards surrounded by colonnades,
balconies supported by brackets and decoration. Islam, on the other hand, introduced to
India the dome, the true arch, geometric motifs, mosaics, and minarets. Despite
fundamental differences, Indian and Islamic architecture achieved a harmonious fusion,
especially in certain regional styles called the Indo-Islamic style of architecture.
The Indo-Islamic monuments were typical mortar-masonry works formed of dressed
stones for the first time in India. The use of certain scientific and mechanical formulae
helped to gain greater strength and stability.
The sahn (open courtyard) for congregational worship with the enclosing liwans
(cloisters) were introduced. Due to Islamic prohibition on idolatry, the garba-griha was
unnecessary. However, the mihrab on the Western wall of the sanctuary articulating the
Qibla (direction towards Mecca) offered a notional focus. Thus, adornment was largely
surface decoration through the use of geometry, arabesque and calligraphy.
Monuments of the Mughal style are the Pearl Mosque at gra, Uttar Pradesh State, the
palace fortresses at gra and Delhi, and the great mosques at Delhi and Lahore.