The Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture

            The Encyclopedia of Indian Temple Architecture is a unique research and publication project initiated almost three decades ago by the AIIS.  The core intellectual concern of this project has been to study the vocabulary of this form of art in its varied regional and period styles. The project gathers together a range of historical, cultural and technical information on this form of art sourced from ancient texts and meticulous field documentation.  Several thousands of temples and monuments have been photo documented through this project.  

 

Each volume of the EITA is in two binds containing text and photographic illustrations respectively. The EITA project adheres to the following scheme :          

 

Volume I : South India

 

Part 1            Lower Dravidadesa (200 B.C.-A.D. 1324)                                                   Published 1983

Part 2            Upper Dravidadesa: Early Phase (A.D. 550-1075)                                     Published 1986

Part 3            Upper Dravidadesa: Later Phase (A.D. 973-1326)                                     Published 1996

Part 4-A       Integrated Styles of South India (c. A.D. 1289-1798)                               Published 2001

Part 4-B        Integrated Styles, Dravidadesa: Tamilnadu (c. A.D. 1360-1762)            In preparation

Part 5            Annotated and Illustrated Glossary of Architectural Terms                  In preparation

 

 

Volume II : North India

 

Part 1            Foundations of the North Indian Style  (c. 250 B.C.- A.D. 1100)            Published 1988

Part 2            Period of Early Maturity (c. A.D 700-900)                                  Published 1991

Part 3            Beginnings of Medieval Idiom (c. A.D. 900-1000)                                    Published 1998

Part 4            High Medieval and Late Medieval Styles (c. A.D.   1000-1500)             Yet to be published

Part 5            Annotated and Illustrated Glossary of Architectural Terms                  Yet to be published

 

 

Volume I, Part 1: Lower Dravidadesa (200 B.C.-A.D. 1324.                       

This part covers temples in Lower Dravidadesa from the early beginnings through temples of the Colas and Pandyas, Muttaraiyars, Irrukuvels, Paluvettaraiyars, and other dynasties of the lower South.  Arranged by region and dynasty, the Chapters indicate the nature of local idioms and regional art styles which have been methodically studied and described together with drawings and photographic illustrations.  The volume contains 361 pages of text, inclusive of a Glossary of technical terms and a Site and Temple Index, 122 drawings, 9 site-maps, and 432 photographs from the Institute’s archives.

 

Volume I, Part 2: Upper Dravidadesa: Early Phase  (A.D. 550-1075)

The second part in this series covers the survey of  early temple architecture in Upper Dravidadesa, particularly those of the Calukyas of Badami and of Vengi, and the Rastrakutas of Malkhed.  Other dynasties discussed are the Alupas, Telugu-Codas, and Vaidumbas, Gangas, Nolambas, Santaras, and the early Hoysalas. The emphasis, as with the rest of the series, is on the growth and development of regional styles.  Arranged by region and dynasty, the volume contains 249 pages of text, 80 drawings, 5 site maps, 656 photographs drawn largely from the Institute’s archives.

 

Volume I, Part 3:  Upper Dravidadesa: Later Phase (A. D. 973-1326)

The third part surveys medieval temples and associated buildings in Upper Dravidadesa. Arranged by region and dynasty, the chapters develop the nature of local idioms and origins of the regional styles. These inlcude the regional styles found within the  territories of the Calukyas of Kalyana, Hoysalas of Dorasamudra, together with other dynasties such as the Kadambas, Rattas, Guttas, Seunas, Santaras etc., in Karnataka, the Kakatiyas of Varangal, the Calukyas of Vemulavada, Telugu Codas, Reddis, and Malyalas in the Telingana region of Andhra Pradesh, and finally the  lupas of Tulunadu. 

The volume contains 598 pages of text, 315 drawings, 16 site maps, and 1674 photographs drawn for the most part from the Institute’s archives.  Most of the temples and related structures described in this volume have not been previously  studied. 

 

Volume I, Part 4-A (South India:  Integrated styles, c. A.D. 1289-1763)

 

            This volume surveys the temple architecture of South India, focussing on the period of the Vijayanagara empire during which the Sangama, Tuluva, and Aravidu kings ruled over a substantial portion of Karnataka, Andhra, and Tamilnadu.  The volume begins with the temple architecture in the decades immediately preceding the foundation of Vijayanagara in the middle of the 14th century, and continues with the religious monuments of the lesser dynasties which succeeded those of Vijayanagara in Kamata during the 16th and 17th centuries.

 

            Since the majority of religious buildings described have never been adequately published before, this volume offers the first opportunity to evaluate the architectural developments in South India between the 14th and 18th centuries. What emerges from different chapters is a stylistic consistency unknown in the region in pre-Vijayanagara times. Beginning with the comparatively modest projects of the Sangamas, the temple architecture progresses toward a grander scale and richly decorated religious complexes of the Tuluvas and Aravidus. During the same period there is an evolution of a characteristic temple style in Kanada in coastal Karnataka, and the efflorescence of temple building in another equally distinctive style in the different zones of Kerala. Such idioms bear witness to the vitality of local architectural traditions in South India during the Vijayanagara period.

 

            The volume has been jointly authored by George Michell and Jayaram Poduval, with U.S. Moorti as Coordinator.  The text bind contains 388 pages of text, 123 line-drawings, and 13 site maps.  The Plate bind contains 294 pages with 570 photographs.

 

Volume I, Part 4-B   (Integrated styles, Dravidadesa, Tamilnadu c. A.D. 1360-1762)

            The concluding part in the sereis in volume I focussing on South Indian Architecture. This Volume is being authored by U.S.Moorti and the late Shri K.R.Srinivasan. It will have a total of ten chapters with about 800 photographs.

 

Volume I, Part 5: Annotated and Illustrated Glossary of Architectural Terms

This will include the annotated and detailed glossary of architectural terms for ancient and medieval architecture in South India.  The technical terms, mainly in Sanskrit, are drawn from several published and unpublished textual sources related to Dravidian architecture. The etymology of each term will be discussed with citations from ancient and medieval Sanskrit works. This volume will have a total of about 80 glossarial entries, including about 500 synonyms. All entries will be prefaced with descriptive essays.

 

Volume II, Part 1: Foundations of the North Indian Style  (c. 250 B.C.-A.D. 1100)

The premier volume of the volume II series that  deal with North Indian Architecture describes temple architecture from its rudimentary beginnings in c. fourth century B.C. to about A.D. 800.  The volume explores the early foundations of the North Indian form, beginning with a review of pre-Gupta structures.  It covers Gupta experiments in brick and stone, important recent discoveries of Vakataka temple-remains, evidence for architectural form from Western Ghat caves, and early brick structures of both Hindu and Buddhist affiliation in eastern India.

            The volume covers a wode range of early architectural activity: the tradition of small mandapika pandals in Central India, the tradition of pent-roof stone structures typical of Kashmir, early lithic experiments in Sura tra and Malava; examples of structures dated from the seventh century across Rajasthan, Bihar, and Andhra, examples of the developed Latina Nagara form in Central India, Orissa, and the Deccan as well as brick temples of the same period in Magadha and Dakshina Kosala.  Dynasties patronising these temples include Maitrakas, Garulakas, Capotkatas, Panduvamsis, Nalas, Sailodbhavas, and Calukyas.

            The volume contains 158 pages of text with temple plans, elevations, and sections, 778 black-and-white plates; 15 site maps; a  Reference Glossary of technical terms; and a Site and Temple Index.

 

Volume II, Part 2:  Period of Early Maturity (c. A.D 700-900)

This volume surveys Nagara temples in North India—with extensions of this typical curvilinear type into the Deccan—as well as other temples forms that contributed to North Indian style. 

            Divided by style, region, and patronage into 21 chapters with 467 pages of text, the set explores a “Period of Early Maturity”—c.  A.D. 700-900—for the curvilinear Latina temple-type in North India as well as remaining early examples of its multifaceted and multi spired extensions.  These represent one of the most effective uses of architectural form in support of a symbolic function in world art.  Based on several centuries of careful exploration by architects and mature in its development, this type of temple spread widely across North India in these few centuries, patronised by political powers who were intent on incorporating and making both territory and populations within their growing hegemony.  Building temples in this period gave merit to their individual patrons, provided a powerful tool for communities of priests, and helped to validate and perpetuate a growing State order.

            Clans, dynasties, and feudatories referred to in this volume include the Saindhavas, Capas, and Capotkatas in Sura tra; Samas in Kaccha; Mauryas of Uparamala, Pratiharas of Mandor, and Pratiharas of Jalor elsewhere in Western India; Mauryas of Gopagiri, Gurjara-Pratiharas, Kalacuris, and Candellas in Central India; and Palas and Bhauma-Karas in Eastern India.

            Regional idioms discussed include those of Dasarna-, Dahala-, and Madhyadesa; Himacala; Sapadalak a, Surasena, and Marudesa; and Sura tra, Malava, and Kalinga.  Chapters also divide “styles of common lineage” —that to a large degree have grown out of the decorative and aesthetic conventions developed in territories ruled previously by Gupta dynasts—from “Styles of separate lineage” that have drawn on other conventions.

            The volume contains 218 pages with temple plans, elevations, and sections, 977 black-and-white plates; 18 site maps; a quick Reference Glossary of technical vocabulary; and a Site and Temple Index.

 

Volume II, Part 3: Beginnings of Medieval Idiom (c. A.D. 900-1000)

The third volume surveys the temples and associated structures  in different provinces of  North India built under the political aegis of various provincial dynasties, principal, and subordinate. Among these, the more notable were the Cahamanas of Sakambhari and of Naddula, and Solankis of Anahillapataka in western India; also, the Kalacuris of Cedidesa olim Dahaladesa, Candellas of Jejakabhukti, and Kacchapaghatas of Gopagiri in central India, and the Somavamsis of Kalingadesa in  eastern India.

            The text contains chapters, with 207 drawings (ground plans and base-elevations), 20 site maps. There are 913 photographs in the illustrtions bind drawn largely from the AIIS’s photo-archives at the Varanasi Center.

 

Volume II, Part 4: High Medieval and Late Medieval Styles (c. A.D. 1000-1500)

This part will contain 33 chapters, devoted to the High medieval and Late Medieval Nagara style of North covering the temporal span from c. A.D. 1000-1500.

 

 

Volume II, Part 5: Annotated and Illustrated Glossary of Architectural Terms

This volume will include annotated and illlustrated glossary of architectural terms drawn from Sanskrit treatises. It will contain about 100 glossarial entries.