Temple Architecture: Dravida

Notes

Region: From the Krishna/Tungabhadra southwards to Kanyakumari.
Features:
- Vimana: pyramidal, storeyed tower over the sanctum.
- Gopuram: monumental gateway tower.
- Prakara (enclosure wall) with a mandapa.
- Kalyana mandapa (marriage hall).
- Temple tank.
- Dvarapalas at the entrance.
Evolution by dynasty:
- Pallava: rock-cut, then structural (Shore Temple, Kailasanatha at Kanchipuram, Rajasimha).
- Chola:
  - Brihadisvara, Thanjavur (Rajaraja I, c. 1010 CE): 66 m vimana, a capstone carved from a single block, large Nandi.
  - Gangaikondacholapuram (Rajendra I).
  - Airavatesvara, Darasuram.
  - Together these are the Great Living Chola Temples (UNESCO 1987).
- Pandya: emphasis on gopurams.
- Vijayanagara: Hampi's Virupaksha and Vittala temples (stone chariot), UNESCO 1986. Developed Raya gopurams and kalyana mandapas.
- Nayaka: Meenakshi (Madurai), Srirangam (largest functioning temple complex), Rameswaram (long pillared corridor).

Key points: In Dravida temples the gopuram dominates later temples, while in early ones the vimana does.