04 AMACE HOA3 | INDIAN

Indus Region

home to the largest of the four ancient urban civilizations consisting of the entire Indian peninsula and portions of the Asian mainland (once included Pakistan and Bangladesh)

Fine red and cream sandstone

main facing material for rubble walling in Agra

White marble of Rajasthan

used for stone carpentry works in the north

Granite of Deccan

used in the center and southern part of India

Volcanic potstone (soapstone)

metamorphic rock of talc schist used in Halebid

Teakwood

softwood timber imported from Burma

Softwood deodar

timber found in the Northern mountain ranges

Shisham (Indian Rosewood)

hardwood timber found in the river valleys of the north

Bricks and Terra Cotta

primary building materials in Bengal Uttar Pradesh and Punjab

Vedism and Brahmanism

polytheistic religion brought around 1500 B.C.E. by invading Aryan tribes who gradually conquered the earlier Indus Civilization

Hinduism

religion derived from the river Sindhu or Indus; also known as Santana Dharma (immemorial tradition) in Sanskrit

Sanskrit

sacred language of Hinduism

Dharma

moral order duty and right action shared by Hinduism Buddhism Jainism and Sikhism

Reincarnation

belief in rebirth

Kharma

belief that a person's misfortune is the result of his or her own misdeeds in a previous life

Ahimsa

nonviolence and respect for all living things

Caste System

a social group based partly on occupation which grew up with Hinduism

Brahmins

priests in the Hindu Caste System

Kshatriyas

kings and warriors in the Hindu Caste System

Vaisyas

merchants and farmers in the Hindu Caste System

Sudras

workers in the Hindu Caste System

Untouchables

outcasts in the Hindu Caste System

Jainism

religion established in the 6th century BCE by Vardhamana based on asceticism and ahimsa

Vardhamana

founder of Jainism called Mahavira "the Great Hero" or Jina the "Victorious One"

Buddhism

religion and philosophy founded in northeastern India in the 5th century B.C.E. based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama

Siddhartha Gautama

Sakya prince known as Buddha "the enlightened one"

Mt. Meru

sacred mountain in Hindu Jain and Buddhist cosmology considered the center of physical metaphysical and spiritual universes ("Middle of the Earth")

Rock-cut buildings

structures hewn out of rock laid down by Brahmanism (Barabar) Jainism (Udayagiri and Khandagiri) and developed by Buddhism

Indus Civilization (2

500 B.C.), civilization developed around the Indus River based on sacred universal and ritualistic concepts

Mehgarh (Pakistan)

Neolithic site (6500-6000 BCE) considered the first urban civilization of South Asia and precursor to the Indus Valley Civilization

Harappa (Punjab)

elevated town citadel (urban center) and principal planned city of the Indus Civilization

Mohenjo-Daro (Sindh)

proper city consisting of houses and market palaces in the Indus Civilization

Dholavira

Indus site with preserved stone architecture large reservoirs and an elaborate drain system to collect water from city walls and house tops

Lotus

Buddhist symbol for divinity and man's salvation

Wheel

Buddhist symbol for the cycle of life death and rebirth and the teaching of Buddha

Four animals

Buddhist symbol for the 4 quarters of the compass

Lion

Buddhist symbol representing Sakyamuni Buddha (known as the Lion of the Sakya Clan)

Tree

Buddhist symbol for enlightenment

Stambhas or Laths

free-standing monumental pillars (18-21 m high) with circular or octagonal shafts symbolizing the world axis (axis mundi)

Barabar and Nagarjuni Caves

granite rock-cut sanctuaries excavated during the reign of Emperor Ashoka

Chaityagrihas (Chaitya)

Buddhist place of worship and assembly hall

Vihara

Buddhist monastery and residence for priests

Ajanta Caves

site containing 29 rock-cut caves and 5th-century Buddhist religious art/paintings

Ellora Caves

site of 34 rock-cut caves (350 AD - 700 AD) representing Buddhism (12 south) Hinduism (17 center) and Jainism (5 north)

Chaitya Hall Karli (100 AD)

rock-cut worship hall with a nave (17.7m high 36.45m long 12.9m wide) leading to a monolithic stupa in the apse

Maurya Dynasty

first Indian Empire founded and headed by Chandragupta

Emperor Ashoka (273-232 B.C.)

greatest Mauryan king who converted to Buddhism and initiated rock-cut architecture

Pradakshina patha

rite of circumambulating a stupa or shrine in a clockwise direction

Stupa (Tope)

dome-shaped mound containing holy relics originating from Vedic funerary mounds (tumuli/barrows)

Anda

hemispheric cupola/mound or solid dome (egg womb or fertile earth) symbolizing infinite space and housing the relic

Harmika

square pedestal on top of the Anda said to be the dwelling place of the Gods

Yatsi

apex crowning the Harmika

Chattras

3-tiered umbrella sign of royalty crowning the Harmika

Medhi

terrace upper passageway (4.87 m high) for circumambulation

Vedika

stone framework railing around the Harmika and Medhi consisting of vertical posts and crossbars

Sopana

staircase going to the terrace of a stupa

Torana

circular stone gateway (3.0 m wide 10.36 m high) at cardinal directions around a stupa decorated with narrative sculptures

Sanchi Stupa (Madhya Pradesh)

best specimen of Buddhist stupa art

Amaravathi (Andhra Pradesh)

finest Buddhist stupa in South India

Gupta Dynasty (320-550 c A.D.)

largest empire ruling northern India; known as the Hindu renaissance and the Golden Age of India

Mandir / Devalaya / Prasada

Hindu temple serving as the residence for god rather than a congregational hall

Mandala

generic name for any plan or chart symbolically representing the cosmos (magic diagram of the cosmos)

Vastu Purusha Mandala

mathematical and metaphysical plan incorporating celestial bodies and forces based on the cosmic man (Purusha)

Brahma Sthan

central core area in the Vastu Purusha Mandala

Brahma Bindu

center point within the Brahma Sthan

Vimana

sanctuary as a whole in Hindu temple architecture

Garbhagriha

small unlit square inner chamber or womb-chamber housing the cult idol (murti) accessible only to priests

Sikhara (Shikhara)

tapering tower or spire over the garbhagriha representing Mt. Meru

Nagara Style

Northern Indian temple style characterized by a beehive-shaped/curvilinear sikhara

Dravida Style

Southern Indian temple style characterized by stepped pyramid tiers broad courtyards (prakaram) and gopurams

Vesara Style

Central Indian temple style featuring a mixture of Nagara and Dravidian styles with star or cruciform plans

Amalaka

flattened fluted melon-shaped massive stone member crowning the top of a Nagara sikhara

Kalasha

top decorative element resting on the Amalaka

Mandapa

pillared hall in front of the garbhagriha for assembly prayer dance and rituals

Nat Mandir

pavilion for dance in a Hindu temple complex

Pitha

plinth or platform of a Hindu temple

Antarala

intermediate vestibule uniting the garbhagriha and the mandapa

Ardhamandapa

front porch or main entrance leading to the mandapa

Gopurams

monumental sculptured watchtower gateways/gate pyramids at the entrance of Dravidian temple complexes

Pallava Dynasty (600-900 AD)

pioneers of South Indian architecture famous for rock temples in Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram

Chola Dynasty (900-1150 AD)

reached the apex of South Indian architecture; built Brihadeshvara Temple in Thanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram

Badami Chalukyas (543-753 A.D.)

rock-cut temple builders of Pattadakal Badami and Aihole

Rashtrakuta Dynasty (753-973 AD)

built the rock-cut shrines at Ellora and Elephanta including the Kailasanatha Temple

Western Chalukya (973-1180 AD)

created the Gadag style of architecture and ornate stepped wells (Pushkarni)

Pushkarni

ornate stepped wells used for ritual bathing

Hoysala Dynasty

creators of Karnata Dravida style featuring Chennakesava Temple (Belur) Hoysaleswara Temple (Halebidu) and Kesava Temple (Somanathapura)

Vijayanagar Empire (1343-1565 AD)

built granite structures with Yali columns Kalyanamantapa Vasanthamantapa and Rayagopura

Yali Column

temple pillar decorated with a charging horse motif

Kalyanamantapa

ornate pillared marriage hall in Vijayanagar architecture

Vasanthamantapa

open pillared hall in Vijayanagar architecture

Rayagopura

monumental gateway tower in Vijayanagar architecture

Surya Temple (Modhera)

exquisitely carved Nagara style temple in Gujarat

Bada

lower foot/base portion of an Orissan temple composed of horizontal mouldings

Gandi

middle trunk/body section of an Orissan temple

Mastaka

top apex/head section of an Orissan temple crowned by an amalaka

Lingaraja Temple (Bhuvaneswar)

famous Orissan Nagara temple defining Bada Gandi and Mastaka parts

Tirtha

pilgrimage sites for Jains and Hindus

Derasar / Basadi

alternative terms for Jain temples

Shikar-Bandhi

main Jain temple type featuring a dome marble pillars and a Gambhara

Gambhara (Garbha Graha)

main sanctuary of a Jain temple housing stone-carved Jina idols