Rani-ki-Vav, on the banks of the Saraswati River, was initially built as a memorial to a king in the 11th century AD. Stepwells are a distinctive form of subterranean water resource and storage systems on the Indian subcontinent, and have been constructed since the 3rd millennium BC. They evolved over time from what was basically a pit in sandy soil towards elaborate multi-storey works of art and architecture. Rani-ki-Vav was built at the height of craftsmens’ ability in stepwell construction and the Maru-Gurjara architectural style, reflecting mastery of this complex technique and great beauty of detail and proportions. Designed as an inverted temple highlighting the sanctity of water, it is divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels of high artistic quality; more than 500 principle sculptures and over a thousand minor ones combine religious, mythological and secular imagery, often referencing literary works. The fourth level is the deepest and leads into a rectangular tank 9.5 m by 9.4 m, at a depth of 23 m. The well is located at the westernmost end of the property and consists of a shaft 10 m in diameter and 30 m deep.
The late-Classic Maya site of Uxmal ("oosh-mahl",
meaning "thrice-built") in the Yucatan dates from before the 10th
century AD. It is considered one of the most complex and beautiful
expressions of Puuc architecture and, for many, is a major highlight of a
Yucatán vacation.
Puuc means "hilly country," and is the
name given to the hills nearby and the predominant style of ancient
architecture found here. Puuc decoration, which abounds at Uxmal, is
characterized by elaborate horizontal stonework on upper levels. Uxmal
is part of the the "Puuc route" of Mayan sites, along with nearby Sayil, Kabah, Xlapak, and Labná.
History of Uxmal
The area around Uxmal was occupied as early as 800 BC, but the
major building period took place when it was the capital of a Late
Classic Mayan state around 850-925 AD.
After about 1000, when Toltec invaders took over the Yucatán peninsula (establishing their capital at Chichén Itza), all major construction ceased at Uxmal. But it continued to be occupied and participated in the political League of Mayapán.
Uxmal
later came under the control of the Xiú princes. The site was abandoned
around 1450, shortly before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.
What to See at Uxmal
The main ruins of Uxmal cover about 150 acres, with
residential districts spreading further beyond that. Uxmal occupies a
grassy savannah surrounded by forest and its buildings were adapted to
the varied elevations of the hilly landscape.
Unlike most Yucatan
sites, Uxmal derived its not as much from cenotes (natural wells) as
from man-made cisterns that collected rain water, one of which can be
seen near the entrance. The constant concern with the supply of water
probably explains the special popularity of the rain god Chac at Puuc sites.
The real function of many of the structures remains uncertain, and they retain the fanciful names given them by the Spanish.
At 35 m (115 ft), the massive Magician's Pyramid (Pirámide del Adivino) is the tallest structure at Uxmal. The pyramid is also known as the Pyramid of the Dwarf;
both names derive from a legend about a magical dwarf who was hatched
from an egg, grew to adulthood in a single day, and built this pyramid
in one night. Actually, it was begun in the 6th century AD and regularly
expanded through the 10th century.
The pyramid is unique among
Mayan structures because of its rounded sides, height, and steepness,
and the doorway on the opposite (west) side near the top. Its limestone
core was originally covered with smooth plaster and painted red with
accents in blue, yellow and black. Beneath the Magician's Pyramid are
five earlier structures; it was common for the Mayas to build new
structures on top of old ones at regular intervals.
The rich
decoration on the doorway of "Temple 4," near the top, features 12
stylized masks. These are traditionally thought to represent the rain
god Chac, but recent scholarship suggests they are actually
"iconographic mountains," or witz (Coe, The Maya,
166). The structure at the very top, Temple 5, dates from about 1000
AD; its design may be inspired by the nearby Governor's Palace.
The Nunnery Quadrangle
was given its name by the 16th-century Spanish historian Fray Diego
López de Cogullado because it reminded him of a Spanish convent. It may
have been a military academy or a training school for Mayan princes, who
would have lived in the 74 rooms. The rooms have no interior decoration
and have mostly been taken over by swallows.
The buildings of
the Nunnery Quadrangle were constructed at different times: first the
northern; then the southern, eastern, and western buildings. The western
building has the most richly decorated facade, featuring intertwined
stone snakes and numerous masks of the hook-nosed rain god Chac. Above each doorway in the the archway to the south of the Nunnery Quadrangle features the motif of a Maya cottage, or nah, which is still seen throughout the Yucatán today.
In its size and intricate stonework, the Governor's Palace
rivals the Magician's Pyramid as the masterpiece of Uxmal. It's an
imposing three-level edifice with a 97m (320-ft.) long mosaic facade,
built in the 9th and 10th centuries.
If you stand back from the Palace on the east side, the 103 stone masks of Chac
seem to slither across the facade like a serpent. They end at the
corners, where there are columns of masks. In the open plaza in front of
the Palace is the Jaguar Throne, carved like a two-headed jaguar, which the Mayas associated with chiefs and kings.
Fray
Cogullado also gave this building its name, and he may have been more
accurate this time - the Governor's Palace may have been the
administrative center of the Xiú principality, which included the region
around Uxmal. The Governor's Palace probably had astrological significance as well.
For
years, scholars pondered why this building was constructed slightly
turned from adjacent buildings. Recently scholars of archaeoastronomy (a
relatively new science that studies the placement of archaeological
sites in relation to the stars) discovered that the central doorway,
which is larger than the others, is in perfect alignment with Venus.
Behind the Govenor's Place is a lower-level plaza with the Great Pyramid, 260 feet (79 m) on each side. The top of the pyramid has the Temple of the Macaws, three other ruined temples, and fine views.
The Turtle House
is a simple rectangular building on the terrace south of the ball
court. The temple is named for the frieze of small turtles in procession
around the top of building. Though much smaller and less elaborate than
other structures, its harmony and elegance makes it one of the gems of
Uxmal.
A building called the Dovecote features roof combs, which are not commonly found in Puuc temples.
Getting There
If traveling by car, there are two routes to Uxmal from Merida: Highway 261 or State Highway 18. Note that there's no gas available at Uxmal. Buses runs from Merida to Uxmal, but to see the sound and light show, you should sign up for a guided tour in Merida.
Tip:
If staying the night in Uxmal, an efficient plan is to arrive late in
the day, buy a ticket to see the sound-and-light show that evening, then
explore the ruins the next morning before it gets hot. Make sure that
the ticket vendor knows your intentions and keep the ticket.
இது தக்கணத்துக் கோயிற் கட்டுமானங்களில் ஒன்றாகும். இந்தியாவில் மகராஷ்டிர மாநிலத்திலுள்ள எல்லோராவில் அமைந்துள்ள குகைக்கோயில்களில் இதுவும் ஒன்று. பெரியதொரு மலையைக் குடைந்து இவை அடுத்தடுத்து உருவாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. இராஷ்டிரகூட அரசன் முதலாம் கிருஷ்ணன் ஆட்சிக் காலத்தில் இவை உருவாக்கப்பட்டன. இக்கோயில் மலைத்தளி வகையைச் சார்ந்தது. திராவிட கலைப்பாணிக்குரிய பண்புகளையும், இராஷ்டிரகூட கலைப்பாணியின் அம்சங்களையும் ஒருங்கே கொண்டு விளங்குகின்றது. மாமல்லபுரத்து மலைத்தளிகளைப் போலன்றி முழுமையான ஆலயமொன்றின் அம்சங்களைக் கொண்ட பிரம்மாண்டமான மலைத்தளியாக விளங்குகின்றது.
எல்லோரா ஒரு உலக பாரம்பரியக் களம் ஆகும்.
இக்கோயில் ஒற்றைக்கல் கோயில் வகையைச் சேர்ந்தது.சிவனின் இருப்பிடமான கைலாசத்தைப் போன்று வடிவமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. மலை உச்சியிலிருந்து தொடங்கி செங்குத்தாகக் குடையபட்டுள்ளது. இந்த ஒற்றைகல் கோயிலை உருவாக்க பலநூறு ஆண்டுகளாக, கிட்டத்தட்ட 400,000 டன் எடையுள்ள பாறைகள் குடைந்தெடுக்கப்பட்டிருக்க வேண்டுமென கணக்கிடப்பட்டுஎல்லோரா கோவில் சுவற்றில் காணப்படும் உளிகளின் தடங்களைக் கொண்டு மூன்றுவிதமான உளிகள் பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளதாகக் தொல்லியல் ஆய்வாவாளர்கள், கருதுகின்எல்லோரா
250அடி நீளமும் 150அடி அகலமும் கொண்ட நிலப்பரப்பில் ஆலயம் அமைந்துள்ளது. ஆலயம் 148அடி நீளமும் 62அடி அகலமும் 100அடி உயரமும் உடையது. சைவ மரபிலமைந்த பௌராணிக கதைச்சிற்பங்களை கொண்டுள்ளது.
Cappadocia, Turkey is the historic area of central Anatolia bounded by the towns of Hacıbektaş, Aksaray,Niğde and Kayseri (map). It was known asCappadocia in ancient times, and is still calledKapadokya informally today. Cappadociais Turkey's most visually striking region, especially the "moonscape" area around the towns ofÜrgüp, Göreme, Uçhisar, Avanos and Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), where erosion has formed caves, clefts, pinnacles, "fairy chimneys" and sensuous folds in the soft volcanic rock. Although the volcanic landscape can appear inhospitable, the mineral-rich soil is excellent for growing vegetables and fruits, making Cappadocia a rich agricultural region. It has always been one ofAnatolia's prime grape-growing areas, and still boasts many productive vineyards and wineries. The Bible's New Testament tells of Cappadocia, but in fact this part of central Anatolia has been important since Hittite times, long before the time of Jesus.
The cave temples date back to 600 and 700 CE. Their architecture is a blend of North Indian Nagara Style and South Indian Dravidian style. As described above each cave has a sanctum sanctorum , a mandapa , a verandah and pillars . The cave temples also bear exquisite carvings , sculptures and beautiful murals. An inscription found here records the creation of the shrine by Mangalesha in 578. There are some paintings on the ceiling and the style indicates maturity but has lost its original dazzling colour. The bracket figures on thepiers here are some of the finest.
India has a rich cultural heritage and it can be found in every nook and corner of this country. There are innumerable monuments that stand tall even today to depict the creativity of the artist from our past.One among them is Khajuraho Temples which is located in Madhya Pradesh in central India. The name Khajuraho, or Kharjuravāhaka, is derived from Sanskrit language.
One thousand years ago, under the benefaction of the Chandela Rajput kings of Central India, 85 temples, magnificent in form and richly engraved, came up on one site, near the village of Khajuraho.
The amazingly short span of 100 years, from 950 AD – 1050 AD, saw the completion of all the temples, in an inspired burst of creativity. Today, of the original 85, only 22 have survived the havoc of time; these remain as a collective paean to life, to joy and to creativity; to the ultimate union of man with his creator.
Lets know more about these ancient artistic beauty which reflects the great creativity of Indian craftsman. Each temple in Khajuraho is a superstructure with a dome which is known as Shikhara. In each temple, the central space typically is surrounded by an ambulatory for the pilgrim to walk around and ritually circumambulate the Purusa and the main deity.
The pillars, walls and ceilings around the space, as well as outside have highly elaborate carvings or images of the four just and necessary pursuits of life – kama, artha, dharma and moksa. This clockwise walk around is called pradakshina.
The Khajuraho temples, spread over an area of about 9 square miles, portray the traditional lifestyle of women in the medieval age.The divine sculptures are a tribute to life itself, embodying everything that is inspiring and spontaneous about it. Built using sandstone, with varying shades of beige, pink and pale yellow, each contains an entrance, a hall, a entrance hall and a chamber.
The Chaunsath Jogini Temple, located on the bank of the Shivsagar Lake, is supposed to be the oldest temple in Khajuraho. This temple is unusual from the other temples at Khajuraho and depicts a style diverse from the Chandela style of structural design.
The structures of the Khajuraho temples are similar to the style of the north-Indian shikhara temple and also to Panchayatana plan. The Hindu temples are dedicated to Hindu deities Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and also to different goddesses.
Most of the carvings on the walls show human, their bodies and also the facts of life. The carvings present the everyday life of a common man in India during that time when they were made.
In these temples some well crafted erotic sculptures can be found either on the outside or inner walls of the temples but not near the deities.
However, it is common delusions that the sculptures show lovemaking between deities, whereas in reality they actually show passionate exchanges between humans along with changes that occur in the human bodies.
Hindus believe that their lives are merely stages in the progression to ultimate enlightenment. The temple is a place where God may be approached and where divine knowledge can be discovered. All aspects of the Hindu temple focus on the goal of enlightenment and liberation - the principles of design and construction, the forms of its architecture and decoration, and the rituals performed.A typical Hindu temple consists of the following major elements - an entrance, often with a porch; one or more attached or detached mandapas or halls; the inner sanctum called the garbagriha, literally ‘womb chamber’; and the tower build directly above the garbagriha.
The temple is build according to vasthu shastra after performing bhoomi pooja. A gopuram is built as a pyramidal structure above the sanctum sanctorum as scriptures suggest that a pyramidal structure has the maximum potency to absorb cosmic power.
The temples of Lord Shiva, Rama, Vishnu Sri Venkateswara, Sri Subrahmanyeswara, Vinayaka should be built in accordance with the rules laid down in the Agama Shastra keeping the Chakra to the place the status, to put Kumkuma and to offer the daily worship.
The measurements of a temple should be taken from the outer side of a temple. It is called "Veli Ayam". The measurement of a royal palace i.e. "Prakaara should be taken from the centre of a wall. The temples of Rama, Sri Venkateswara and Sri Subrahmanya should be built with Eastern, face
The temples of Shiva should be with western face. The Veeranjaneya temple should be of south face
Thousands of years before modern scientist create scanner to scan the embryo, Sanatana dharma great architect have sculptured the exact look of embryo in a mother's womb.
Picture: Pillar of Kala Bhairava Natha temple, Tamil Nadu
This ancient Shiv – temple is situated in NOHTA, District Damoh. This temple is 25 km away from Damoh and 84km from Jabalpur on the Damoh-Jabalpur road. It is believed that this place was called “NAOHATA” after nine “HATA”(market) during the ancient times. This place was once a famous trading center. This temple is known as “MAHADEV” and NOHTESHWAR” the temple was constructed during circa 950-60 A.D. . It is said that the credit for construction of this temple goes to Maharani NOHTA, the wife of king Yuraraj Dev-1 of Kalcuri dynasty. The temple was erected on a high platform. It consists of anchrath, Garbhagriha, Antral, Mandapa and Mukhmandapa the entrance in Mandapa is divided into five in which Gan,Mithun and Curved human figure Lotus stem are depicted the figure of Natesh Shiv in a very artistical manner .there are four main pillars the Mandapa and the Shikhara is small. The Shikhara of Garbhagriha is consisting Amalak.the iconography is more prominent and the depiction og Gaja Lakshmi is very beautiful in these sculptures aesthetic sense and epic is very prominent. The sculptures of Vyala is very interesting , several animals and birds figures are depicted as Vyata in which Gaj and Shuk Vyala are important in addition of this Sculptures of Harihara, Uma Maheshware Shiv Parvati ,Lakshmi Narayan, Brahma, Dikpala( Indra and Vaya) are also depicted. This sculptures of Chakrishwami and Ambika are found among join figures.
The Sun temple was built by Pratihara rulers in the 9th century A.D. The east-facing temple is raised on a high platform. The ground plan consists of garbhagriha, antaral and maha-mandapa based on two pillars. The elevation plan consists of plinth, wall portion, verandica and shikhar portion. Ganesha, Kartikeya, Parvati and Sur Sundaris are carved in bhadra rathikas. In the bhadra, pratibhadra and kodak rathas of the jangha portion, the figures of Surya, dikpala, ten incarnations of Vishnu, saptamatrikas, Ganesha and Sur Sundaris are carved. The shikhar is of Nagara style and its middle strip is decorated.
The idol of Sun God is placed here inside the temple. The other main object of interest of the village is a temple of Vindhya Vasani Devi on the top of hill. Niwari is the headquarter town of the Niwari tehsil of the same name.The Sun temples of Umari and Madkhera are excellent gifts of the Pratiharas. A number of step wells and temples we constructed in Tikamgarh district during the Chandela reign.
On the shikhara, there is an elaborate sukha-nasika. There are two levels in it, the lower level has four niches, two in front and two on lateral sides. The niches on the lateral sides are empty at present, however R D Banerji reports that there were Nataraja images in these niches. The front niches have Vishnu and Brahma. On the upper tier of the sukha-nasika, a face is carved inside the simha-mukha. He is holding a ashkamala and water pot. R D Banerji indentifies him with Shiva whereas Krishna Deva identifies it with Surya.
