Architecture as Power
Architecture as Power: How Indian Rulers used Architecture to Symbolize their Power
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Well! I don't think I have to introduce you to the marvellous Architecture all around India. You all know, the famous Taj Mahal, Ellora Caves, Sun Temple. These were not built to symbolise power, but for love, religion and culture. However, there are astonishing monuments that purely show how powerful the rulers were.
Let's Take a look, at how Indian rulers used Architecture to Symbolize their power, religion and culture.
India is a vast and culturally diverse country. We find a variety of monumental architecture in different parts of the country, such as places of worship, forts, palaces, havells, waterworks, gardens etc. They have been built in different styles and different varieties of materials have been used for their construction. Well! Every work needs skills, let's know how skilled the ancient engineers and workers were.
Engineering and Construction Skills
From the eighth to the eighteenth century, (about a period of a thousand years) a great variety of places of worship (temples, mosques and even churches), forts, palaces and the like were built all over India. Naturally different styles and different materials were used to build them. In the beginning, from the eighth to the thirteenth centuries, the roofs, doors and windows were made by placing a horizontal beam across two vertical beams. This style is known as "trabeate" or 'corbelled'. Later on, from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century the arches were built to carry the weight of the superstructure above the doors and the windows. This architectural form came to be known as "arcuate". Such a style facilitated the construction of high domes over the mosques and the tombs (like the Jama Masjid and the Humayun Tomb along with the Taj Mahal).
Another development during this period was the increasing use of limestone cement which made the construction of large structures easier as well as faster. In the Mughal buildings especially, the use of pure white marble have made them attractive to the eye. Gold, silver, diamonds, jewels, stones of various colours, began to be set and mosaic work was done on a large scale in the buildings.
Undoubtedly the construction of such massive and great buildings involved high engineering skills and mastery in construction.
One is wonder-struck to know and note the
different types of engineering and construction skills, arts and organisation and resources that were employed to build them. We shall first study the main buildings erected during the period 800-1200 A.D then from 1206 to 1526 A.D. and lastly from 1526 to 1707 A.D.
It's hard to understand Architecture considering India as a whole, for the sake of convenience we will divide India into North India and South India, by the way, trust me North India and South India are two different worlds they differ in every aspect.
Monumental Architecture in North India (AD 800-1200)
The rulers of this period were great patrons of art and architecture. They were great builders and lavishly spent money on building activities. They erected a large number of beautiful palaces, forts, temples and other works of art. The most famous temples of this period in North India are those of Khajuraho in Bundelkhand; Bhubaneswar, Puri and Abu in Rajasthan and Satrunjaya in Kathiawar.
The chief features of the architectural style of temples of this period are Vimana, a towered shrine, Jagamohana, an audience hall, Naya mandapa, a dance hall, and Bhoga mandapa, an offering hall. The Mukteswara Temple, the Lingaraja Temple and the Rajarani Temple at Bhubaneswar, the Jagannatha Temple at Puri and the Sun Temple at Konark belonging to the Orissan style are the best specimens of this style of architecture.
The Khajuraho temples in Madhya Pradesh, best known for their carvings and sculpture, are also an excellent example of the Nagara style of temples of North India. These temples were built by the Chandellas. The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is also the best specimen of temple architecture of this period and is one of the finest shrines in India. It is dedicated to Shiva.
The Jain Temples at Mount Abu (Dilwara) in Rajasthan were erected by the ministers of the Solanki rulers of Gujarat from 11th to the 13th centuries. The temples were made of white marble. The interiors were covered with delicate carvings while the outside was plain and austere. The most beautiful temple at Mt. Abu is that of Tejapala. Its halls are of pure marble and show excellent and delicate workmanship. The Jain statue of Gomateshvara at Shravanabelagola in Mysore is one of the largest free-standing images (57 feet) in the world. Apart from architecture, the art of painting also flourished during this period. Paintings are of both religious and spiritual types. Many important works reveal the artistic skills of the painters at their best. The older tradition of decorating the walls of temples and palaces with murals continued. Miniature paintings in the Mughal period came to be used to illustrate manuscripts were also done. In addition, the scenes described in texts were painted in small pictures on palm leaves.
Monumental Architecture in South India (A.D. 800-1200)
All the dynasties of South India, especially the Pallavas and the Cholas, were great patrons of art and architecture. The rock-cut Rathas of Pallavas stand as a great specimen of artistic genius. The Cholas were great builders of temples. Their style is known as the Dravidian style of temple architecture. The Brihadeshvara Temple at Tanjore is perhaps the biggest and most perfectly built temple in South India. It was built by the great Chola ruler, Rajaraja 1, in honour of Lord Shiva in A.D. 1011. It is known for its spacious courtyard and massive tower. Its tower rises to a height of 190 feet like a pyramid in 13 successive storeys. Its top is crowned by a single block of rock weighing about 80 tonnes. It is covered from top to bottom with sculptures and decorative mouldings. This temple is an example of rhythm, poise and dignity. The Dravidian style of architecture is marked by the square vimana in pyramidical shape. The high gateways are called Gopurams.
The universally reputed Kailash Temple Ellora is a remarkable specimen of the Rashtrakuta art. It was built by the Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna | (A.D. 757-783). The whole structure from top to bottom is cut out of solid rocks. The temple has many sculptures which depict many episodes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. This temple has been rightly called one of the architectural marvels of the world. The Hoysaleswara Temple at Dwarsamudra (or modern Halebid) is the greatest achievement of the Hoysalas. The temple is made of greyish soap-stone and has a charm of its own. Every inch of the temple, its exterior, interior, walls and doorways are all covered with some of the best sculptures. The Rajarajeshvara Temple built by Rajaraja I stands in a vast enclosure of about 165m * 85m. It has a gopuram (gateway) in the east. It rises to a height of about 94 metres from the ground.
There was evidence of more beautiful temples and monuments in the ancient period, but they were destroyed. You must be thinking, why would someone destroy a beautiful thing. But Remember, beautiful things attract people.
Why Temples were Destroyed?
No doubt we find certain instances of temple destruction by rival rulers and kings. If we go deep we find that this thing was not done from any fanaticism or religious point of view but for other ulterior motives. The wealth accumulated in these temples attracted many greedy rulers to fill up their coffers and tide over their economic difficulties. Sometimes these temples were destroyed by the conquering forces to show their superpower to the vanquished rulers and their subjects. Change of ruling dynasties sometimes led to vandalism and ferocity and nothing else.
After the Khiljis, the next dynasty to ascend to the throne of Delhi were the Tughlaqs, or the Qaraunah Turks, who must have been the most assiduous builders of all times, since at least three different kings of the dynasty built a city each in Delhi - Tughlaqabad, Jahanpanah and Ferozabad. MONUMENTAL ARCHITECTURE UNDER THE DELHI SULTANS (A.D.1206-1526) Building Minars, Mosques, Gardens, Tanks etc.
The Sultans of Delhi were wonder-struck to see the Hindu art and architecture in temples. They, too, were fond of richly decorated buildings. Invaders like Mahmud Ghaznavi took away hundreds of Indian craftsmen to their countries. The art that developed in India under the Delhi Sultans had a mixed style which is called Indo Islamic architecture. The Muslim rulers freely employed Indian craftsmen. They produced some of the finest specimens of Indo-Islamic architecture in the shape of Minars, Mosques, Tombs, Gardens Towers etc.
Quwwat-ul-Islam, the earliest mosque, was built by Qutab-ud-din Aibak.
The Qutab Minar, Alai Darwaza in Qutab complex at Mehrauli near Delhi, Tomb of Ghias ud-din Tughlaq, Firoz Shah Kotla, Lodi Garden, Hauz Khas etc. are some of the magnificent works of Delhi Sultans. The construction of Qutab Minar was begun by Qutab-ud-din but completed by Iltutmish. It was built in honour of Qutab-ud-din Bakhtiyar Kaki, a Sufi saint. Ala-ud-din Khilji built the new capital called Siri, a few kilometres from the Qutab complex. He had also planned a new tower, twice the height of Qutab Minar, but did not live to complete it. The Alai Darwaza was added by him to the Qutab complex.
During the Sultanate period buildings began to be decorated with both geometrical and floral designs. Coloured tiles of different colours and shades were also used to decorate the buildings. The Sultans built arches above the doorways and windows. These arches are called true arches because they are not supported by beams, as was formerly done in India before the arrival of the Turks and Afghans. Now stones were placed Y obliquely to form the joint. Pillars were also used n for support. The forts were simple but strong. The Sultans founded towns and cities. Tughlaqabad by
Ghias-ud-din Tughlaq and Firoz Shah Kotla by Firoz Tughlaq are some examples. Firozabad, Fatehabad, Hissar and Agra are also famous towns k of this age. The tombs like the Lodi Tomb of Lodi kings and nobles were decorated with colourful tiles and built inside gardens.
MONUMENTAL ARCHITECTURE UNDER THE MUGHALS ( .1526 - 1707
Building Palaces, Forts, Tanks, Gardens, Mosques etc.
All the great Mughals were great builders. They built beautiful forts, palaces, tombs and mosques. Akbar built many buildings in red stone. His first building was the Tomb of Humayun in Delhi. It is considered a landmark of Mughal architecture. It was built by Haji Begum. It shows the synthesis of Persian and Indian architectural styles. Akbar also built a new capital at Fatehpur Sikri. The Buland Darwaza, the Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti, the Panch Mahal, etc., are some pieces of the architectural grandeur of Akbar's time. Akbar's tomb at Sikandra, near Agra, was started by Akbar and completed by his son, Jahangir.
Jahangir built the Tomb of Itmad-ud-daula in white marble. He laid beautiful gardens in Kashmir. Some of these gardens like the Nishat and Shalimar Gardens are still very famous. His chief interest, however, lay in painting. The tomb of Itmad-ud-daula is decorated with pietra-dura and ranks among the finest tombs built in marble.
Shah Jahan's reign was the most magnificent period in Mughal architecture. He constructed buildings in marble and he spent lavishly. He employed thousands of workers, artisans and architects. He invited foreign architects also. The Taj Mahal at Agra was built in the memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is considered as one of the seven wonders of the world. His other buildings are the Jama Masjid in Delhi and the Pearl Mosque in Agra. He built a new city in Delhi, known as Shahjahanabad. The Red Fort at Delhi is a place worth seeing. He also built palaces and gardens in Lahore, Kabul, Kashmir and Delhi. Aurangzeb had no interest in artistic beauty because of his fanatic religious views. Still, he built the Moti Masjid in the Red Fort at Delhi and the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore. The Mughal buildings have special features of their own.
Some Other Types of Monumental Architecture
Hydraulic Structures Structures which were made for harnessing and conserving water are called hydraulic structures. Some of the best examples are found at
(i) Dholavira Reservoir (Gujarat);
(ii) Girnar Lake (in Junagarh, Gujarat);
(iii) Sudarshan Lake was built by Chandragupta Maurya;
(iv) Brick Water Tank unearthed in Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir),
(v) aqueduct built by Devaraja I of the Vijayanagar Empire to bring water from the Tungabhadra river to Hampi;
(vi) Bhopal Tal (Madhya Pradesh);
(vii) Gadsisar in Jaisalmer; Pichhaula and Udayasagar in Udaipur; Anasagar in Ajmer, the lake surrounding Jaigarh Fort near Jaipur all in Rajasthan;
(viii) Barwasagar in Uttar Pradesh;
(ix) Elaborate water supply system of Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh
(x) Rani-ki-Vav or Queen's step-well at Patna in Bihar.
Some Monuments of Special Interest
Jantar Mantar or astronomical observatories built in Delhi, Ujjain, Varanasi and Jaipur; Imambara of Lucknow known for its labyrinth; Gol Gumbad at Bijapur in Karnataka; Golkonda Fort in Andhra Pradesh; terraced gardens like Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh at Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley are some monuments of special interest and curiosity.
Let's know about Shah Jahan( The Man Behind Taj Mahal )
A CASE STUDY OF SHAH JAHAN'S PATRONAGE OF ARCHITECTURE
Shah Jahan is rightly regarded as 'The Prince among ilders prime . He brought glory to the Mughal architecture. He was a man of fine tastes.
Shah Jahan's reign was the Golden Age of the Mughal architecture. He lavishly adorned the main cities of his empire (like Agra, Delhi, Lahore etc.) with grand edifices, palaces, gardens, mosques, forts and other works of art. Because of his great interest in the planning and construction of buildings, Shah Jahan is sometimes called the "Engineer King." The following account would clearly show that of all the Mughals, Shah Jahan was undoubtedly the most magnificent ruler.
Other Works of Art. In addition to the above mentioned large edifices, Shah Jahan added to the beauty and splendour of many minor buildings like the tomb of Nizam-ud-Din Auliya in Delhi and the Jama Masjid at Ajmer.
In short, the buildings of Shah Jahan had a touch of romantic glitter and feminine elegance. In reality, the reign of Shah Jahan was the golden period of Mughal architecture.
