IMAGE INDIA:
Indian Sculpture and Temple Ornamentation
(Visiting for the first time? Please read the introduction to Image India)
India Revealed: Sculpture Index
Index to several major archealogical sites and museum collections with photographs of Indian sculpture.
Mauryan & Sunga Terracottas
A fine selection of terracottas from Mathura, Sarnath and Kaushambi can be seen at the website of the National Museum in Delhi (These date from the 3rd C BC to 2nd C AD)
Terracottas from the National Museum
Mauryan Era Terracottas, Chandraketugarh
The archaeological site of Chandraketugarh near Kolkata in Bengal has yielded a very intriguing set of terracotta sculptures that date from the Mauryan period. These richly carved and highly unusual terracottas appear to be the inspiration for the more well-known sculptures of the Shunga dynasty.
Drawing from various sources (including the West Bengal State Archeological Museum), Ambarish Goswami has put together a very nice collection of archeological finds from this ancient site:
Sculpted Toranas, Sanchi Stupa
These richly sculpted Toranas were carved by the region's ivory carvers and are amongst the most ancient of India's surviving Toranas (Gateways)
Images of the Sculpted Toranas
Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh
One of few surviving Gupta temples, the carvings on this temple are of exceptional quality.
(Note, some of these sites do not have on-line images available)
Gupta-period Sculptural Remains, Mandsaur
Excavations at Nagar (Tonk district) in Rajasthan have also yielded some Gupta period sculptures
Ancient Universities: Nalanda
Rock-cut carvings, Sultanganj region
These fine Gupta period (5th-7th C AD) carvings from Sultanganj and Kahalgaon in the Bhagalpur region of Bihar depict a variety of Hindu deities, besides Buddha and Mahavira.
Aihole, Pattadkal, Badami
Sculptural images and temple ornamentation from the Chalukyan Temples of Karnataka (6th-8th C. AD)
Later Chalukyan Temples are also to be found in Alampur in Andhra Pradesh
(See the Index of Indian Sculpture)
The Temples of Kashmir
Although little known, the 6th-11th C temples of Kashmir developed along a very distinct pattern of their own. The earliest of these temples (as in Loduv) were modeled on Kashmir's Buddhist Viharas, but gradually, the Kashmiri Temple developed characteristic features of it's own.
Set amidst beautiful natural settings, the best of the later Kashmiri temples, although modest in scale, exemplified harmonious architecture set off by creatively decorated columns and cornices.
These B&W illustrations from Ram Chandra Kak (Ancient Monuments of Kashmir) provide a glimpse of this unusual legacy:
Stone Temple, Loduv; (An early temple, probably 6th-7th C)
Stone Temple, Pandrethan; Sketch of Temple Capital, Pandrethan; Sketch of Temple Ceiling, Pandrethan
Sketch of Temple Cornice, Avantiswami; Sketch of Column Details, Avantiswami
Mattamayura Monastic Centres
The Mattamayuras were an influential Shaivite sect whose monastic centres received patronage from the ruling dynasties of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh from the 9th-12th C. Temples and monasteries were built in Kadwaha, Surwaya and Ranod (Madhya Pradesh) and Badoli and Menal (Rajasthan).
Also in Padhawali (Gwalior/Morena region)
Pratihara period
These appear to be stylistically related to the some of the 7th C Chandrabhaga temples of Jhalrapatan and the 8th C ruins of Kakuni and Dudhalia near Jhalawar
The 10th C Shaivite ruins in Ramgarh (64k N. of Kota) are particularly interesting not only for the carved images of dancers and musicians but also for an unabashed display of erotic interaction, which unfortunately has been badly vandalized.
Paramara Temples
Like the Pratiharas of Rajasthan, the Paramara kings of Central India were prolific builders. Raja Bhoja of the 11th C. was the most renowned of the Paramara rulers and commissioned several monumental temples. A learned scholar and engineer, he was also a great patron of the arts and learning.
Paramar rule also extended into Rajasthan, and Arthuna (in the Banswara region) was one of their former capitals. Like other rulers of Rajasthan and Central India, the Parmar kings patronized the construction of both Jain and Hindu temples.
Parahera (also Banswara Region) is another interesting site.
(To read more on developments in science and technology during the reign of Raja Bhoja see this essay on Technological discoveries and applications in India)
Chauhan Heritage
Like the Pratiharas and the Paramaras, the Chauhans were prolific builders and while much of their heritage was destroyed after their defeat at the hands of the invading Mahmud Ghauri, some of their legacy survives in Rajasthan. A long and protracted battle led to the defeat of Delhi's Prithivraj Chauhan, and most of the city's old monuments were sacked. The Qutab complex was built on the ruins of the Chauhan capital, and the Adhai-Din-Ka-Jhompra was reconstructed over a Jain monastery/college. Some of the interesting sites of that period are
Bhuna Boa (Baoli), Ajmer
Bijolia
Menal (Bhilwara region)
Toda Rai Singh (Tonk region)
Solanki Temples and Step-Wells
The Solankis ruled Gujarat between the 9th and 12th C and were responsible for constructing the 11th C Sun Temple at Modhera, and the Rani-ni-Vav, the 11th C Step-well dedicated to Rani Udaimati, wife of Maharajah Bhim Deva. These monuments are amongst the most remarkable of the Solanki monuments.
For images of sculpture from other Solanki monuments in Dabhoi and Vadnagar see the Index of Indian Sculpture
The 15th-16th C Adalaj step-well is attributed to the Queen of Veersingh Vaghela
Sun Temple, Jhalrapatan
For images of sculpture from Narthamalai and Thanjavur (Tanjore) see the Index of Indian Sculpture
Chandella Sculpture and Architecture
Although most renowned for the temples of Khajuraho, the Chandellas also built forts and palaces in the Bundelkhand region. The Ajaigarh fort has an interesting series of carved panels
Jabalpur, Chhatisgarh region
This relatively less travelled region of India is a treasure trove of ancient and medieval temples. It is also a centre of Adivasi culture and heritage, with many of it's ruling dynasties emerging from Adivasi backgrounds. Related to the Chandellas (of Khajuraho), the Kalachuris were the most important of the ruling clans of the Jabalpur/Chhatisgarh region. Tantric influences played a major role as did the Shaivite and Shiva-Shakti cults. Rajim, Malhar, Pali, Ratanpur and Aarang (Raipur/Bilaspur region) all have some particularly interesting temples. Influences from the Tantric Buddhist style of decoration (as seen in monasteries from the Udaigiri and Ratnagiri in Orissa) are evident in some instances. While most temples display a variety of erotic carvings, there are also instances of same-gender erotic interaction as in the Mandwa Mahal (Kawardha region).
See some of Chhatisgarh's surviving temples (from Kawardha, Rajim, Aarang, Pali, and Malhar) dating from the 9th C on.
Jabalpur sites:
Bhedaghat Chaunsath Yogini Temple
Rani Durgawati Museum, Jabalpur
Orissa Temples
Orissa has a rich legacy of temple construction and Bhubaneshwar has numerous surviving temples, of which the most important are the Mukteshwar (10th C) and the Raja-Rani and Lingaraj (11th C). Other important temple sites include Konarak, Bhanpur and Khiching.
For a brief history of Orissa, also see: History of Orissa
Kakathiya Temples
The Telengana region of Andhra has some very finely sculpted temples in Palampet and Ghanapur, as well as ruins of temples in the former capital city of Warangal
(For Kakathiya Sculpture, see the Index of Indian Sculpture))
Chola Temples
The Chola rulers of Tamil Nadu sponsored the construction of several monumental temples of which the temples in Thanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram (built during the 11th C.) are the most renowned and exemplify the Chola architectural style.
Hill Rajputs
The dynasty of Nurpur was established by Jatpal alias Rana Bhet, a Taur Rajput from Delhi, who settled at Pathankot and was probably responsible for the partially ruined though impressively carved temple near the present Nurpur Fort.
Malla Temples, Bishnupur, Bengal
An interesting style of temple architecture developed in Bengal influenced by vernacular traditions. The classical Bengal-style roof emulating traditional village architecture developed into a monumental form. Like other temples built during the 17th C and later, sculptural decoration is muted so as not to overtly conflict with the Islamic tradition of eschewing human representation in monuments of religious significance.
Bishnupur (* Site put together by Saumya Ganguli)
Later Temples, Bhagalpur region
Jain Temple, Bhagalpur
Naulakha Temple, Deoghar
Later Jain Temples, Rajasthan region
Shantinath Jain Temple
Unhel Jain Temple
Benaras
Most of the temples in Benaras date from after the Gangetic plain came under Islamic rule. As a consequence, human sculpture was replaced by floral and other decorative motifs.
Return to Image List
Also see:
If you enjoyed this site, please click here:
Photographs: Shishir Thadani
(Visiting for the first time? Please read the introduction to Image India)
