The art and architecture of India - Buddhist, Hindu, Jain (Art Ebook)

THE PERIOD OF THE HINDU DYNASTIES 299
four gigantic stone piers to support the great
mass of masonry of the superstructure. The
carving of the under-surfaces of the massive
stone beams in an all-over foliate design does
much to relieve the heaviness of these members,
an effect of lightness and delicacy continued in
the dome, which in the intricacy of its fretted
carving is suggestive of fan vaulting.
8. DRAVIDIAN ARCHITECTURE.
EASTERN INDIA:
THE PALLAYA STYLE
232. Gwalior, Great Sas Bahu temple
Of the greatest significance for the later development
of Dravidian architecture are the shrines
dedicated by the rulers of the Pallava Dynasty
who were the successors of the Andhras in
eastern India from the fifth century through
the ninth. For our purposes the most important
contributions in the genesis of the style were
made under the Mamalla Dynasty (625-74) and
the Dynasty- of Rajasimha (674-800). Whereas
the earlier dedications consisted of rock-cut
shrines, the later activity was devoted entirely
to structural buildings.
in front of one now vanished. Viewed from the
exterior, the temple is divided into three storeys
of open loggias separated by massive architraves.
The penetration of the mass of the building
by these deep balconies provides a feeling of
lightness and elegance; the design is also helped
by the alternation of accents of light and shade
provided by the columns set off against the
enshadowed porches. On the exterior the building
terminates in a rather flattened terraced
pyramid which continues to the very summit of
the structure the eccentric and picturesque plan
with its multiple set-backs and recesses. Inside,
From the Mamalla Period there date the remarkable
rock-cut temples of Mamallapuram
or 'Seven Pagodas' on the sea-coast below
Madras. The work here was under the patronage
of the king, Xarasirhha. The principal architectural
monuments consisted of some temples
or raths- that are really free-standing sculptural
replicas of contemporary structural temples
carved from the granulitic outcrops on the shore
[233A. b]. These monuments are of the greatest
importance for the later development of Dravidian
architecture because they reveal the dependence
of the later Hindu style on pre-existing
the impression is that of a single large hall rising
types of Buddhist architecture.
to the full height of the building, rather like the
crossing of a cathedral. The effectiveness of this
motif has been partially spoiled and an effect of
crowding introduced through the necessity for
Especially revealing
for this latter aspect of the style is the
Dharmaraja rath [233A]. It has a square groundstorey
with open verandahs, which forms the
base of the terraced pyramidal sikhara above. It