Read the passage and answer the questions: Temple building in the region had a long history, going back to dynasties such as the Pallavas, Chalukyas, Hoysalas, and Cholas. Rulers very often encouraged temple building as a means of associating themselves with the divine – often, the deity was explicitly or implicitly identified with the king. Temples also functioned as centres of learning. Besides, rulers and others often granted land and other resources for the maintenance of temples. Consequently, temples developed as significant religious, social, cultural, and economic centres. From the point of view of the rulers, constructing, repairing, and maintaining temples were important means of winning support and recognition for their power, wealth, and piety. Which of the following temple has a shrine designed as a ‘chariot’?
Vitthala Temple
The passage discusses the historical context of temple building in South India by various dynasties like the Pallavas, Chalukyas, Hoysalas, and Cholas, highlighting their role as religious, social, cultural, and economic centres. It also mentions that rulers used temple construction to associate themselves with the divine and gain support.
The question asks about a specific architectural feature: a temple shrine designed as a ‘chariot’. While the passage provides general information about temple building, it does not detail the architectural styles or features of individual temples.
Analyzing the Temple Chariot Shrine
To answer this question, we need knowledge of prominent South Indian temples and their unique features. Let's examine the options:
- Brihadeshvara Temple: Located in Thanjavur, built by the Cholas. It is famous for its massive vimana (temple tower) and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, but it does not feature a shrine designed as a chariot.
- Chidambaram Temple: A famous Shiva temple in Tamil Nadu, associated with Nataraja (the dancing form of Shiva). It is a large complex with multiple halls and gopurams, but lacks a specific chariot shrine design.
- Virupaksha Temple: Located in Hampi, dedicated to Lord Virupaksha (a form of Shiva). It is part of the Group of Monuments at Hampi UNESCO site. While historically significant, its main shrine is not designed as a chariot.
- Vitthala Temple: Also located in Hampi, part of the same UNESCO site. This temple complex is renowned for its intricate carvings, musical pillars, and, most famously, a stone structure within its courtyard that is designed as an elaborate chariot. This stone chariot is one of the most iconic symbols of Hampi and the Vijayanagara architectural style.
Based on the distinctive architectural feature of having a shrine designed as a chariot, the Vitthala Temple is the correct answer.
Revision Table: South Indian Dynasties and Temple Building
| Dynasty | Period (Approx.) | Notable Contribution to Temple Architecture |
|---|---|---|
| Pallavas | 3rd to 9th Century CE | Started with rock-cut cave temples and monolithic rathas (chariots), later structural temples (e.g., Shore Temple). |
| Chalukyas (Badami) | 6th to 12th Century CE | Developed a hybrid Vesara style, blending North and South Indian elements (e.g., temples at Aihole, Pattadakal). |
| Cholas | 9th to 13th Century CE | Built massive structural temples with towering vimanas and elaborate gopurams (e.g., Brihadeshvara Temple). |
| Hoysalas | 10th to 14th Century CE | Known for intricate carvings, star-shaped plans, and polished surfaces (e.g., temples at Belur, Halebidu). |
| Vijayanagara Empire | 14th to 17th Century CE | Continued earlier traditions but with increased scale and ornamentation, emphasis on mandapas and complex layouts (e.g., temples at Hampi like Vitthala Temple). |
Additional Information on Temple Architecture in South India
Temple architecture in South India, also known as Dravidian architecture, is characterized by certain key features:
- Vimana: The pyramidal or tapering tower built over the main shrine.
- Gopuram: Monumental gateway towers, often more elaborate than the vimana itself, especially in later periods.
- Mandapa: Pillared halls used for various purposes like prayers, dancing, or assemblies.
- Shikara: The crowning element on top of the vimana (often dome-shaped).
- Ratha: Temples or shrines designed to resemble a chariot, sometimes carved out of a single rock (like the monolithic rathas at Mahabalipuram built by the Pallavas) or constructed as a part of a larger complex (like the stone chariot at Vitthala Temple). The chariot symbolism is significant, often associated with carrying the deity.
The Vitthala Temple's stone chariot is not a standalone structure in the sense of Mahabalipuram's monolithic rathas, but rather a shrine built on a stone base carved to resemble wheels, horses, and an axle, giving the appearance of a processional chariot.
Important Questions from An Imperial Capital : Vijayanagara
Abdur Razzaq was greatly impressed by the unique features of Vijayanagara’s fortification. Choose the features of Vijayanagara’s fort:
(A) Eight lines of forts were constructed
(B) No mortar was used in construction
(C) The stone blocks were wedge-shaped
(D) Circular bastions and pyramids were there in forts
(E) The fortification did not enclose agricultural tracts
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Arrange the following in ascending order:
(A) Aravidu dynasty
(B) Saluvas dynasty
(C) Tuluvas dynasty
(D) Sangama dynasty
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Who among the following traveller was impressed by the fortification of the Vijayanagara and mentioned about seven lines of defense in forts?
Arrange the following Vijayanagara dynasties in chronological order:
(A) Saluva dynasty
(B) Tuluva dynasty
(C) Sangama dynasty
(D) Aravidu dynasty
Who took the first detailed photographs of archaeological remains at Hampi in 1856?
